[bsdadyala]

#6342

Hi Doctor,

My Dad 58 in age has considerable amount of pain in lower back followed by leg pain. Upon undergoing a MRI Scan, the following was the impresssion of the report:
1. Lumbar spondylosis with canal stenosis aggravated by centrolateral disc prolapse at L4-5 level causing thecal indentation and root compression.
2. Mild central disc bulge at L5-S1 level.
3. Mild bilateral lateral disc bulge at L1-2, L2-3, and L3-4 levels.

We consultated a doctor and he told us that he would first try to cure by giving an injection and then if there is no relief from pain he needs to undergo an operation.

Can you please suggest upon analysing the above, since my Dad does not have much back pain now and has more of leg pain since he is on medication.

Appreciate your help and thank you in anticipation.

– Ballu

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6345

You note your father has lower back and leg pain. Please see the section under “Conditions”- How to describe symptoms” as there needs to be more information to make sense of the condition that your father suffers from.

Lumbar spondylosis simply means degenerative disc disease of L4-5. The radiologist might mean degenerative spondylolisthesis which is a very different condition (see website).

Central stenosis is a condition where the nerves in the central canal are compressed (again- see website) causing a specific set of symptoms. There also is a central disc herniation at that level which could be catching a nerve root or causing lateral recess stenosis (see website for both conditions).

See the section under “when is it time to have lower back surgery” to understand what conditions need to be met for surgical consideration. I am always a fan of injections for pain relief as long as these injections do not interfere with diagnosis.

Dr. Corenman

[Author]

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