Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: San Diego, Ca
Help With Mri Posted: 09-08-07 03:54am
I was just diagnosed with a severe
herniation of my L4/L5, and milder
herniation of the L5/S1. The Neurologist
said the upper one had separated, and
migrated south, and that it was one of the
larger ones he had seen. My pain
situation began in 2003, lasted for about
4 months on my right leg (unbearable). It
went away mysteriously, then showed up
again this year in July for about 3-4
days. It went away, but left me with a
very weakend left calf/foot (note the
opposite side). It then returned about 4
weeks later on the original right side for
about 2-3 days. 2 weeks later I am pain
free except the morning aches/stiffness.
My Neurologists did a number of tests, and
was surprised my function did not match my
MRI. He said to avoid surgery unless the
pain becomes permanent, or prevents my
work function. I really agree with him,
and have no idea why my pain went away.
My bottom line is he said we still have
much to learn about causes of back pain,
and there are lots of people with
herniations, but no pain.. yet lots of
pain patients with mild herniations. My
hope is to improve my daily habbits,
increase my core muscle strength, and be
aware of my posture. If this doesn't keep
the pain from coming back I suppose I will
succumb to the knife.
Good luck with your pain!
personally I think you should get a second
opion if you can? I have been in a great
deal of pain because of my neck rt arm rt
leg with similar symptoms and I have been
doing the wait and see mythod for over 2
years now. I get nerve burns every 3
months and am on a pain patch called
fentanyl at 75 mcg.among ohter pain meds.
Go get a second opion It does not sound
like the doc you have now really knows
much about this problem
I will pray for you
Taykare
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wcolli
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: San Diego, Ca
Posted: 09-12-07 00:46am
Thanks Taykare, I called my surgeon, and
he suggested I get a second opinion as
well. My pain has remained in check for
the most part. The mornings are the
worst, but completely bearable. It is
just mentally debilitating to think you
are having a good day, then wake up to the
same pain every morning. I am torn
because I think I could just have the
surgery and get it over with, but as my
surgeon said, surgery is the one action
you cannot change your mind on once done.
One thing in I can't get over is the
possibility of conservative action that
may move the herniation back into place.
I know chiropractic claims this to be a
fact, but wonder if it has been clinically
shown. My surgeon scoffed at
chiropractors, but suggested if my pain
goes away that I try to get a clinical MRI
to take a look. If my pain goes away
again, you bet I will be willing to lay in
that tube again! I think he is just as
curious about my ambulatory state as me,
and that gives me some hope of avoiding
the Navy knife.
Thanks for your response, I know they say
misery loves company, but it really is
good to hear from people who have gone
through similar issues.
