[Baycitygir]

#27974

I have been experiencing bilateral nerve pain and just received an MRI and have some questions. The MRI reads:

L4-5: degenerative disc disease narrowing. Moderate facet degenerative changes. These cause minimal posterior neural foraminal stenosis with nerve root crowding. Disc bulge contacts but does not compress the right exiting nerve root. Left neural foramen is patent.

My question is can nerve root crowding cause leg pins and needles feelings as wee as the bulge coming into contact with the nerve root. Of course tried googling this information and find nothing. Could you please give me an opinion. My GP is only going off what the radiologist is saying and not viewing the images. I have a nuerologist but he is not a surgeon and when I asked him he told me he did not know. Thank you for your time and any help you can provide

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#27976

Foraminal stenosis can cause paresthesias (pins and needles) without a “severe appearance” if there is instability of the segment. Remember that the MRI is performed in the lying down (supine) position. If you have these paresthesias when you stand and they go away with sitting or bending forward, then you have dynamic foraminal stenosis meaning the foramina narrow with compression (standing) and opens with bending forward (sitting). If your paresthesias occur without standing but do occur with sitting, then you might have inflammation of the nerve that causes symptoms when the nerve is stretched (sitting and bending forward).

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[Baycitygir]

#27977

The pain generally presents more as two very sore areas in my buttocks and travel down my legs to the tops of my feet

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#28000

The question is whether the pain and paresthesias are present when you stand and/or walk vs when you sit or bend?

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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