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Q: My mom is 76 years old and per MRI she has multilevel lumbar facet arthosis L2-5 and herniated disc @ L4. Her symptoms were lower back pain with pain and weakness to left leg. No osteoporosis, no fractures. She started with spinal decompression over two weeks ago and seem to have slight improvement after 8 treatments. Prior to the 9th treatment she started having severe pain with tingling on both legs that interferes with walking and it has been relived by ultrasound and jadex therapy after a nasty episode but it recurs as soon as she tries to ambulate. The pain has gotten worse after the spinal decompression treatment with the DRX9000. She had her 10th treatment today and the episode of lower back pain and pain to lower extremities with tingling was worse today than yesterday. The employees at the spinal decompression center seem to be puzzled by this as well as the physician. I was just wandering if you have heard or seen of somehow experiencing something similar before they improve? We are seriously thinking of stopping this treatment as her condition seem to be getting worse. I appreciate any input you may be able to provide. Thank you. Lou A: Hi Lou, To be honest, I have never heard of this before, but it is scary sounding and certainly gives you a sound reason to re-evaluate. Being that your mom is 76, I would suspect fractures of the lumbar vertebrae as the cause, but if this was already investigated, I am at a loss. I assume she has had a recent MRI of the area? If not, this is a necessity...Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi there, I have lower back problem and my MRI report states: ........................................................MRI LUMBAR SPINE: Clinical History: Left sciatica Technique: The following sequences were performed - 1. Sagittal and axial T1 and T2. 2. Coronal T2. Findings: Desiccated disc at L5/S1 associated with end plate degeneration. Associated moderate-large sized posterior central -left central extrusion of the'disc. Moderate narrowing of the central spinal canal, but more significantly there is narrowing of both subarticular recesses especially on the left side, contributed to by mildly hypertrophied ligamentum flavum and facet hypertrophy. Narrowed recess here is a potential cause for left S 1 neural impingement, as the nerve root emerges from the dural sac. There is also moderately significant narrowing in the right recess at this level, which could be a potential cause for right S1 neural irritation or impingement also. There is relatively mild and diffuse posterior bulge of the disc at L4/S, without any significant central canal recess narrowing. Discs at L 1/2, L2/3, L3/4 are unremarkable. Foraminal narrowing at LS/S1 bilaterally is relatively mild and is due to minor upwards foraminal bulging of the disc with a minor bony contribution due to osteophyte formation. There are no signs however of foraminal neural impingement. Vertebral alignment is well preserved. No pars intra-articularis defect is seen. Minor extra-foraminal protrusion of the disc at L5/S1 on the left but this is without signs of significant extra-foraminal impingement on the exiting left L5 nerve root. Pattern of mild facet joint degeneration L4/5, L5/S1 bilaterally. No bone destruction. No paravertebral soft tissue mass. Conus termination appears normal. Bone island in L3. Sacroiliac joints normal. COMMENT: Moderate to large posterior central/left central disc extrusion L5/51. Moderate narrowing of the central canal and thecal sac but significant narrowing of the recesses especially on the left where there is likely to be impingement on the intradural and emerging parts of the descending left 51 nerve root. ..................................................... My doctor suggested surgery. Please help as I don't understand this medical jargon at all. Rohit A: Hi Rohit, Your MRI shows basically normal degenerative changes to the vertebral bones in the lumbar spine and the disc at L5/S1. I do not see any cause for surgery or even any confirmation of symptoms based upon this report. You might be experiencing mild nerve root compression of the S1 nerve root on the left, but then again, you might not...I recommend knowledge therapy and possibly non-surgical spinal decompression. I would avoid surgery. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Is your book available in hard copy? Thank you, Jill A: Hi Jill, Unfortunately, no longer. The cost of printing and shipping became prohibitive and I decided to go purely digital some time ago. Thanks for the inquiry, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I have for year had missing spaces in my vertebrae. This has caused me excruciating pain for years. When I was a child, I was thrown down stairs and hit my tail bone. I get some relief from a chiropractor, who I see weekly, but he says he can only give me relief, but no cure. I have also turned down surgery, needle treatment and pain pills. The pain is getting worse, making me periodically bed ridden, and occasionally, I have ribs that pop out. I keep looking for a doctor that can help, but they don't offer much hope. Can you suggest what I might look into and with whom. Thank you. Priscilla A: Hi Priscilla, Due to the serious and highly unusual condition you suffer from, additional diagnostic info would be helpful in advising you. Do you have MRI or x-ray reports available? If so, please paraphrase them and send the info along, so that I may pass it on to my advisory panel for perusal. If not, please send as much diagnostic information as you do have available, such as the exact levels affected and the exact nature of the bone abnormalities. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I slipped on an icy hill but stopped myself before falling. My back has been in swollen and in spasm on the left side for 5 months. I had x-rays and mri (lumbar and thoracic) which were unremarkable. I had pt (ultrasound,tens, and massage)with no result to my pain and mobility. I'm on a long list of meds that do not help the muscles or pain. Have you every heard of someone's muscles doing this for so long? I'm frustrated and angry. No one can tell me what's wrong with me but they (many doctors) all agree somethings wrong. What should i do? Dan A: Hi Dan, The nature of the injury is structurally illogical, as I am sure you can see. Regardless, I am sure the pain is horrible, if the area continues to be spasming for that long. Have you considered the idea that the pain is due to ischemia, using the slip and almost fall incident as a trigger? This would be my speculation. I advise knowledge therapy, since the medical modalities seem to be doing no good for you at all. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Is there someone in the Bay Area who I can see for therapy. I have been trying to do it on my own but am not successful. Thank you. Pat A: Hi Pat, I assume you mean psychotherapy for tms? yes? I do not know anyone in the Bay area, but you can contact Dr. Arlen Ring and he might be able to refer you to someone nearby...
Back Pain Questions and Answers to Lower Back Pain Home Revised 7/24/08
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