Compressing L5 (pressing on nerve root) and buldging L4
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi all totally new to these forums but thought i would give it a go!
I always like to hear others experiences...
So I am 28 with 2 children under 6 and have suffered with a bad back for many years. After the children it deteriorated even further into long periods of time of sever pains in back of legs and feet. Anyway sparing you of all the details I have recently had an MRI (after 3 months of pleading with the doctor) to find I have L5 major compression on s1 nerve root and minor L4 bludge. It also reads that this is causing bilateral foraminol stenosis? What is this?! I understand disc but what are my best options now and has anybody experienced this please? Thank you in advance
0 likes, 5 replies
sheila_86127 sar2017
Posted
My first back surgery was due to bulging disc at L3 and L4. about 20 years ago. My symptoms were low back pain that went down my left leg to my foot.
I was able to avoid surgery for over a year by going to therapy and getting epidural blocks.
I just had an SI Joint Injection a month and a half ago and it brought me a lot of relief.
Surgery is always my last option.
Has your doctor recommended any physical therapy?
sar2017 sheila_86127
Posted
I have physio yes and also seen a chiropractor a number of times. I am just so fed up with it all now. I am going to try injections if they are offered to me for sure!
How did you find your operation?
Sarah
crista44751 sar2017
Posted
Hi Sar
i too had foraminal stenosis. This means the nerves are being constricted on the sides of the vertebrae rather than down the middle. The nerves exit on the sides. I had mine repaired with surgery, my first surgery just thinned out the foramen or nerve exit. This left me pain free for 10 years . Just this past year it became painful again and I had the joint on the right side removed along with a fusion. It was 100 percent successful and I am now pain free most of the time. I had physical therapy before the surgery and it didn't really help although it does help some people. The thing is once you have surgery it starts a cascade of back issues over time. I had my first surgery for a prolapsed disc in 1998. My second in 2013 for spinal stenosis and then a multilevel fusion with facet joint removed this past April. I did well between each surgery but gradually problems developed . Anytime surgery is done it fixes one area and stresses another. Geesh!
CHICO_MARX sar2017
Posted
I had the same stenosis at L2/L3. My neurosurgeon recommended an LLIF procedure (LATERAL Lumbar Interbody Fusion...they go in from the side, not from the back). Search YouTube for "Globus lateral" to see a cute animation. I had already had a traditional TLIF fusion (from the back) of L3 through S1. To replace and re-fuse would have been a 4-6 hour op, 10 days in the hospital, six months in a brace and 4-6 months of rehab. The LLIF was 90-minutes, one overnight, no brace, no rehab. Instant relief...THE MAGIC BULLET!!! Yes, I had 3-4 weeks of diminishing nerve pain since they retract the nerve roots to insert "The Device". All in all...the best outcome possible...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-expandable-spacer-570509
See attached pic...AMAZING technology...sits above my old fusion... The posterior view shows the device; the lateral view shows how they customized the curve by cranking up the rear more than the front sides. Go watch the animation...get it done!!! Works for one- and two-level problems.
sheila_86127 CHICO_MARX
Posted
I'm so happy that your surgery went so well. Thank you for sharing such a positive post. It's refreshing to hear about someone who had a successful surgery. I think it's also awesome to share so much information as well. 😊