Pain in my back and left leg (L4-L5 MRI Result)

[Mfida]

Hello,

This is Muhammad Fida. I have serious pain in my left leg and back. I did MRI it  result is "Central and left paracentral disc buldge is seen at L4-L5 with ipsiliteral exit canal stanosis and nerve root compression. Normat hydration of the disc space noticed. No exaggarated Pre and Para Vertebral soft tissue thickness".

I did had some pain medicine for a month, base on doctor instruction i had 16 days physiotorphy. I still have pain.

Please give me suggestion?

Thank You

Muhammad Fida
shaz_fida***@****

[Tuckamore]

Hi Mfida,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum of MedHelp. I am glad that you have found us but sorry to hear about your pain.

Mollyrae has offered some good suggestions. I too think that sooner or later your condition will require surgery. Stenosis or Stenotic is from the Greek "stenos" meaning narrow. Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This narrowing can be caused by a number of reasons. In your case it is most likely caused by the bulging of the discs into the canal as the MRI notes, "exit canal stenosis," meaning where the structure is exiting the spinal canal. Mollyrae is correct that arthritis can cause stenosis but arthritis is not a form of stenosis.  

Surgery is usually the last resort for treatment in the US. It is my guess your physician wanted to at least try physical therapy to determine if it would help alleviate at least some of your pain. Now that this treatment has proven ineffective your physician may attempt other approaches before he opts for surgery, such as steroid injections. My brother had a very similar MRI report to yours and steroid injections have been fairly successful in reducing his pain and returning him to a functional level. It has kept him from surgery for almost two years. However we know surgery is in his future.

Good luck to you. I am hopeful that your physician is able to determine a treatment that will ease your discomfort and get you back to normal. Do not be afraid to request something for pain in the meantime. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Peace,  Tuck

[Mollyrae]

Hello Mfida and welcome to the Pain Forum.

I am very sorry to hear of the back problems. Your back issues are not that uncommon and most people with an MRI such as yours undergo surgery.

The Stenosis you mentioned is a form of Arthritis in the back which will give you some inflammation which in turn will compress your nerve.

The probable solution is to have the surgeon clean the area out to give that nerve more room and no be so "crowded" you might say.

I really don't think the Physical therapy is going to help the pain. I feel that you should talk with your Doctor and discuss the possibility of surgery.

Please take care and good luck.
Mollyrae