Tagged: 

Viewing 6 posts - 7 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • phanos
    Member
    Post count: 6

    Thank you Dr. Corenman. Yesterday I went to another doctor to get a second opinion and after viewing my MRI scan he mention that one of my disc (I think it was the L5-S1) has also been moved from its location and that is what is causing the inflammation and pain on my nerve. He gave an anti-inflammation injection and he sent me home for rest. Today I feel better but I guess it has do also with the face that the shot has also some painkiller inside it. I will see him again today for another shot according to his instructions.

    I also have an iso file of my MRI scan. Is it possible to upload it somewhere and sent you the link to download it? The size of the file is not very large, it is approximately 90MB and sending it online is faster than sending it through mail.

    Thanks

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    By your description, you have a herniated disc at L5-S1 which is compressing your S1 nerve. The website has a good description of your disorder under lumbar herniated disc.

    I cannot at this point accept email files of MRIs due to viruses that occasionally accompany these images. I can review the radiologist’s report or view your images by a DVD/CD mailed to me.

    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.
    phanos
    Member
    Post count: 6

    Thank you Dr. Corenman and you are right. According to the report that I got yesterday I do have a herniated disc at L5-S1 which is compressing my S1 nerve.

    This is what it says on the report:

    “A bulging exists on L5 disc that causes mild pressure on the meningeal sack that touches on the right side of the S1 nerve without pressing it. At the same level there exists a mild stenosis on both sides of the inter vertebral.”

    Can you please explain me what the above mean exactly and what should I do to avoid additional damage?

    Thanks

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    This radiologist is painting a picture of a nerve root that is effaced without being compressed. He then notes that there is stenosis or a narrowing of the “inter vertebral” which I can only guess is the lateral recess. This is a difficult report to understand the pathology.

    Avoiding additional “damage” means learning the proper biomechanics of the lumbar spine to avoid certain postures or activities that would put the spine at greater risk. See the sections under “Television interviews” to gain a greater understanding.

    Check the section “When to have lower back surgery” to understand the pros and cons of spine surgery for a herniated disc. Damage can occur to a nerve root by prolonged exposure to compression as by a herniated disc but now we are talking about odd ratios. If there is motor weakness, the chance of recovery without surgery diminishes to about the 50% point. If there is no motor weakness, the chances of permanent injury to the nerve is under 10%.

    Now, if you were one of the 10% that had continued pain after the best recovery possible, you would not be happy. Surgery reduces the chances of chronic injury but even with surgery, there is a chance (even though it is less) of chronic nerve injury. Surgery decompresses the root but mother nature has to heal the nerve.

    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.
    phanos
    Member
    Post count: 6

    Thanks Dr. Corenman I think I understand better know what I have and what I need to do to avoid further injuries.

    To the best of my understanding surgery is not recommended (at least for now). I will continue medications and physiotherapy and see how it goes.

    Thanks a lot for the info

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Good luck. Please report back to us in three months for a note on your progress.

    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.
Viewing 6 posts - 7 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.