I am experiencing a tremendous amount of pain in my back and down my right leg. Currently taking hyrocodone for pain.
I had a microdiscectomy performed on my L5-S1 disc back in 2008.

I'm seeing my doctor on Monday to review the following MRI results and would like him to sign off on a permanent handicapped placard. FYI, I walk about 2 miles per day back and forth to work. The handicapped placard would enable me to ride the bus for free with a guarenteed seat.

How good or bad are these results?
Would a handicapped placard request seem justified based on these findings?

L4-5: There is disc desiccation with central disc protrusion and 5 mm high signal internsity zone in the outer fibrosis of the disc. Mild to moderate bilateral neural foramina stenosis is seen

L5-S1: There is disc desiccation with left paracentral 4 mm disc protrusion partially abutting the left-sided S1 nerve root. There is mild to moderate left and mild right neuroforamina stenosis. Magnetic susceptibility artifact likely from prior procedures seen in the left paraspinous posterior fatty sof tissues.

Have you had any PT since these new pains started?
A TENS and/or low level laser therapy might be helpful.

I not sure on the 4 & 5 mm measurements but one does say abutting nerve root..


I'm not sure of requirement for handicap placards , but if the dr feels there is a need for you I believe all it takes is them to fill out the form.
I think they are good for a year at a time so if someone improves the placard will expire if not renewed.

...to work through. However it is so great to see the radiologist use actual data to describe what is going on! There is the drawback that the dimensions are relative to the size of your spinal structure.

The 4 and 5mm dimensions are over 1/8th of an inch so that is significant even without the relative measurements. What it indicates is that the disk is pushing out enough that there needs to be something done to stop the irritation by the disk rubbing the nerve.

You ask about the MRI reading and how bad it is. It's bad enough to cause you a significant amount of pain so that should alert you that there is a problem. With your on going history with the problem you and your doctor will need to determine the course of action. Try to understand your condition and get some idea about the options. Go to Wikipedia for a start and search on herniated disk.

As to the relationship to a bus pass; personally I'd like to do anything to avoid having to get one but since your condition will most likely require ongoing treatment you could certainly approach your doctor about it.