I had back surgery of two fusion on November 11, 2011 and still having problem with sitting, standing and walking for more than 20-30 minutes 0n dis L-4-L-5 and S1. Received another MRI on 11-21-12, which reads as follow: At L-3-L-4, there is diffuse disc herniation by approx. 2.8 mm, causing mild narrowing of the spinal canal and bilateral neural formation. At L-4-L-5, there is enhancing epidural soft tissue on the right side, including including the right lateral recess, consistent with granulation tissue. There is resultant mild to moderate narrowing of the right neutral foramen and lateral recess. The left neural foramen is patent. What does this mean?

Let me see if I can help a little:

At L3-4 you have a herniated disc which causes narrowing of the spinal canal and bilateral neural formation (I don't know what they mean by neural formation) I'm wondering if it shouldn't read neural foramen.

At L4-5 there is enhancing soft tissue on the right side consistent with granulation tissue. (newly formed capillaries that form on the surface of a wound). There is mild to moderate narrowing of the right neural foramen -- the foramen is the hole that the nerves pass thru to get to the spinal cord. The left neural foramen is fine.

Sitting and standing are no-no's for people who have had spinal surgery or who have a disc herniation. This puts too much pressure on the discs. So you don't want to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time. Walking is great, but you should build up your time gradually. Maybe walk a block for a few days, then increase to two blocks for a few days, then 3, etc. Don't try to do it all at once.

Have you tried pain management? I'd recommend this to get a handle on your pain. Try ALL CONSERVATIVE METHODS before undergoing surgery again!!! Surgery just begets more surgery. You've probably just suffered the "domino effect." What happens is after you've had surgery, the level above or below the surgery site will fail - causing you to possibly need more surgery. BUT if you have surgery again, then THAT level above or below will fail. So that's probably what has happened to you. So more surgery will just make another level herniate. Physical therapy is your best bet. Plus pain management. I wish you the very best. Keep us posted, ok? God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

As always great job Leesa!

The L3/4 Disc has herinated due to the extra pressure it absorbed from non moving discs below it ie the fused locations. It is very common and the term used is domino effect. It is a relatively small herniation at this time, but it will grow in size due to the nature of thing in that area now! Also remember when you have an MRI you spine is unloaded, meaning NOT bearing weight upon it. You could see that 2.8 turn into a 5.0 easily! This is a problem I have within the medical community when they reach a diagnosis solely on a reading instead of using that as a tool!

The other part, and IMHO, is where you are having your most pain. It is scar tissue so to speak and it is trying to grow and as with most any healthy tissue it tries to feed itself with blood and innervation which can be quite painful in itself. What has happened here, it seems, is that the nerve is becoming entrapped within this. That can be a problem, and that can be a real source of pain.

Best of luck!

My doctor is total negative when it comes to pain medication, since I have allegy reaction to several pain medication. The only medication that he allow me to take is 1600 mg of ibuprofen per day and a tense unit. I had land and water therapy and neither help the problem.Schedule consultant with my doctor on 12/27/2012. Only suggestion by my pain management doctor is ESI injections again. Thanks for your help

Injections may help. but I would tell your doctor you are in severe pain and you need some medication to help. I have had 7 injections before my triple fusion and 3 of them did help. My surgery was in 2010 and I am still having alot of pain, I am on morphine and norco. good luck.

Does your doctor know that that about of Ibuprofren can cause BLEEDING? Good grief, your poor stomach will really be taking a beating with that much of that stuff!

It would be SAFER for you to take opiates! Doctors are so ignorant about this. They assume that every pain patient is going to turn into a raging addict. That's so far from the truth, it's ridiculous!

Too bad he won't educate himself and read the statistics.

Best of luck to you and God bless. Hugs, Lee