Back Pain Forum - Lumbar/ facet injections or Osteopathic therapy?

Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Lumbar/ facet injections or Osteopathic therapy?

What structures make up the spine? We review basic spine anatomy here...before identifying potential causes of back pain....

Q: Lumbar/ facet injections or Osteopathic therapy?

asked by: DoctorQuestion on August 5th, 2006

I have had an MRI scan that shows At L4/L5 a broad based, left postero-lateral disc protrusion into the left lateral exit foramen with neural contact of the exiting left L4 nerve within. At L5/S1 a further left posteo-lateral focal disc protrusion is present into the lateral exit foramen without neural compression or contact.
Mild to moderate facet joint arthropathy is present at L5/S1 with subarticular sclerosis and anterior and posterior osteophytic pointing of the facets.
I am not a candidate for surgery however I am not sure if lumbar/ facet injections or osteopathic therapy is the best option?

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on August 17th, 2006

Back Pain Answer A1341

It seems that you are experiencing spondylosis. Osteophytic pointing and subarticular sclerosis are not treated surgically, but disc protrusion can be treated surgically by removing the disc. Spondylosis is treated with pharmaceutical drugs (muscle relaxants, painkillers, corticosteroids and B-vitamins), physical therapy and, surgically via intervention. You can consult a neurosurgeon or an orthopedist, a physical therapist, and a rheumatologist to decide if lumbar/ facet injections or osteopathic therapy is the best option for you.

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