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Weaker Legs With Tingling Sensation. Diagnosed Of Congenital And Acquired Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Recommendations?
my MRI says diffuse disc bulge L3-L4 and L4-L5 as well as congenital and acquired lumbar spinal stenosis. My first doctor says that the MRI is fine even though all this that I have told you was in the report and then I was sent to a specialist. She does EMG test and immediently after the test she came back and said she didn't see any severe nerve damage and set me up for work conditioning therapy everyday for 2 weeks and put on the PT slip that i have back strain. I'm sorry but how can she say that I just have back strain when my legs feel as if they are getting weaker by the day and they are very tingly...its just really hard to explain how my legs feel but they don't feel right. I had a work injury 7 weeks ago and that is when all these symptoms started. I am on workers compensation and I feel as if the doctors are just blowing off my treatment and trying to get me back to work quickly.
Wed, 25 Sep 2013
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
Generally conservative line of management is tried in all cases of Lumbar disc disease and spinal stenosis. If the symptoms are not improving with conservative management or if the neurological symptoms are worsening, then surgical decompression may be indicated.
The initial management of your problem will be 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.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
Generally conservative line of management is tried in all cases of Lumbar disc disease and spinal stenosis. If the symptoms are not improving with conservative management or if the neurological symptoms are worsening, then surgical decompression may be indicated.
The initial management of your problem will be 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.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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