Hi, I am new to this forum and hope someone may have some advice for me. I am a 60 yr. old man and I'll share a brief history. Fifteen months ago I lifted a really heavy object. Within a week I started to experience pain and numbness in my left leg, below the knee. It had all the symptoms of shin splints. This feeling never went away and would became, and still is, quite uncomfortable if I stand stationary. I began to experience some lower back pain several months later. I went to a chiropractor and had no success. I finally went to my doctor and he wanted me to have an MRI, but my insurance wouldn't ok it. I thought that I would work my way through it, but my condition has continued to worsen.

I went to see my doctor a week ago, and he wanted me to begin physical therapy and have an MRI. I had my 1st physical therapy session 3 days later and am waiting for approval for my MRI (does anyone have advice on getting this approval?). I will be having PT sessions 2x a week for the next 4 weeks. Here is my current condition- I am now experiencing numbness in my other leg also. It is extremely uncomfortable to stand and when I do, my legs begin to feel very heavy. If I lift anything over 15 lbs, I start experiencing more numbness and heaviness in my legs (especially on the top of my feet). I do not have good balance and and walk quite stiffly. I really do not have much back pain. I have to be on the move or be sitting. When I am walking I actually feel pretty good. This condition is having a huge impact on my job and overall quality of life. I would appreciate all the help I can get.

Welcome DBrick.

Someone will be along to help.

Have you asked your doctor about this? They can sometimes put in an override request, or know another way around the bureaucracy/situation.

IIRC, anytime I've had an MRI, it's been ordered by a specialist. I can't say for certain, but perhaps if you saw a neurologist, an order for an MRI might carry more weight than from your PCP. I'd try asking your PCP (or whoever it was) first though.

Doc

Please request a MRI of your entire spine. Not just your lower spine.

The reason this is important is because I have had MRIs of my lower and middle spine for over 30 years (9 major back surgeries since I was 12 and I am now 50 years old).

In 2010 I started to have difficultly with walking and it felt like I had 30 pound weights hanging on my upper thighs - heavy legs I would describe it as.....I had the lower spine MRIs and other scans and tests of the lower spine and nothing "new" showed up.

By 2013 I could only walk 5 steps and both legs and then my arms became a problem. My hands started to curl up into fists and my legs were basically doing the same thing. A neurosurgeon asked me if I had any cervical (neck) MRIs and I said no. He ran a neck MRI and it showed that my spinal cord was completely flattened in two places in my neck and this was what was causing the problems with my legs and arms.

I had neck surgery to release the compression on the spinal cord and I am back to walking normally but I still have some problems with my hands and arms but nothing like before surgery.

It can't hurt to have the MRI to rule out any neck issues. Insurance might require that you have three separate MRIs - one for the lumbar spine, one for the thoracic spine and one for the cervical spine. It depends on your insurance. Some allow you to have all of them at once, however, that takes over 2 hours of laying completely still in the MRI machine which is difficult for anyone.

Good luck and stay as active as possible.

I just completed my 3rd week of PT and I have improved on my stability. However, my therapist commented that he is at a loss on what is going on to cause my numbness. He wishes that I could have my MRI, but I have found that my insurance wants me to have 6 wks. of therapy before they will approve one. I've done all kinds of online research and every article that I read on numbness also talks about pain, but I have hardly had any pain. I experience muscle tightness and when I stand stationary a real heavyness in my legs, almost as if they were going to sleep. I find that walking helps relieve my problem, so I walk as much as possible. Oh well, I'll keep on plugging away.

I just had my MRI today. I received a call from the Dr. informing me that the MRI showed "multiple" disc herniations. I have an appointment in 2 days to see a spinal surgeon to determine where to go from here.

Seems like your insurance company's policy is madness as prescribing physical therapy without any clue as to what is going on with the spine is a recipe for disaster...

Hanshan, I have to say that I agree with you. I feel a lot more confident now that I have had my MRI and have a good idea of what is going on. My visit with the spinal surgeon was encouraging and I will be getting an EMG check on my legs in 4 days. I finally feel that I have an idea on how to work through this. My Physical Therapist helped me, but he wasn't to thrilled about working on me without having a good idea of what my problem really was. I am still working, doing exercises, and riding my recumbent exercise bike to keep my leg strength and flexibility. I do feel that some of the exercises at PT were too aggressive and actually increased my numbness.

I have a copy of my Mri report
L3-L4 Severe proximal neural foraminal compromise especially on the left.
L4-L5: Broad posterior disc extrusion creates mild to moderate central stenosis. Severe proximal neural foraminal compromise is noted bilaterally especially on the right.
L5-S1: Broad protrusion without stenosis centrally. Severe proximal neural foraminal narrowing is present due to facet arthopathy.

Severe spondylitic changes of the lumbar spine are noted with significant neural foraminal compromise at several levels. This is most pronounced at the L3-L4 where there is a broad left foraminal extrusion which extends superior leak into the left neural foramen with impingement of the exiting left L3 nerve. Centrally spinal stenosis is most pronounced at the L4-L5 where there is a broad extrusion creating mild to moderate stenosis. Severe neural foraminal narrowing bilaterally is present at this level.

I had an epidural injection today and will be having a return appointment with my spinal surgeon 1 week from now. I want surgery to be a last resort.

I am carrying on with the exercises that I did in Physical Therapy, riding my exercise bike daily, and trying to lose 15-20 lbs.

Can anyone fill me in on my MRI before I go to the Dr.? Thanks