MRI results and Pain symptoms not matching. Dr says nothing he can do.

Posted by sbraden1234 @sbraden1234, Nov 9, 2024

I had decompression and fusion at L3-L4-L5 one year ago. Throughout this year I have had lower back pain, leg pain, a drop foot, numb toes, heels and lower leg. Walking and bending are so painful. I wake throughout the night from pain and lately both my legs also ache so bad, it is impossible to get back to sleep.
The MRI and CT scan for my year post op appt says I have a broad based disc bulge and significant foraminal stenosis at L5-S1 compressing the exiting nerve roots and a disc bulge at L2-L3 with canal and foraminal stenosis and compression of the exiting nerve root.
My neurosurgeon said where I report pain does not match the MRI or CT scan and he can't do anything further for me. I feel like I am going absolutely crazy, being in this much pain every single day and night and being told this is it. I have had injections in the joints that have not helped. The surgeon said this is indicative that surgery would not help. I did 6 months of PT and now work out with a trainer and exercise 6 days a week. Does anyone have any advice? Do I just stop thinking there is a way to become pain-free and suck it up so to speak?

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Possible you have arachnoiditis or tarlov cysts causing pain? These are two conditions that radiologists and most doctors do not know about or dismiss and do not even put evidence on MRI reports. You could request an independent review of your scans to see if this is presents. I have both these conditions and have pain all the time.

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