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Calling all doctors

ni4ni

ni4ni

Golden Member
I had a MRI performed to try to locate source of lower left sided back and leg pain along with severe leg numbness.

The results are in...

1) At L5-S1 prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion
2) This is associated with relatively severe left neuroforaminal narrowing and moderate spinal canal stenosis measuring 0.8cm


I have appointment with a neurosurgeon on Feb 25 and I am going to be off work until then with just 60% of salary coming in. I am only 25 so I am hoping no surgery!

What do those results mean?

EDIT: Now my doctor is telling me maybe I should be on bed rest until I see the neurosurgeon on Feb 25. This freaking sucks!

EDIT:My family physician, who normally doesn't have a problem recommending chiropractors, is telling me to see the neurosurgeon first. He is concerned about the nerve. He says the neurosurgeon is very honest and refers people to "conservative" therapy a lot.
 
At L5-S1, a prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion means a herniation but not with signficant extrusion of the vascular structures sorrounding the soft tissue of the paracentral disc. Prominent posterior annular tearing is also present meaning typically at least six to nine months of vertebrae support is needed in the form of a back brace or similar device which takes pressure off of the paracentral disc.
 
Originally posted by: ni4ni
I had a MRI performed to try to locate source of lower left sided back and leg pain along with severe leg numbness.

The results are in...

1) At L5-S1 prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion
2) This is associated with relatively severe left neuroforaminal narrowing and moderate spinal canal stenosis measuring 0.8cm


I have appointment with a neurosurgeon on Feb 25 and I am going to be off work until then with just 60% of salary coming in. I am only 25 so I am hoping no surgery!

What do those results mean?
Click to expand...

1) The space between your vertebrae has a spongy like disc. This is the shock absorber for your spine. For you, at the level where your lumbar spine meets your sacrum (lowest part of back) your disc is bulging. They are not sure if it is just protruding a bit or if it is out and can't go back on its own. It is at the left side of center.
2) The neuroforaminal narrowing means that on the left side, where your nerves exit your spinal cord and start down your leg is narrowing. That means the nerve is pinched and will cause pain (sometimes excruciating). Stenosis means narrowing. That just means that again, the nerve coming out of that area is being pinched by the bones.

Not sure that you will automatically need surgery. This is lokiju's wife and I'm an x-ray tech. Since you are only 25, they will try to do the least invasive thing to start with. Hopefully just therapy and massage therapy to start. They can also do injections for pain. Talk to your doc about other options than surgery.
 
My sister went to high school with a guy who became a physician and has pioneered a minimally invasive technique that I think might work for you. Well, it seems possible to me. There was a story on TV about it in 2006:

ABC7News story

There was also an article about it in the Sunday edition of the S.F. Chronicle a couple of years ago or so.
 
Originally posted by: ni4ni
I had a MRI performed to try to locate source of lower left sided back and leg pain along with severe leg numbness.

The results are in...

1) At L5-S1 prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion
2) This is associated with relatively severe left neuroforaminal narrowing and moderate spinal canal stenosis measuring 0.8cm


I have appointment with a neurosurgeon on Feb 25 and I am going to be off work until then with just 60% of salary coming in. I am only 25 so I am hoping no surgery!

What do those results mean?
Click to expand...

It means you have an extruded/blown disc. I wish you luck.

May I ask your height and weight?
 
Originally posted by: Farang
At L5-S1, a prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion means a herniation but not with signficant extrusion of the vascular structures sorrounding the soft tissue of the paracentral disc. Prominent posterior annular tearing is also present meaning typically at least six to nine months of vertebrae support is needed in the form of a back brace or similar device which takes pressure off of the paracentral disc.
Click to expand...

How did you lose your avatar?
 
Originally posted by: Farang
At L5-S1, a prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion means a herniation but not with signficant extrusion of the vascular structures sorrounding the soft tissue of the paracentral disc. Prominent posterior annular tearing is also present meaning typically at least six to nine months of vertebrae support is needed in the form of a back brace or similar device which takes pressure off of the paracentral disc.
Click to expand...

I thought that was common sense?
 
Originally posted by: Analog
Originally posted by: Farang
At L5-S1, a prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion means a herniation but not with signficant extrusion of the vascular structures sorrounding the soft tissue of the paracentral disc. Prominent posterior annular tearing is also present meaning typically at least six to nine months of vertebrae support is needed in the form of a back brace or similar device which takes pressure off of the paracentral disc.
Click to expand...

How did you lose your avatar?
Click to expand...

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2271096&enterthread=y
 
Originally posted by: lokiju
Originally posted by: ni4ni
I had a MRI performed to try to locate source of lower left sided back and leg pain along with severe leg numbness.

The results are in...

1) At L5-S1 prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion
2) This is associated with relatively severe left neuroforaminal narrowing and moderate spinal canal stenosis measuring 0.8cm


I have appointment with a neurosurgeon on Feb 25 and I am going to be off work until then with just 60% of salary coming in. I am only 25 so I am hoping no surgery!

What do those results mean?
Click to expand...

1) The space between your vertebrae has a spongy like disc. This is the shock absorber for your spine. For you, at the level where your lumbar spine meets your sacrum (lowest part of back) your disc is bulging. They are not sure if it is just protruding a bit or if it is out and can't go back on its own. It is at the left side of center.
2) The neuroforaminal narrowing means that on the left side, where your nerves exit your spinal cord and start down your leg is narrowing. That means the nerve is pinched and will cause pain (sometimes excruciating). Stenosis means narrowing. That just means that again, the nerve coming out of that area is being pinched by the bones.

Not sure that you will automatically need surgery. This is lokiju's wife and I'm an x-ray tech. Since you are only 25, they will try to do the least invasive thing to start with. Hopefully just therapy and massage therapy to start. They can also do injections for pain. Talk to your doc about other options than surgery.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your help. I have tried massage therapy and minor PT with no luck. (I work for a hospital so I was able to sneak around and get free services.)
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: ni4ni
I had a MRI performed to try to locate source of lower left sided back and leg pain along with severe leg numbness.

The results are in...

1) At L5-S1 prominent left paracentral disc protrusion versus extrusion
2) This is associated with relatively severe left neuroforaminal narrowing and moderate spinal canal stenosis measuring 0.8cm


I have appointment with a neurosurgeon on Feb 25 and I am going to be off work until then with just 60% of salary coming in. I am only 25 so I am hoping no surgery!

What do those results mean?
Click to expand...

It means you have an extruded/blown disc. I wish you luck.

May I ask your height and weight?
Click to expand...

I know these are probably responsible.....I am 6'3" AND 300 lbs.
 
Originally posted by: Muse
My sister went to high school with a guy who became a physician and has pioneered a minimally invasive technique that I think might work for you. Well, it seems possible to me. There was a story on TV about it in 2006:

ABC7News story

There was also an article about it in the Sunday edition of the S.F. Chronicle a couple of years ago or so.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Printed and researching!
 
Not sure what the "results" said ... but my wife had 2 discectomies within about 8 months.

1st) Orthopedic surgeon. Said everything went great. She felt better for almost a month, then things started feeling the same as before. He made her wait 5 months and after an MRI, said we needed a "RE-DO".

We didn't like the idea of a "RE-DO", so went for a 2nd opinion and really liked the surgeon.

2nd) Neurosurgeon. Said everythin went great. She felt better for 3 days then all hell broke loose. His nurse said sometimes people just don't get better. So I went batshit crazy.

She came back 5 minutes later and said maybe the post-surgery steroids that they administer to prevent swelling while the nerve acclimates weren't enough. Gave her another power pak (5 days or so) and she hasn't had a problem since!

----------------------

Now ... the neurosurgeon said that when they are in there removing disc material, that they do it as a judgement call. If they remove too much, you have no cushion, if they remove too little, you get no relief. He said after the 1st surgery, it sounds like some material got out to put pressure on the nerve before any scar tissue had really formed (or something like this).

-----------------------

Just make sure to get as much information as possible. As long as they are not fusing discs, it really isn't THAT invasive. It's outpatient unless there's a problem.

I am not a doctor.
 
Originally posted by: Blieb
Not sure what the "results" said ... but my wife had 2 discectomies within about 8 months.

1st) Orthopedic surgeon. Said everything went great. She felt better for almost a month, then things started feeling the same as before. He made her wait 5 months and after an MRI, said we needed a "RE-DO".

We didn't like the idea of a "RE-DO", so went for a 2nd opinion and really liked the surgeon.

2nd) Neurosurgeon. Said everythin went great. She felt better for 3 days then all hell broke loose. His nurse said sometimes people just don't get better. So I went batshit crazy.

She came back 5 minutes later and said maybe the post-surgery steroids that they administer to prevent swelling while the nerve acclimates weren't enough. Gave her another power pak (5 days or so) and she hasn't had a problem since!

----------------------

Now ... the neurosurgeon said that when they are in there removing disc material, that they do it as a judgement call. If they remove too much, you have no cushion, if they remove too little, you get no relief. He said after the 1st surgery, it sounds like some material got out to put pressure on the nerve before any scar tissue had really formed (or something like this).

-----------------------

Just make sure to get as much information as possible. As long as they are not fusing discs, it really isn't THAT invasive. It's outpatient unless there's a problem.

I am not a doctor.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that...I hope your wife continues to do well with no problems!
 
Originally posted by: silverpig
Centrifuge will fix ya. Strap your feet in, whip you around and around until your back stretches back out.
Click to expand...

Nah.......... mustache ride will fix ya even better 😉

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
Now my doctor is telling me maybe I should be on bed rest until I see the neurosurgeon on Feb 25. This freaking sucks!
 
Since I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night, I can confidently recommend putting a Band-aid on the affected area. Not a regular band aid, but a Spongebob one
 
You have a popped disc in your lower back. My wife had several after an injury and had to have her lower spine fused- leading to other health issues 🙁

If it's just one, they may just give you physical therapy. Several requires surgery, but I understand they have synthetic discs they can use now.
 
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