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Severe Pain In Back, Leg, Undergone Lower Back Surgery. MRI Done. What Does Report Suggest?
I had lower back surgery on my l5-s1 3 and a half years ago and now all the sudden I have the worse pain in my back and down my right leg but this time I can't sit or lay down but standing up is better ! I can't stand forever anyway my MRI shows:
L5-s1 bulging disc/osteophyte 2.2mm,circumferential, with superimposed right posterolateral disc protrusion/extrusion extending inferiorly behind s1, 6mm cephalocaudad, 5mm anterior-posterior. 6mm mediolateral. Moderate bilateral facet hypertrophy. Moderate right and mild to moderate left foraminal stenosis. Moderate right lateral recess encroachment, mild disc narrowing with vacuum change please tell me what's going on and what I need to make me stop feeling this way
L5-s1 bulging disc/osteophyte 2.2mm,circumferential, with superimposed right posterolateral disc protrusion/extrusion extending inferiorly behind s1, 6mm cephalocaudad, 5mm anterior-posterior. 6mm mediolateral. Moderate bilateral facet hypertrophy. Moderate right and mild to moderate left foraminal stenosis. Moderate right lateral recess encroachment, mild disc narrowing with vacuum change please tell me what's going on and what I need to make me stop feeling this way
Mon, 5 Aug 2013
Hello
Thanks for writing to HCM
You didn't mentioned type of surgery you underwent 3 and half years ago,any way
Your MRI findings suggest that you have age related degenerative changes of spine in form of
1.osteophytes measuring 2.2 mm.Osteophytes forms due to chronic strain on annulus fibrosis.
2.You have herniation of intervertebral disc at L5-S1 level and it migrates in inferior ,cephalocaudal ,antero-posterior and mediolateral direction.
Herniated disc is causing mild to moderate left neural foramen narrowing and
in right side it is moderately encroaching .
3. Bilateral facet joints are also hypertrophied.
4.Vacuum changes are also related to degenerative changes.
5.Intervertebral disc is also mildly narrowed.
Hope you have understand the terms.
Get well soon.
Take Care
Dr.Indu Bhushan
Thanks for writing to HCM
You didn't mentioned type of surgery you underwent 3 and half years ago,any way
Your MRI findings suggest that you have age related degenerative changes of spine in form of
1.osteophytes measuring 2.2 mm.Osteophytes forms due to chronic strain on annulus fibrosis.
2.You have herniation of intervertebral disc at L5-S1 level and it migrates in inferior ,cephalocaudal ,antero-posterior and mediolateral direction.
Herniated disc is causing mild to moderate left neural foramen narrowing and
in right side it is moderately encroaching .
3. Bilateral facet joints are also hypertrophied.
4.Vacuum changes are also related to degenerative changes.
5.Intervertebral disc is also mildly narrowed.
Hope you have understand the terms.
Get well soon.
Take Care
Dr.Indu Bhushan
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Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
All the MRI findings in your description suggest degenerative changes in the Lumbar spine with extruded disc causing compression over the corresponding nerve root. This compression is causing you severe right leg pain.
As you already had a back surgery at L5-S1, propably it could be a recurrent disc causing symptoms again.
You can try a conservative mode of management as follows -
* avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back
* avoid forward bending activities as it will worsen the disc protrusion
* Use a lumbosacral back support to augment your spinal muscles
* Intermittent pelvic traction to cause a regression of disc
* Maintain optimum body weight,if you are obese
* Physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscles. Physiotherapy has to be done only after the acute pain has subsided.
* Judicious use of analgesics and muscle relaxants.
If all the above measures fail to provide symptom relief, then you may need a surgical decompression.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
All the MRI findings in your description suggest degenerative changes in the Lumbar spine with extruded disc causing compression over the corresponding nerve root. This compression is causing you severe right leg pain.
As you already had a back surgery at L5-S1, propably it could be a recurrent disc causing symptoms again.
You can try a conservative mode of management as follows -
* avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back
* avoid forward bending activities as it will worsen the disc protrusion
* Use a lumbosacral back support to augment your spinal muscles
* Intermittent pelvic traction to cause a regression of disc
* Maintain optimum body weight,if you are obese
* Physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscles. Physiotherapy has to be done only after the acute pain has subsided.
* Judicious use of analgesics and muscle relaxants.
If all the above measures fail to provide symptom relief, then you may need a surgical decompression.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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