I had my 3rd lumbar discectomy back in Nov. of 05 and have since had several MRI’s. The first was done 3 months after my surgery. In fact this was the first of any type of imaging after surgery and the surgeon isn’t the one who ordered it. ALL the MRI’s (even today) show "pseudomeningocele posteriorly at L4-5 related to prior laminotomy". Should this have been addressed by the surgeon and fixed? Is this dangerous that I still have this fluid leaking? And can it be causing pressure on my nerves? I appreciate and help!

I have a bulging disk between my L4 & L5 and my doctor told me the only way to help would be bed rest and anti-inflammatory medications. I am a dancer and take a Hip Hop class once a week for about 2 hours. I want to continue dancing even though my doctor does not want me to. Is there any activities similar to dance that I can do that won’t bother my disk? I’m always active and I need something to do.

I just got back my CT scan and the Dr. wants me to go to a neurologist. My L4 and L5 is messed up pretty bad. It has pinched my nerve. Has anybody had surgery on this and if so, what is it like,does it help, and what is the recovery time. I am going to a chiropractor tomorrow to see if he might can help me.

My neurosurgeon has recommended spinal fusion because I have herniated discs at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1. I have tried physical therapy and it did not help. It just made the pain worse. I can’t even hardly move and am in constant pain all of the time despite being on pain meds and muscle relaxers around the clock. I am not working right now. I am trying to move around as much as possible. I can’t hardly sit, stand, or lay down for more than a few minutes at a time. What kind of results have you had with spinal fusion surgeries?

I had an accident at work and now have narrowing of the Disc spaces between L4-5 And L5-S1 also my L5 is crooked. It pinches my nerves to my left leg when I stand and sometimes I cant use power in my right leg or it hurts my back. Now I cant drive myself because I loose control of my legs. It is soo bad that I fell in the shower last week and had to stay in the hospital for almost a week.

I am 37 yrs old will have spinal fuison at L4& L5, can anyone tell me what kind of pain after surgery I can expect? and will it last for a short while or be on going?

This is the first time in my life I’ve had to deal with chronic pain. I know, I’m very fortunate. I have a bulging disc between L4 and L5 pinching the nerve to my right leg. I now have a greater respect for the people in my life dealing with chronic pain! A therapist suggested supplements to assist the healing process; in addition, of course, to weight loss and physical therapy. I have found very little on the internet that is specific. Is there somebody out there that has a success story that will help my research? What web sites do you suggest? This has gone on for 5 months. I want my life back! Thank you in advance, I look forward to reading your advice.
Poetess

I am 15 and I am going to have to have one on my L4-5, because of a herniated disc. How long is the surgery? Will it help? How long are you put to sleep?

1. L5-S1 left sided disc extrusion with associated nerve root displacement.
2. L4–5 mild degenerative disc disease and central disc protrusion not comprising neural structures.

I have had 3 back surgeries. Last one they fused my L4-L5. Just frustrated. How or if your life has changed since surgery?

In April 2007 I overexerted myself walking (long strides) and the next month was an endless string of emergency room visits, Demerol, Oxycodone, and ultimately oral steroids. I had a lumbar MRI done in May 07 and it showed I had a "slight" problem with a bulging L4/5 disc that "may cause some discomfort". I would have laughed if it hadn’t hurt so bad. One doctor ran a little picky wheel over my foot and it indicated to him a problem with the sciatic nerve. He was of the opinion some pressure was being put on it by the bulging disc but he also didn’t think I was a candidate for surgery because I hadn’t lost any motor skills or bowel control. My right leg has been numb since May 07. My hips and lower back ached all the time but most likely from lack of use… I was afraid to do much because I thought I’d make it worse.
In April 08 I had another MRI done and the report stated my discs actually looked better than in 07. Good news, but the numbness was still there. I bought an inversion table and found it to be helpful overall. I use it twice a day at 30 degrees. My most important revelation however, is that I kept reading about the piriformis muscle. My overexertion walking (which nobody ever addressed) could have strained, pulled, or otherwise damaged the piriformis muscle on the right side and also put pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading me (and apparently everyone else) to believe I had sciatica due to bulging discs. I have been doing deep stretching exercises for the piriformis and the numbness in my right leg stays away for 8 hours or so. I am now of the belief that there is scar tissue on the piriformis and I must continue stretching it many times a day to ward off numbness and pain. I have copies of the 2007 and 2008 MRIs and I would like to know if there is any way to determine damage to the piriformis from those MRIs?

Impression: Central bulging disc at L4-5. The most significant finding in a left lateral disc osteophyte complex at L5-S1, which causes severe left foraminal stenosis

What does the mean in terms I can understand, and what type of treatment or outcome should I expect from the orthopedic specialist I’m being referred to?

There is some anterior osteophyte formation off the superior surface of L4 and 5-1 disc space narrowing. I believe this would mean enlargement/spurs/and narrowing of the disc L4 & L5? Correct? But what does the 5-1 mean? Thanks ahead folks.

Lumbar – L4–5: Small central protrusion and diffuse disk bulge. The disk bulge touches the anterior aspect of the traversing left L5 nerve root.

Cervical – Negligible disk bulging at the C3-C4 and C4-C5 levels, but canal and foramina are widely patent
And would these results be the cause of the numbness I have on the left side of my tongue? My left arm and leg have been numb as well (I can still feel them, they just have a numb sensation, not tingling though)

I was rear ended while stopped with my foot on the brake at a yield sign craning my body to the left to wait for oncoming traffic. A recent MRI has shown that mild disc bulging in my cervical spine with evidence of CSF visibility. I also have bulging in my T12-L1 along with herniations at the T11-12 and L4-5, which are flattening my thecal sac with fluid in my facet joints. I have awful pain in my back, and I find it impossible to sit in my task chair for more than a few minutes. Driving my standard transmission suv is painful, and comfortable sleep is now just a pleasant memory. I have 22 days until I am able to see the specialist, and I hope to find suggestions and/or answers to my problems. Pain management drugs make me uncomfortable,and what I really want are suggestions for exercises that might enable me to sleep without pain. It is so intense that I have actually been dreaming about this pain because I make it bearable even for sleep.