DEAR DOCTOR,
I AM 36 YEAR OLD FEMALE, I AM HAVING SEVERE PAIN IN THE LOWER BACK WHICH EXTENDS TO THE LEFT LEG, THE PAIN IS SO SEVERE THAT I HARDLY CAN MOVE, RECENTLY I MET A DOCTOR FOR THE PROBLEM HE PRESCRIBED MRI THE REPORT OF WHICH IS AS UNDER:-
AP DIAMETER OF SPINAL CANAL AREA
L1-2 1.5 CM
L3-4 1.5 CM
L4-5 0.74 CM
L5-S1 1.0 CM
OPINION:-DIFFUSE ANNULAR BULGE WITH LARGE CENTRAL /LEFT PARA CENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION AT L4-5 LEVEL AND DIFFUSE ANNULAR BULGING AT L5-S1 DISC.
AFTER GOING THROUGH THE MRI REPORT THE DR. HAS ADVISED ME TO UNDERGO IMMEDIATE SURGERY AND UNTIL SURGERY COMPLETE BED REST, I NEED TO ASK DO I REALLY NEED THE SURGERY AND IF YES WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SURGERY? AND IF I AM NOT WILLING TO UNDERGO THE SURGERY AM I SAFE OR IS THERE ANY CHANCE TO RECOVER WITH ONLY BED REST?