[Susandav]

#6529

Eleven years ago, I had a Laminectomy. The surgeon told me that other discs were going bad. For the past 6 wks I’ve been suffering from low back pain, radiating down the back of my legs. I saw your video on YouTube about how to read an MRI. It looks like I have a herniated disc in my L5 S1 area. My neurologist is suggesting I get shots in my back. Is this going to help me? If not, would surgery be the next step? I felt wonderful after the first surgery and since it’s been eleven years, I’ve done pretty well. I do have back pain every day and I’m on disability due to it, but now I can’t sit or stand for long periods of time. It hurts too badly. I also have degenerative disc disease. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6532

If you were tolerating your lower back pain prior to this new disc herniation (despite being on disability) and your pain now is intolerable, the L5-S1 disc herniation appears to be responsible for your new pain. If you have no motor weakness, then injections can be very helpful along with physical therapy.

If you have motor weakness or the pain is not controlled with conservative measures, then surgery (microdiscectomy) would most likely be your next step.

Dr. Corenman

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