[kdempseyjr]

#12010

History: June 12, 2014 I took a fall down a 40′ flight of concrete stairs. Cause was unknown, and there was a positive LOC. There was an unknown down time for myself. Though CT Scans of my head were clear.

X_rays were clear and the MRI’s done on the back report as follows.

T12-L4 Ventral Spondylosis, L4-L5 disc desication with annular tear and disc bulge, facet arthrosis, mild central canal stenosis. L5-S1 disc desication, minor face arthorsis, mild bilateral foraminated narrowing, and shallow broadbase osterophyte-disc bulge complex.

I have constant pain in the lower back, mainly over the spinal area, but it does radiate outward to both sides on a consistant basis. Though, activity such as walking, standing for any period of time, bending, reaching or leaning backwards will spur bouts of extreme pain that shoots down either the left or right leg that can be best described as the leg becoming completely numb, feeling as if it were on fire and have sharp, electrical/lightning bolt like pain that shoots down the entire length of the leg. Often times if I am walking when this occurs the leg tends to give out from underneath me and I wind up falling down. The pain can sometimes last from 15-20 minutes up to as long as 4 hours. These pains have also occurred while sleeping.

I also get extreme sharp pains in my mid back if I turn in just the right manner or bump into something that gives my back a jolt that has caused moments of incontinence.

There is a constant numbness and tingling down both thighs (outside) that go down into both feet.

I am not able to be in any one position for any length of time, I can only sit in a well cushioned chair for so long, standing for longer than five minutes becomes painful and I am only able to walk for short distances before I am doubled over in pain.

I have done physical therapy at the onset of the injury with no improvement. I have also undergone two bilateral spinal steroid injections to date with only a minimum improvement (10-15%) that was very short lived. Now the pain management clinic is no longer wanting to treat me and has informed me that I will need to seek a neurosurgeon for further care. I have asked questions but I have not recieved any real answers as to whether this is a serious condition that will require surgical interventions or not. So I am just reaching out to see if according to the above radiologist report is conclusive to a serious condition that I need to be aware of.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#12016

Your symptoms fit with aggravation of isolated disc resorption (IDR-see website for details) along with foraminal stenosis or foraminal collapse (again-website). Both these diagnoses are commonly missed. If you see a spine surgeon (generally a neurosurgeon will not be aware of the IDR diagnosis), you will probably get the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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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