I am a service connected disabled veteran. 20 years ago, I was told I needed a total knee replacement on my right knee. The surgery was finally done last April 30.

I have since had problems with my left leg and lower back. Pain in my lower back on my left side, and numbness and lack of warmth on the outside of my left thigh. I was sent for a lumbar MRI, and these are my results, and Lord knows, I don't speak doctor. I like knowing what is wrong with me, and who knows when the Veteran's Administration will schedule an appointment for me to go over the results.

Could you nice people put this in language that I can understand, PLEASE???

FINDINGS:There are bilateral L2 pars defects as before. There is 4 mmanterolisthesis of L2 on L3. There is loss of disc space heightat this level. There is uncovering of the intervertebral discwith extrusion of the disc cranially by 9 mm. This does not causesignificant canal or foraminal stenosis.L4-5: Tiny disc bulge. Mild bilateral facet DJD. No stenosis.

Impression: 1. L2 pars defects with 4 mm anterolisthesis and resultingdegenerative disc change.

Primary Diagnostic Code: 15-Abnormality Follow-up indicated


Thank you for your assistance.

I bolded some of the medical terms to look up, so when you talk with drs you'll have the knowledge on those. Nothing in the report said anything about nerves being touched or impinged, so that might be a good thing.
could be slight misalignments or soft tissue or past internal scar tissue..

Just a thought.. might take the report to a good chiropractor or body worker and get an evaluation from them.
Are your hips & knees even across when you look in a mirror?
Have someone look at your back and assess if all is level, even , lined up or if something is higher or lower ..
Or you tube has some pretty good videos on back/hip self help therapy..
Of course don't try anything that seems risky..

I was seen by a doc in the ER when this pain first came on. She sent me to a doc that does prosthetics, and THAT doc told me my left leg was "at least a half inch shorter" than my right leg that got the new knee.

Other than that, I know nothing...