MRI Results & physio

[AC2]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this should be here or in the 'off topic' section as it's not about my WG, sorry.

I've been suffering from sciatica since Dec and had my MRI on Feb 2nd. I've also been attending physio for 5 weeks.

I went to my GP yesterday & my results weren't ready, he said he'd chase it up & told me to return in a week.

Today I went to physio, and my results were on my file (with yesterday's date on it). She printed me a copy & and briefly explained what it meant, but couldn't go into depth or discuss what happens next, just told me to see my GP asap. So tomorrow morning I'll be phoning the doctors for an 'on-the-day' appointment.
I was discharged from physio, as after 5 sessions there's no sign of improvement & they don't think it was helping.

So, the result...
There's a large right paracentral posterior disc extrusion at level L5/S1. This is compressing the anterior theca and the right S1 nerve root in the lateral recesses. There's also disc dehydration at the same level.

To to me, that means I have a disc herniation that is pressing on my nerves.
If anyone has anymore explanation please let me know.

I'll update again tomorrow once I've seen my GP & hopefully know what's going to happen next.

[Pete]

I think your reading of the report is essentially correct. I would guess that you may be looking at some anti-inflammatories and some exercises that will allow the hernia to reduce. Good luck.

[windchime]

That is a pretty accurate assumption. As Pete said anti inflammatories. There are stretching procedure that allow the disc to go back where it belongs thus avoiding surgery. Check all your alternatives before doing back surgery. Hugs to you.

[AC2]

Thanks for the replies. I'm currently laying in bed (almost 3.30am, here in the UK), wide awake, wondering what my GP will say in the morning.

I'm noctural at at the moment anyway, not just because of the results & not knowing.

[pberggren1]

How is your energy level? Do you feel you need to take naps at all?

[mishb]

My husband had exactly the same L5/S1

After many many years of physio and anti inflammatories, pain killers and sometimes morphine - he had surgery to repair the disc by cutting away the torn, shattered stuff and thereby releasing it from his nerve.
This worked for about 3 years and then he needed to have a cortisone injection into the disc.
This was 20 years ago and he has never looked back - well, he does have the occasional relapse but not like it was.

He certainly feels your pain - he did say though, that yours will be easier fixed with what Cindy has advised.
He said thankfully your disc has not ruptured. He said that acupuncture may work on a herniated disc, but it doesn't on a rupture.

As his wife, I also feel your pain........yes it was bad for us too. Just the agony we saw him in when driving him to doctors appointments etc. - hit a bump in the road, and we were toast. As with WG, pain medication can give people a personality that you wouldn't ever imagine being like.
We survived, he survived and he lives to tell the tale.

Lots of rest and lots of stretches AC - fingers crossed that it doesn't last much longer.