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Protrusion, extrusion and degeneration at L5-S1? I'm 24.

Posted , 9 users are following.

stormynight
stormynight

Is it really possible? Does anyone have any experience of something similar?

A bit of background... this all started just before new year. I did a double take wondering around at home, and felt something go. Instant pain. 36hrs later sciatica set in, and another 24hrs later I was in hospital, at a level of pain that I didn't even know was possible. To cut a long story short, several bad days and complications later, I ended up being sent for an urgent MRI, and I'm now in limbo waiting for my neurosurgery appt.

Anyway, the MRI report states that both lower spinal discs are degenerate, with loss of hydration signal. L5-S1 has a large paracentral disc protrusion AND extrusion, with migration, occupying the spinal canal and lateral recess. There is nerve compression of S1 root. L4-L5 is fissured and bulged. No dramatic weakness of yet, just pain and reduced motion.

I've been sat at home fretting about what that means, and I can't seem to find any information on the net in regards to. If anybody has any experience or base knowledge, that would be really helpful? Is surgery a likely option for something like that? I'm 24, have always been active, and although there has been a slight decrease in the pain levels, I'm confused, concerned, and marginally stir crazy. I work an active job, and haven't been able to go in since 2015.

Bit of a waffley post, but if there's any support or advice out there, I'd be really grateful right now. Not sure if I'm unnecessarily worried and reading wrong, or whether I'm in a bad position here.

1 like, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • stephen22480
    stephen22480 stormynight

    Posted

    You got age on your side, try everything you can before surgery, no cario, just excises , swimming, even some kind of yoga, although not my thing, try not to get to down, reading some of the posts on here, most just tell you about there probs, you know your pain,.

    injections do work for some, that's a fact, and the younger you are, the more likely that they will work, if not , then it's all down to surgery I'm afraid.

    surgeons are clever people, you have to put your faith in them.

    good luck.

  • shaunagh5005
    shaunagh5005 stormynight

    Posted

    Hello,

    Follow the advice from your neurosurgeon and where possible think long and hard about surgery. Unless it is indicated as an emergency.

    I had L3-S1 fusion, November 2014 and am now on more melds than before despite doing  Pilates 1-2 week and keeping pretty active. It just seems I went through a lot for no real benefit

    Hopefully if you do have surgery better luck

    shaunagh

  • stormynight
    stormynight

    Posted

    Thank you for all the replies and support. I've seen both an orthopaedic physio and neurology over the past week.

    Physio has stated that I stand with a curve in the spine, concave to the left. Lumbar flexion is half range, there is S1 sensory deficit and a deminished Achilles reflex. Straight leg raise positive. 

    Neurology have stated that the extrusion is very big, and both lower discs have denegerated. They've shown me the MRI, and both of them appear black. They've said this may or may not cause problems in the future, obviously if they do, that will be a surgical case. Anyway they claim that because I have had an improvement on my pain level (inititally it was bad enough for me to only be able to lay on the floor and throw up... for days on end. I am functioning on a mimal level now, nearly 8wks in) that they don't wish to persue treatment. 

    I've been told that if improvement stops, or if it gets worse at any point, that I'll need a referral back. Should that be the case, first step will be an epidural, second step is nerve block. Only if those fail to control, will surgery be looked at.

    On one hand I'm glad I'm not lined up for a risky surgery... on another hand, I'd just really like my life back. I'm going to contact my GP this week to see if physical therapy is a good idea at this stage. Fingers crossed we keep improving.

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly stormynight

      Posted

      You are kidding me! Because you are no longer laying on the floor throwing up you are considered to have improved!!!!  My GOD! That's just horrible.  So sorry. I hope you can at least get some physical therapy that is helpful.  I know that there are exercises that I can do to help with sciatica pain, but most of the pain that I have won't go away with exercises. I just had an RFA, and I'm waiting to see if it helps with the pain in my foot, and I'm getting another one next week to try to help with the pain in my left thigh. Then I'll see what else they can do for my back.  Surgery does not necessarily help with pain, but in your case it just might if they can get rid of the extrusion.  I think you should call back and tell them the pain is worse again so you can get some treatment. I normally would not recommend not telling the total truth, but this is ridiculous! You shouldn't have to be laying on the floor throwing up before you can get treatment.

      Linda

    • stormynight
      stormynight lindagkelly

      Posted

      It's silly isn't it. I've been told there will be a "definite improvement" in the next 4 to 6 weeks. If not, I need referring back... I'm tempted to go with it, and see how I'm functioning by then. It seems to be a constant deflection though, and the two paths they want to take prior to surgery are only "pain management while it heals on it's own". They seem very reluctant to help fix the actual issue. Doesn't help me get back to work and back to normal, mind.

      I hope your RFA does help, Linda!

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly stormynight

      Posted

      Sorry, I forgot - are you in the UK? So you don't have a lot of control about things right? I had to go on Medicaid last October - which is basically welfare. I hated having to do that, but I lost all of my income. I live with my boyfriend, and thank God he takes care of me.  I've actually been surprised that Medicaid has done as much as they have.  I can basically see all the doctors I saw before. I've run into a couple of hiccups on medication. I need Trazodone to sleep - otherwise - I'm up all night or sleep an hour, awake 2, sleep an hour. Well, it's just sleeping medication, but I have to see a shrink to get it.  First though, they made me do a "Family Services Intake". There were 3 of us in the waiting room, one lady was a CPS case trying to get her 3 children back, the guy was trying to get something done to give to his probation officer, and they asked me, "What are you here for?" I said to get sleeping pills.  It was hilarious.  So I had to do this intake where they ask me all this stuff - like do you take recreational drugs? NO, Have you hurt anyone or do you want to hurt anyone? I said "Not today" then realized they probably hear that all the time, so I said "No". They asked about my childhood - I said well, I was abused, so if you want to hear about that we'll be here all day - I've already dealt wtih it.  It was a 2 hour intake!!! Then they said, okay, now you can make an appt with the shrink - sometime next month!  It's a good thing I have plenty of trazodone! Plus it's way out in East Mesa - and it takes like 40 minutes to get there.  Well, I'm supposed to be working on my taxes.  I've taken my breaks! Just havent done any work yet!

      Maybe I'll get some money back! That would be great.

    • stormynight
      stormynight lindagkelly

      Posted

      Gosh, what a nightmare!! I hope you do.

      Yes, I'm in the UK. Unfortunately means we're at the mercy of quotas and what the NHS can afford. It's fab in theory, but you really have to fight to get anywhere, even with serious conditions. Sleeping medication might be a good step, I'm so tired all the time. I guess that will be a conversation for my GP.

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly stormynight

      Posted

      Well, Good luck to you!  Get pushy!  Whine until they can't stand it anymore.  And I wouldn't normally say this - but exaggerate what is going on so you can get some attention!

      Linda

  • cathy17098
    cathy17098 stormynight

    Posted

    Hi...My story (except for your age) is exactly the same!!! I have the same diagnosis after MRI and now had a second MRI which is showing deterioration. I have seen both a Orthapeadic consultant and Orthapeadic surgeon who both tell me there is not an operation to fix it......I don't understand this as other people are given surgery for what appears to be the same!

    Anyhow I am in agony tonight after being advised by my GP to alter my meds....my back, legs and feet feel like they are on fire 😢 I hope you get answers soon xx

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly cathy17098

      Posted

      You should go see a neurosurgeon or a neurologist.  I keep hearing about this Laser Spine Institute that does laser surgery. If only one disc is involved, you might be able to get that done.  Or maybe a decompression surgery.  It's so obvious that your nerves are being pinched.  I have a medtronic neurostimulator that helps with the pain in my legs and feet. It would help more but the surgeon put it in the wrong place, but it does help with the general achiness.  There's another spinal cord stimulator called the Nevro that is supposed to help with pain in your back, legs, and feet.  A lot of people have been very happy with it, but caution, there are problems with the battery. So the way it works is they implant a battery in your back and a wire in your spine that sends high frequency signals to your back, legs, and feet.  It works great except that the battery is fairly large and rectangular. I hear people say that the battery itself causes pain, until they work with it and get it in the right place. The other problem is that you have to recharge the battery every day.  and that takes like 20-30 minutes. It's like a wi-fi recharger, so you don't have to wear a belt like you do with the medtronic.  I'm going to wait another year or so until they work out the problems with the battery, but I hear some people get real relief from it.  Good luck to you. So sorry you are going through this.  Also, the fact that you are a female makes the doctors t hink you are a hypocondriac.  As far as meds, ask for Gabapentin and/or Lyrica.  It really helps with the neuropathic pain in your legs and feet.
  • stormynight
    stormynight

    Posted

    Hi guys, a brief return from me, as I neglected to update on this and I wanted to give some hope to those of you struggling with back problems. 

    I followed the hospital's advice in the end, and began getting myself back on track with exercise and a new focus (a career change, and some new qualifications). I'm now virtually back to normal. No surgery. No injections. I do get some odd sensations in my back and some low level aching, and I still have numbness to the outside of my left calf, but I have my life back and what remains pales to what I suffered through early last year.

    I hope all of you are looking up, I really do. Thanks so much for the support; it really helped me.  

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