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Discs in my back along with sciatica down both legs

About four years ago I had a MRI SCAN and I was told that the disc's L2,L3 and L4 where ripped and torn and on the left side there was a bulge.I'm not sure if the discs I have put down are the exact ones.The last three days my lower back pain is horrendous and I can see why people commit suicide.The pain from my back has sent pain into my hips and both legs so when I am sat down the pain is in my lower back and when I stand it's in both legs and my back...my pain is absolutely horrendous.
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Dear Foxylady38,
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and I noticed your post regarding your medical history, as well as current symptoms of back and leg pain. As a physical therapist, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with information that may address your symptoms and help you return to your prior level of function.
Back pain can be accompanied by a multitude of additional symptoms, depending on the structures involved.  An MRI demonstrating degenerative changes to the discs is not concerning in and of itself; studies have shown that degenerative changes of the spine can be detected on an MRI in patients with and without back pain. However based on the information you have provided, you may need to be seen by a health care professional, such as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, to address the progression of your back pain to include symptoms into both legs. There are many tissues and structures involved in the lumbar spine that can develop more serious conditions if they remain unaddressed. Common diagnoses of the lumbar spine include narrowing of space around the nerves, known as spinal stenosis or foraminal stenosis, as well as instability, or spondylolisthesis. With spinal and foraminal stenosis, as the nerves become inflamed and/or are compressed, you may develop symptoms into your lower extremities that can include numbness, tingling, or muscular weakness. The risk of developing or a worsening of these conditions is often lowered after being assessed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
The profession of physical therapy trains its healthcare professionals to examine patients, assessing macrobiological limitations and movement impairments. When examining from a movement limitation perspective, we are able to identify impairments of the soft tissue, muscles, and bones impacting the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems that directly and indirectly effect your ability to function. We begin our evaluation with an in-depth medical screening process. Through differential diagnosis, as first line providers we utilize our skillset and knowledge to determine if a referral to another medical provider or emergency medical care is necessary. The examination will involve assessments of you neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems to determine objective limitations, and formulate a movement impairment diagnosis to address your pain and symptoms. Physical therapy as a profession specializes in taking a whole-body approach, examining regional interdependence; faulty movements and/or compromised strength and flexibility will result in negative changes in soft tissues and bony structures. The subsequent result of injury to these tissues is pain or a movement impairment. Physical therapists are experts in diagnosing and treating conditions that may otherwise be overlooked by other health care professions.
In addition to utilizing his/her skillset to identify faulty movement patterns, the physical therapist will provide evidence-based treatment to manage your current symptoms, identify causes that contribute to your symptom’s reoccurrence, as well as provide education on lifestyle changes to help reduce reoccurrence risk and self-management of symptoms. Patient’s commonly postpone medical attention until they develop a significant reduction in the quality of their life. It is our goal as physical therapists to intervene before a patient requires more invasive treatment. Patients no longer require a physician’s referral when seeking physical therapy treatment, providing “direct access” to our profession. Doctors of Physical Therapy are able to practice independently as initial providers, examining and evaluating conditions prior to the requirement of further medical care.
Thank you for your time, and I hope you take into consideration seeking a Doctor of Physical Therapy to address your back and bilateral leg pain in order to return to your every day activities with reduced pain.
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973741 tn?1342342773
You wrote this in earlier November.  I so hope you are feeling better now.  Did you ever get to the doctor about this?  
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