Hi, I'm new here and I'm sorry for the length. I have been posting around to see if anyone can give me insight. I have had a 2 level ACDF(cervical) with hardware in 2003(C4-C6). It left me partially unfused and with terrible pain in my neck(like a knife), for which I am in pain mgmt for(which include a long acting med, BT meds, anti spasm meds and nerve pain med). Not to mention another bulge at C3-4 now, still left untreated.

In 2004, I developed lower back pain. Now, my back pain is getting worse across my lower back mostly and down my right butt cheek. Not too much pain down my right leg, but at times it does hurt if I am doing normal chores. I cannot lie flat, if I do, I literally cannot move after 30 mins to turn over or get up due to spasming and excrutiating pain. I can only sit for about 20 mins before the pain gets unbearable, it feels like stabbing in the middle and something being pulled like a rope across my lower back that gets tighter and tighter as I move, sucking the breath out of Me. I walk hunched over now due to the pain across my lower back and walking a short distance, has me bent over in tears. I can now only sleep in a recliner to get somewhat of a decent sleep for about 2 hrs, before being up every hour on the hour.

I had an MRI 2 weeks ago and the report came back as follows: I'll shorten it the best I can:

L4-L5, Disc bulging and shallow central disc protrusion associated with posterior annular tear or fissure. L5-S-1 level, mild broad based disc bulging or protrusion.

The findings part mentions indentation on the ventral surface of thecal sac centrally(L4-L5), Mild narrowing of central spinal canal probably without significant central stenosis. Mild narrowing lateral recess area's with equivocal impingment of the L5 nerve roots arising from the thecal sac.

The rest of the findings mentions disc degeneration, arthritis and synovial cyst arising posteriorly on the right facet joint. It was also noted I have facet arthropathy.

I saw my doc right after and She said She doesn't think back surgery is needed yet, due to having no bowel and bladder issues, which is great, I don't want to go through another spinal surgery ever again, that was her "Well the good news is". She had mentioned surgery before, but now changed her mind.

We tried Lidoderm patches last year, it did nothing. In 2006 she did a Epidural injection to ease the pain that radiated down my butt cheek and leg. It didn't do anything, no numbness at all, which surprised the doc, as it was done under flouroscopy and she got it right in there. Nothing went numb even right after the procedure.

I begged her to try another type of injection for the pain, mainly for the lower back pain which is unbearable. She warned me that if it worked, it would only be a temporary solution and if anything, it would give me only about a month of pain relief. Well, any amt of pain relief sounds good to me. This time, she did it on the facet joints, saying my pain sounds more of a mechanical nature. So, Yesterday, I went and had bilateral facet blocks on L4and L5. I'm praying it works. I'm just very very sore today, I swear she hit a nerve on my right side, she even apologized as I let out a very almost silent moan. Today, its back to radiating down my butt cheek and leg, where she did the other injection on L5 I believe.

Can anyone tell me if what the MRI findings state, is what is causing severe, and I mean truly severe lower back pain across my lower back? To me, the findings don't show anything bad I believe, which don't get me wrong, is good of course, but how can what are just disc bulges/protrusions cause me so much agony? I thought herniations would cause that type of pain(like in my neck), not bulges/protrusions.

I can't do PT due to my cervical problems, so what does that leave me for treatment options? Any idea's? I don't want to increase my meds really or change them, but I can't deal with neck and back pain together.

Much Thanks in Advance if you read this far and can help me,
Becs