Mike, I have to agree with all the advice listed here...
I cannot tell you enough how difficult it can be finding the correct treatment, especially with no insurance.

Again, just to reiterate what most everyone here has already said, try conservative methods of treatment before rushing into anything invasive. (it doesn't sound like that is something you would do in your financial situation anyway)

But agree, the more you read and learn about what is going on wiht your spine, the more power you have in treatment options.

Before you attempt any exercises or stretches, etc... I have to really suggest even if you can afford just one session with a PT- explain to them your situation - most good PT's will do a thorough exam on your first session and they can give you the correct exercises to fit your specific problems.

From personal experience - i have to warn against just doing any old exercises you find on the web, etc... even if they say they are to treat sciatica, etc... Please see a professional PT for at least one session...
and let them give you suggestions and a written list of exercises that you can take home.

The image you provided above is only a slice of your spine... there could be other things going in that we can't see from just that one image.

Good luck and keep us posted!

P.S. i totally feel for you about the lack of insurance, i have been self employed for a long time and haven't had insurance in over 8 years. it can be tough, but keep your chin up - and please find a qualified PT and spend the 60-100$ for an initial consult and explain to them that you can only have that one session. call around... remember MOST people that are PT's etc... choose their career because it was something they like- and they WANT to help people. (oddly- i don't find the same amount of compassion from surgeons or those that make a ton of $$$$) but i won't get into my personal opinions about greedy surgeons here.
; )

Theresa

Mike- I redid your MRI scan and brightened it up-

It's a really solid suggestion you shared, treesgirl .

I read a lot, and, still, before I'd attempt something on my "own," I would also run it past a doc or do my best to do a "meet and greet" with someone such as a PT. I'd make sure, too, the PT, has reports and films on-hand, too.

Hi LikeMike,
I think I need to join this forum, and am starting with your problems.
I'm going through the process of finding out what is wrong with me too.
I have a good clue as I fell full force on my tail bone a number of years ago and have always had problems with my back, hips, neck.... A few years ago I started having problems with a shoulder so bad I couldn't get more then 2 hours of sleep. Sleeping pills and aspirin didn't cut it. The doctor gave me a muscle relaxant which helped till the pain got worse.
The reason I'm answering your post is that, 1. I have similar doctor problems and yesterday the doctor said my current problems are stress. I have almost all the symptoms for either syringomyelia or something similar.
2. and most important, my pain is so bad since I slipped on the ice about 6 weeks ago, I'm also now on 800 mg of Ibuprofen 3 x/ day along with the other pain meds etc.
The doctor is probably not believing you because you are not in need of enough pain medication.
I hate taking so much medication, but the pain is so bad, I'll go crazy if I don't. AND, not calming the pain down causes it to get worse.
The doctor also told me I might have herniation, but she doesnt really believe it. She really thinks I just need anti-depressants.
They all treated me the same when my shoulder was so bad. Finally I pushed enough to get an MRI. I had calcium deposits in it. Once I FINALLY got the surgery I was in such bad pain, I was ready to cut my arm and shoulder off.
I also was so bad, the doctor extracted enough calcium to make a nice size cookie. That's what he said. not me. He said I had an advanced case, and now I pay for it by continuing to have trouble with that shoulder along with my back etc.
I'm not trying to belittle your problem, just telling you what I KNOW about some (many) doctors tendencies.
Some people are able to withstand more pain too. Don't wait, please get the help you need.
I'm here for support while the doctor tries to say I'm stressed or depressed or both. The x-ray even shows the previous damage to my back, a few disk compressions, a schmorl's node and comparing an x-ray from 5 years ago, some curvature beginning. But only a chiropractor would compare those.
I'm on medi-cal, sort of thankfully.
I have the prescription for the MRI finally and now I have to fight with my own feelings of being able to deal with it if the MRI doesn't show anything.
You definitely should read the information about herniated disks. I never realized a herniation could be a really bad thing!
Don't underplay your pain, and realize that you could have some numbness that keeps you from feeling all the pain. And...find a different doctor.

Hello,

I am hoping someone can give me some advice on my back / leg pain.

A few years ago, I suffered some sort of infection that weakened my immune system. I picked up "whatever it was" up in the mountains of Puerto Rico - I have suffered several repeated infections and was told that my immune system had weakened. I even came down with a staph infection from swimming in the warm ocean waters in Florida during the summer months.....and was hospitalized for a week. For the past year, I have had no trouble with the infections, but my back/right leg/foot pain is terrible. I read somewhere that back pain could come from having autoimmune problems - has anyone heard of this? Anyway, I had a recent MRI from a chiropractor that wants to put me on the DRX9000 machine -

my MRI results were:

1. L5-S1 small central disc protrusion/herniation confined to the epidural fat, which does not impinge upon the neural structures nor result in significant central canal or foraminal stenosis.

2. L4-L5 minimal disc bulge

3. T3-T4 tiny right paracentral disc protrusion/herniation, without cord impingement, central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

4. T5-T6 and T8-T9 minimal disc bulges

I cannot sit for very long at all without my right buttocks and right leg hurting pretty bad - burning and constant ache down my right leg. If I walk even just a little bit outside of the house - my right leg kills me and I start to limp - my low back is sore and also between my shoulder blades always has big knots in them.........I take BC powder for the pain - which does not help much - and that upsets my stomach - also Excedrin Back and Body...............I have an appt Monday with a general doctor to give me a referral to see a neurosurgeon - if he thinks that is what I should do - I am scared that the DXR 9000 machine is a scam - the chrio told me it would cost about 5K.........and you have to have a referral to see the Neurosurgeon......nothing seems to help, except doing nothing and I can't live this way........I'm grumpy and in pain all of the time.......so far, no one has told me I needed surgery...............and I don't really want surgery, I just want to stop hurting so much and be able to do the things that I used to do again - I'm only 40.

Hi NJS, welcome to the forum. When you get your MRI done come back and let us know about the syringo.

I have syringo in my cervical area from an auto accident. It really is a painful condition and many times it takes a combination of things to get relief. This can be anti-depressants, pain pills, muscle relaxers and anti-seizure medication. I was reluctant to take anti depressants for a long time but after researching them I found that many are prescribed for nerve pain as well as some anti seizure medication. Plus who wouldn't get depressed being in pain 24/7.

There is another website called ASAP.org that you can check out. There are many fellow sufferers there that can answer your questions if it turns out you do have a syrinx.

Welcome to the group...Sue

Mike,

I believe that Chirogeek does consultations for a small fee. You send him all the records and she reads the reports and provides insight.

I know someone else listed the site.

Good luck.

Hello again everyone I apologize for taking so long to reply to this topic but until now I did not really have much news to report but that has since change. I have now been lucky enough to be able to see a physical therapist (PT) and he looked at my pictures and did a small exam to find out what the strength of my legs were and felt good that I still have almost all of my normal strength / function in my legs and he set me up with a exercise routine.to maintain a "neutral spine" position.

He also said if I felt like I could go back to work then I should try it and said I should try to alternate standing and sitting throughout the day and I need to do something called the "fowlers position" where I lay on my back with my knees bent and feet touching the ground for 10 - 15 mins a day.

He told me to do the exersices 3x a day and the fowlers position once a day during my lunchbreak and in 2 weeks he wants to see me again so he can give me some more advanced exercises and check on my progress.

He did say that he is confident that I will eventually need surgery and even though he would not give me any hard numbers of a successful percentage rate for the surgery he did fell it would improve my situation quite abit. I did tell him that from what I have read that most of the time surgery doesn't help and he replied to that by saying thats because most people don't follow the post surgery exercises they need to follow in order for the back to stay healthy but I didn't really buy that excuse so I kind of have mixed feelings about this guy even though he did seem genuine and very knowledgeable on the subject.

Anyway thats where things stand now. I still haven't heard back from my old employer yet and I submitted my rehire application a month ago now and called them numerous times so I am going to have to search for alternate employment it seems which is a shame because I really did like that job but I like eating and having a home more so it's time to hit the pavement so to speak and thanks again for all the replies and advise I will keep you posted if any developments arise.

Cheers,
Mike