Re: Coleen- MRI results

[Guest guest]

> Colleen,

>

> I can understand leg back pain but arm pain makes no sense.

> you have ddd. the disc bulges are really meaningless cause not

> pressing on anything.

> have you seen a neuro surgeon.

> you might be a candidate for a one level fusion L4 or L5.

>

> I am shocked that your doctor told you not to have sex. you are lucky

> that your problems are basically

> at one level. even better then a fusion is a disk replacement.

>

> what is Oregon Health plan plus? Also, it has been proven that long

> term bed rest IS NOT in the patients

> best interest and will cause other problems.if laying down is the

> only thing you are able to do your doctor

> should have referred you for physio.

>

Colleen,Deb

I disagree that bulging discs are meaningless because without a disco

gram, you cannot say that. My disc bulges were ignored for five years, then

with a disco gram and CT with contrast, they found that my discs had fissures

running through out and the discs bulges outside the vertebrae.

Actually, the research says that they can be a problem but most of the time are

not of consequence. Other symptoms have to be considered and if you are having

pain in that area, it is a

red flag.

Disc problems are the hardest to diagnosis as the MRI cannot get

between the vertebrae and see the discs there, just the outside bulging. There

are nerve roots they can irritate and I am dealing with one right now that is

not impinging anything but gets irritated and they are following it. It is at

the point of going in there and clipping it off.

Bedrest sometimes helps up to a certain time to allow an inflammatory

process to recede, but then you must get up and about. Your body will let you

know, you cannot push it and make it worse. This applies to physical therapy

also, it has to be appropriate. Your doctor might have assessed something that

we do not know about and I would ask him, so you know why he is asking you do

things.

The treatment plan has to be specific to your symptoms and I cannot

relate my problems to yours as others cannot because we are all different. But

there are basic things that happen with lumbar problems and DDD.

Most doctors will not do anything at one level, they tend to treat

conservatively, until it is ultimately a choice.

I had a three level spinal fusion which some doctors say not to do over two

levels, but I could not be functional without it.

The disc replacements are still quite new and if you can hold off for

the long term research to come in, I would.

Spine Universe is a great resource to research current treatment

options and they peer review their articles (pros and cons by other doctors)

I have to do bedrest when I over extend and I know when to get up.

Just like when you get a sprain and your doctor tells you to avoid activities

and a certain length of time to do so. I make sure I do my stretches and turn

and follow my Physical Therapy Home program until the inflammatory process

heals.

I hope you get better. My fusion was done with instrumentation and

cages that let me bend, so my fusion did well, it was the auto accident that

messed my SI joint up and a new source of pain.

Take care, don't over do, and heal.

Bennie