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Suggest Treatment For Back Pain While Having Degenerative Facet Joint Disease
Question: My 17 yr old (about to be 18 in a week) has been complianing of back pain for a coiple years. After an xray showed a minimal curvature she started physical therapy and has been doing that for the last year and a half. She is still complaining usually after dance (she dances competitively) and seems to be taking alot of naproxen and motrin. The dr recently ordered an mri. My question is.... Is any of the findings anything to worry about and/or follow up on? And was anything found that would explain her pain? And lastly is her pain warrented or should I tell her to toughen up?
Brief Answer:
early arthritis L4-5
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to see that your daughter is experiencing pain in her back. This is a common condition and her x rays do show early arthritis at L4-5. That is what is called degenerative facet joint disease. This is a result of her scoliosis. There is really not much one can do about the scoliosis as it is minimal and does not require any surgery or other treatments at this time. The facet disease is there and unfortunately nothing can be done there either. I do recommend that she continue to take her ibuprofen and naprosyn as needed and only as prescribed. Physical therapy may help but if she has already been in therapy for 1 1/2 years you need to question if it is truly helping.
She should either ice or heat after dance to help reduce pain.
One option is to see a pain specialist who can do facet joint injections. This may help block her pain and allow her to continue to dance.
There is nothing dangerous going on in her back. And she is truly experiencing pain as seen on the MRI and xrays. She needs to decide when she has had enough.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
early arthritis L4-5
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to see that your daughter is experiencing pain in her back. This is a common condition and her x rays do show early arthritis at L4-5. That is what is called degenerative facet joint disease. This is a result of her scoliosis. There is really not much one can do about the scoliosis as it is minimal and does not require any surgery or other treatments at this time. The facet disease is there and unfortunately nothing can be done there either. I do recommend that she continue to take her ibuprofen and naprosyn as needed and only as prescribed. Physical therapy may help but if she has already been in therapy for 1 1/2 years you need to question if it is truly helping.
She should either ice or heat after dance to help reduce pain.
One option is to see a pain specialist who can do facet joint injections. This may help block her pain and allow her to continue to dance.
There is nothing dangerous going on in her back. And she is truly experiencing pain as seen on the MRI and xrays. She needs to decide when she has had enough.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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