Hi
I am a new member here and am desperately hoping for some feedback. I am a little suspicious and anxious that after managing back pain for nearly 7 yrs reasonably ok, nerve compression (foraminal stenosis l5/S1) is getting the better of me. My MRI reads like this:

loss of disc space L5/S1
disc dessication (minor) T12/L1
schmorls's node T12 (inferior endplate)
schmorl's nodes L1/L2 superior endplate
L4/L5 broad based annular disc bulge
left paracentral protusion midly deforms thecal sac
mild degenerative changes right side facet joint L4/L5
L5/S1 broad based osteophyte (more left sided)
mild facet joint degeneration
thickening of ligamentum flavum/left foraminal narrowing
L5 nerve contacted posteriorly and disc osteophyte anter inferiorly
mild narrowing right side foraminal zone, effacement of fat surrounding exiting right side nerve but not compressed

it seems a lot is going on, but I am guessing I could rule more than half of it out as normal wear and tear and easily manageable, would I be correct in guessing this?

My neuro wants to do ADR and fusion and says upper discs may also need adr in 5-7yrs

I would love to know if I can get away with just a laminectomy or (options?) to relieve the nerve so I can get back on my feet and just 'deal' with the rest through non invasive methods like P/T, posture, etc

I am going for a second opinion with a ortho surgeon but I am afraid that as these guys are all surgery based, surgery is what they will suggest. My P/T will not touch me anymore, 5 mths of osteo treatments did not work and i have had 2 yrs of pilates, yoga walking swimming etc which put me into worse pain and needing constant (weekly) treatment sessions! interestingly the pilates was the worst to induce pain and inflammation. I suspect the T12/L1 is the 'root'cause of my back pain and no one has suggested this? can anyone explain the normal from the abnormal and the what needs to be addressed and how (surgery/non surgery type treatments needed) I would dearly love to have someone who can read these results from a lay persons point of view!!
PLEASE HELP, I am a 38yr old mum of 4 young children who need me and I cannot stay on my feet to meet their needs, back surgery seems to promote more back pain and does not always seem to be the right answer.

Thankyou

Michelle

--I answered you in the New Member forum before coming here to check on posts:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread123118.html

Hi ~ Surgery should be a LAST RESORT, after ALL conservative methods have been tried. You still have some things that you haven't tried yet. Do NOT rush into surgery. Surgery only corrects mechanical problems. It does NOT fix pain. In fact, many times you're left with the same pain or worse after you've had surgery. Any doctor who says he can get rid of your pain thru surgery is lying!! Run away from him if that's what he's saying. He cannot do it. If you are lucky enough to get relief thru surgery, it's just plain LUCK. If you do have surgery, the levels above and below the level that's beiing operated on will bulge or herniate and become unstable, causing you to have problems once again. It almost ALWAYS happens when you have fusion and even if you don't. So you end up needing surgery again and again and again.

You should try pain management first, unless your spinal cord is compressed, and I didn't see anything like that in your list. In pain management, they can try accupuncture, spinal cord stimulators, morphine pump implants, all kinds of things that you don't list that you've tried yet. You'd be much better off trying these things than opting for surgery because once you've had surgery, you are NEVER the same. I've had 2 open surgeries, and a spinal cord implant and removal, and I'm not disabled. I doubt you want to end up like me.

Best of luck, and God bless. hugs, Lee

Hi Leesa,
thankyou so much for your response, I get acupuncture quite regularly as it helps control B.P. and muscle spasms and so on and I find it very good. I also do deep tissue massage once a week. I cannot take morphine (found this out when I had thrombosed vessels!) but I fear not being able to feel pain because I am afraid I am doing damage I am not aware of. also, none of the conventional methods will actually get the bone off the nerve which is my biggest problem, the pain I can manage. it seems like you have been there a lot so is it possible I can cause further damage to the nerve without realising it while on nerve blocks, which is prob my only option? I really need to be on my feet, the kids are too young not to have a mobile mum!
(I am also allergic to a lot of metals and am going to be tested)
would love to know if you have any opinion on the nerve block/damage situation
thanks

Michelle