Please Please Please someone
 

I have had back pain for a while now long story. My MRI results show t5-6 and t8-9 posterior central mild to moderate disc protrusions resulting in mild central stenosis. And also L4-5 posterior central small disc protrusion without significant stenosis. I have been off work for almost a full year and am a mess. Can anyone tell me how bad is my injury Please Please Please.:(

The only person that would be able to tell you how bad your injury is would be your doctor. Have you discussed any options and/or treatments with him/her?

Hi Nathan ...have u tried treatments esi(epidural steroid injections)? There is a new machine for spinal de-compression not covered from insurance but many of my friends found great relief . Personally I had--i had a neck fusion c4 thru c7 and doing well --not perfect but 90% better. Have you seen a neuro or ortho spine surgeon? If you also have a copy of your Mri --we have many on this board that will break it down for you in laymans terms. I would suggest if surgery is on the table always seek 2 or 3 consults.

I'm no doctor, but if that's ALL your MRI report says, I doubt any doctor would do surgery on you at this point. Your best bet would be physical therapy. Besides, surgery would NOT relieve all your pain. Usually after surgery you have the same pain or worse! Surgery is only for mechanical problems. It's NOT to relieve pain. So ask your doc to send you to physical therapy -- that's where you will probably get your best pain relief, along with medications.

Best of luck and God bless. Hugs, Lee

From Max
 

Sorry to read about your misery, I would suggest seeing your Doctor first, asking for an Xray perhaps. Do you have a Tempur Mattress on your bed? I don't but I hear they are very good with joint aches etc.

I have!
 

I have had two esi or epidural steroid injections and had temporary relief but the pain is back and its fierce. I can hardly get out of bed. I'm really nervous about my future and my career. I pray the LORD will heal me but until then I'm seeing my doc today in a few hours and I hope the have a treatment plan for me. I think I'm gonna ask to see a sergon.

Can anyone read these please.
 

T1 to T4 levels appear unremarkable.

T4-5 levels show disc degeneration.

T5-6 shows disc degeneration with a mild-to-moderate sized posterior central protrusion associated with mild central stenosis. neural foramina are patent.

T6- T8 levels demonstrate disc degeneration.

At T8-9, there is a small to moderate sized posterior central disc protrusion and annular tear resulting in mild central stenosis. The neural foramina are patent.

T9-12 levels are unremarkable.

The thoracic spinal cord is normal in caliber and signal intensity.

There is normal alignment of thoracic spine without spondylolisthesis. The vertebral bodies are normal in hieght and signal intensity.

Prevertebral soft tissues are normal.

MRI lumbar spine findings:

L1-2 Unremarkable

L2-3 , 3-4 same

L4-5 Disc degeneration with a posterior central small disc protrusion and annular tear without signifigant central or neuroforaminal stenosis. Facet joints unremarkable.

L5-S1 Unremarkable disc. L5 appears partially sacralized.

The vertebral bodies demonstrate no significant abnormalties.

No spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis is identified.

The conus medullaris is unremarkable ending at T12 level.

IMPRESSION

1. T5-6 and T8-9 posterior central mild to moderate disc protrusion resulting in mild central stenosis.

2. L4-5 posterior central small disc protrusion without significant stenosis.

[From what im reading your MRI doesnt appear bad at all --I dont think surgery will be recomened---u may want to look into non -invasive spinal decompression i think the machine is called drx 9000 ---many ppl i know were in back pain swear by it problem from what i last heard its not covered by insurance and is a bit pricey. Im sure they have finacing plans. Enen though your mri isnt to bad problem is you still have pain my guess is a nerve is being pinced. Since u already tried esi --and u can get 3 sometimes 3rd will do trick --u migt want to look into drx 9000. I hope maybe somebody on the board has experienced this machine. Let us know what the Dr says ---man i do hope you find relief soon.

Thanks...Just left the doc and they are ordering more ep shots. I guess some treatment is better than none. I really just wan't this nightmare to end and let me go back to work and try and provide for my family. Its no wonder men just suck it up and return to work. I pray GODS got a plan. Thanks again.

Trust me I understand --2010 i missed 6 months of work. Pain was unbearbale no drugs seemed to help with nerve pain. I was even taken to hospital and given a morphine shot dr told my family I will be out of it in 45 mins for the rest on night ---my response was zero. ...i almost didint sleep for 3 weeks waiting for surgery. Im not sure money wise ---maybe look into that decompression machine if u can afford it. I wish you the best and I hope you find something to help take the edge off.

sorry forgot to ask what exactly did your doc say?

oh she's like ya its gonna hurt... I asked if I would get 100% recovery and she said unlikely. Not sure how I can wake up like this every morning for the rest of my life and the only reason I sleep is cause of my psyc meds. Thank you again.

Nathan ---trust me I know the feeling ---the pain I was in every day was over a year --the last few month before surgery ---pain was so bad i wouldnt wish on my worst enemy ---but trust me if the esi #3 --dont work u need to pursue something that will give you the quality of life back. Nobody will do this for you have to be your own advocate. It took me months of being jerked around before i even got a mri ---because all 4 disc were pressed against spinal cord all 3 doc said surgery or i would be parlyzed. In your case really i can tell is from pinched nerve so if # 3 shot dont workt ---seek out dmx 9000 ---i have heard ppl suffer 10 to 20yrs did btw 10 or 20 treatments and have been pain free for several years now plus its non-invasive machine. Its again might cost out of pucket but i would find away-- because mentally and physically --you can only handle pain so long before its going to take a huge toll on you and your family. You cant put a price on that --even if u have to fianace it. Dont give up!!!! Dont listen to one person oppinion before u exhausted all measures. If i were in your shoes and surgery wasnt option I would do it in a heartbeat.

You need to know, tho that you will NOT be PAIN FREE. There is always still some pain after surgery. Surgery is just for mechanical problems. Surgery isn't for pain. So you will still have pain after surgery, and sometimes it's even worse than before surgery.

Just wanted you to know that. Hugs, Lee