lower back pain

Ok just got my mri results back and it say:

L1-L2 slight disc bulging

L2-L3 slight disc bulging

L3-L4 slight protruding disc at the right lateral recess. Mild right lateral recess narrowing. Mild bilateral facet DJD.

L4-L5 Shallow disc bulge with mild flattening of the ventral surface of the thecal sac. Mild bilateral facet DJD and mild thickening of the ligamentum flavum.

L5-S1 Mild degenerative disc changes with slight disc bulge and mild impingement of the ventral surface of the thecal sac. Mild bilateral facet DJD.

Dr. is recomending phycial therapy of traction. If that don't work we will try injections.

I don't care at this point just want some relif!!!!!!!! Anyone else have any suggestions?

Hi, Motokid14,
Welcome to the chronic pain forum of Healing Well. Many of us have had those problems and much more!

We are a great support group, but we're not doctors and can't really interpret the MRI for you. Bulging disks happen to lots of us, especially as we age, and many people have no symptoms at all, but obviously you do.

It sounds like your doctor is on the right track by starting with PT. I'm not sure how old you are, but most doctors don't put us right on medications, and that's as it should be in most instances. I've been through a lot of PT, many injections, and lumbar fusion surgery. Some aspects of PT can be very helpful. I'd suggest trying it, and really following your PT's instructions about how to move right, stretching, etc. Heat, ice, and stim. machines can also help, and PT's use many of these, along with traction.

Is your doctor a pain management specialist? Is he/she giving you anything to help with the pain right now?

You might also find it helpful to read a lot of older threads here on some of the topics; there's much to learn from the members of the forum.

Again, welcome!

PaLady

Pete,

I'm betting that was a good call about the motocross!

PaLady
oops! My bad! Sorry!

Post Edited (PAlady) : 4/23/2009 10:46:42 PM (GMT-6)

motokid14

Welcome to the Forum, and sorry to hear your having pain, form the sounds of your MRI I think you have a reason to be having some pain. It does sound like your lower back is aging, and none to gracefully either! PT should help, but it will take time, and your pain will probably not disappear over night, the PT traction will try to stretch you out a little and take the pressure off the nerves, that may very well help you allot. The prednisone he has you on is a steriod and it is an anti-inflammatory agent, it usually takes a little while for it to work, and of course the Lortab is for the pain ( that is Vicodin) Which is a combination of Hydrocodone bitartrate an opioid analgesic and acetaminophen (tylenol). What strength is your lortabs? they vary in strength in both of the mediacations. Usually if given in the proper strength it is very effective in relieving pain, but often only for short periods of time.

Did you talk with you doctor about the medication not relieving you pain? How long have you been having pain? Is it more or less just recently or have you been suffering for a long time? Usually Doctors like to start off conservatinely, light pain meds, anti-inflammatories, and PT, then onto the steriod injections, allot of people get very good long lasting pain relief from the steriod injections, surgery is usually always left as a last resort, and then only if it is felt that it will help, often if the pain is on going you might be referred to a Pain Specialist or a Pain Clinic. Unless your Doctor chooses to treat you him/her self!
I am sorry that you have a reason to need to post here, but I am glad you found us, we do understand what you are going through, and we can't give you any medical advice, ( we are not doctors) but we do care about you! and will will listen and give you warm compassionate support!

Again Welcome to the Healing Well Chronic Pain Forum!
Good Luck to You

White Beard

Hello Moto,
I had to say that....but Welcome... We are here for you and between all of us we might have 500 years of pain experience between us, so ask away... I have some of the same problems you have and I have had 2 surgeries..I am 42, and have had this pain since I was 20...A very long time... Like they all have said, you never get away from the pain, but hopefully you can get enough relief to be able to have a life... That's all I want, a managable life...So, anytime you need to vent, ask questions, or just talk...come on back.

Me.

Hello Moto,

Your symptoms sound very much like mine did......in 1985. I have been dealing with the problem since then. I don't mean to paint a bleak picture for you since every case is different and all outcomes will vary. What all back problems seem to have in common is TIME. As WhiteBeard said above, the docs will always start off with conservative treatments and then work up to other therapies. But each step takes time to show its effectiveness or need to try something else. It sounds a little like trial and error but because of differences between people that's the way it is. Also, remember that it is said that some 80% of people will experience debilitating back pain at some point in their lives. So you are certainly not alone. You have a group of friends here who can help you through the bad times, share common experiences and provide support. What we cannot do is offer medical advice....that's for the docs to do.

My suggestion is to follow your doctor's advice to the letter. Even the PT. Give it time. But that doesn't mean you have to suffer with extreme pain. Let your doc know how you are doing and ask for pain relief. Breaking the pain-spasm cycle is part of the process of getting well.

Please don't hesitate to call on us for support or just plain venting. We have been there and understand your pain like no others can. As they say, one can talk about pain all day but you cannot really understand pain until you have been there.

Best of luck with your treatments and look forward to hearing from you soon.

modelmaker

I'm with edt...moto, welcome...

Hi, Moto,
Oh, my, that's one of the worst jobs to have for back pain! Am I getting this right - this is a worker's comp. injury, so that's why you have to go to the doctors your employer specifics, but you're still workiing? If that accurate, there's somethiing wrong with this picture. Like you said, both you and the gentleman you were helping nearly fell. Have you told the doctor and your employer that? Because to me it seems like you should be off work - especially with that kind of a job!

You'll never get well doing all that lifting. Please ask your PT when you get there and maybe they can help you get support for not working. I can't imagine any PT worth his or her salt saying it was ok to do that kind of job with your pain symptoms!

Hugs,

PaLady

Moto,
Light duty? Are they nuts? The worst thing I can do around my house is vacuum. That puts me down for days! (of course, my house shows it ).

Is your boss the one who interprets your MRI findings? Seems like a conflict of interest to me, but hey, I don't know if I've ever heard of a Worker's comp case that didn't have one hurdle after another, including my own (which was lost, and then I was later laid off).

All I can say it I can see why your back is getting worse with all those activities. Even shopping - especially if you're carrying groceries in and out. Is your PT in your corner? Because maybe they need to put you on "no duty" if that's light duty! Employers seem to want to run us all into the ground, and then toss us to the curb when we can't function anymore!

Ok, I'll stop my rant!

Please, try to take care of yourself in whatever ways you can.

PaLady