narrowing of disc space between l4 & l5 Posted: 04-30-05 07:51am
Hello,
i posted a long version of my problem
early this morning but for some reason it
didnt post to the forum, maybe it was
something I didnt do.
Here is my short version I hope someone
can help.
I have suffered with back pain all my
life, im 54 now and retired from
hairdressing about 12 years ago.
The salon that I worked in closed down and
I claimed unemployment and used up all my
prsi insurance stamps, I was stupid
because I should have claimed disability
or invalidity. The reason I did not claim
was because years back I came out of work
sick with my back and was claiming
disability but was called before social
security dr and found fit for work, that
was my first and last claim and I got only
6 weeks on disability. I didnt appeal it
as I had to go back to work because my son
was in college and I needed the money as
my husband was on incapacity benefit
because of cancer.
My dr is female, she came to the practice
5 years ago and I was handed over to her
as her patient, she has never examined my
back and really dont know what I go
through, she just tells me to loose weight
and yoga might help!!!!!! I collect my
monthly prescription for arthrotec thats
all she knows. I had to tell her my
history and that years ago I started off
on difene, then volterol and other meds.
I had to ask her to send me for an xray a
few weeks ago, I had to phone her about
the results, she then asked me to call
over so that she could explain the
results.
Here are my results,
there is marked narrowing of disc space
between l4 & l5, consistant with
degenerative change at this level. The
lumbar spine appears otherwise
satisfactory. There is a mild scoliosis
of the mid lumbar spine. Alignment of
lumbar spine is otherwise normal. The
sacro illiac joints are normal. No bony
pathology identified.
My dr's opinion, thats not too bad at all,
I thought if that is not too bad why do I
have to lie flat for days when the
inflamation is bad and my back is burning
with pain, I cant sit nor stand etc etc.
At the moment I sign for credits, no
payement, it keeps me in benefit but I
have to be looking for work and elegable
to work, I was told last year that I
should claim invalidity because some
months I have missed signing due to my
back, I have explained this to the
employment exchange, they told me that if
I miss signing I will loose my claim to
sign for credits.
Im trying to keep this short as possible,
I made a decision to claim invalidity and
brought the forms over to my dr to fill
in, she ticked off moderate to every
question, she didnt listen to me.
I explained to her that im not claiming to
gain money as my husband will be cut for
claimingt for me but it is the principal,
she still did her own thing.
Obviously I will not get invalidity while
she has ticked moderate to everything I
will be sent before social security dr and
how can I prove to him how bad my back
problem is, I know now it is time to
change Dr.
I have tried to improve my life, i've done
3 computer courses and could not finish
them due to sitting too long.
Can anyone of you identify with me and
also what is your opinion on my back xray,
dr thinks its not bad!!
Thank you,
hopeful.
|
NeuromuscularTherapist
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 9
Reply Posted: 05-03-05 20:24pm
Hopeful,
the fact is that x-rays don't show squat.
The only thing they are useful for is
detecting bone spurs, disc height loss,
etc. The other test, mri carries with it
some interesting statistics that they
don't tell you. The fact is that over
95% of all mri's will show some sort of
abnormality, even if the patient has no
symptoms!! This is important because it
shows that just because the mri shows that
their is dysfunction, does not mean that
it is a problem. Discs will bulge and
re-absorb probably many times throughout
your lifetime. The same thing the other
way around. Just because it "doesn't
appear bad" doesn't mean squat. Doctors
aren't taught to treat back pain. In
fact they only spend about 2-3 weeks in
medical school in orthopedics. They are
not movement therapists, thus never having
to actually rehabilitate a disc pain
patient. You simply can't when you spend
15 minutes with them. You definately
sound like you have a mechanical
dysfunction, although that advice won't
take you far. You need to find a
professional that knows what the heck they
are doing. Disc bulges and spinal
dysfunctions are not caused by a lack of
chiropractic adjustments, surgery, or
medication deficiency. They are caused
by imbalances within the muscular system
that pull the structures out of alignment.
This can also be caused by poor
nutrition and gut disorders that will
reflexivy shut of the abdominal muscles,
which are key stabilizers of the lumbar
spine. Proper posture, work ergonomics,
nutrition, in addition to manual therapy
procedures are the only way to completely
recover from these types of issues. I
recommend that you visit my website for
some more information and find a type of
therapist called a chek practitioner when
you can afford one. You are simply not
going to find the kind of help you need by
working with practitioners that accept
insurance. They simply don't have the
time to spend with you. Insurance
companies are already ripping them off.
That is why they don't have the ability to
keep doing continuing education and learn
how to treat patients better. They are
wrapped up in trying to earn a decent
living by seeing 100 people per day. I
know because I have worked in a pt clinic.
