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Anyone with similar results and what has worked for you

Posted by soccer1477 @soccer1477, Jan 20 5:01pm

Have the following from EMG and MRI
Have horrible pain on both legs- Hamstrings - Tibialis and Peroneus previs muscles
Had an epidural 10 days ago I understand that at least I should give it 15-30 days and then maybe another one. I will start PT next week again but I’m afraid it is going to hurt as the ones I have had before I have been dealing with this for almost two years

Had anyone had similar results in MRI and EMG with a successful treatment plan?

I don’t understand why doctors say no surgery and the pain just keeps getting worse I just hope the epidural starts working soon

L4-L5: A broad-based central disc protrusion type hemiation impinges upon the ventral surface of the thecal sac.
The spinal canal is patent. Moderate bilateral neural foraminal stenosis is seen.

L5-S1: A broad-based central disc protrusion type hemiation remains subligamentous. The spinal canal is patent.
Mild to moderate bilateral neural foraminal stenosis is seen.

EMG:

electrodiagnostic evidence for chronic right L5 and S1 polyradiculopathy with ongoing active denervation in the right L4-5 and L5-S1 paraspinal muscle.

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Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | Jan 21 7:10am

In my case, I put off possible corrective surgery for decades. I was successful in managing discomfort via core strengthening, stretching, judicious use of OTC pain meds, and an occasional shot. My original docs (internist plus neurosurgeon) were also my friends and neighbors. I knew I could trust their opinion w/o reason to second guess what I was hearing. They strongly recommended deferring surgical intervention for as long as I could stand it. One literally suggested I defer until I was lying in bed in pain and unable to get up. His logic: The risks of the surgery outweighed the risks on no-surgery until I just couldn't stand it any more.

The tipping point for me was frequent (multiple times a day) episodic leg numbness which I would describe as "sudden onset". Walking along feeling fine when, boom, my legs would go numb and if I didn't sit down fast, I was going to fall down. Like maybe down a flight of stairs...

I could still manage the pain w/o surgery but I had reached the medical point where continued personal risk plus concerns over permanent nerve damage mitigated towards accepting the surgical risks. I'm glad I had multiple discectomies, decompressions, and fusions.

Personally, I respect a surgeon whose diagnosis is "no surgery for now".

Wishing you the best! Gather information. Talk to others who've experienced what you're experiencing. Question. Never give up.

REPLY
1 reply
ikcooley | @ikcooley | Jan 21 9:27am
In reply to @upstatephil "In my case, I put off possible corrective surgery for decades. I was successful in managing..." + (show)
@upstatephil

In my case, I put off possible corrective surgery for decades. I was successful in managing discomfort via core strengthening, stretching, judicious use of OTC pain meds, and an occasional shot. My original docs (internist plus neurosurgeon) were also my friends and neighbors. I knew I could trust their opinion w/o reason to second guess what I was hearing. They strongly recommended deferring surgical intervention for as long as I could stand it. One literally suggested I defer until I was lying in bed in pain and unable to get up. His logic: The risks of the surgery outweighed the risks on no-surgery until I just couldn't stand it any more.

The tipping point for me was frequent (multiple times a day) episodic leg numbness which I would describe as "sudden onset". Walking along feeling fine when, boom, my legs would go numb and if I didn't sit down fast, I was going to fall down. Like maybe down a flight of stairs...

I could still manage the pain w/o surgery but I had reached the medical point where continued personal risk plus concerns over permanent nerve damage mitigated towards accepting the surgical risks. I'm glad I had multiple discectomies, decompressions, and fusions.

Personally, I respect a surgeon whose diagnosis is "no surgery for now".

Wishing you the best! Gather information. Talk to others who've experienced what you're experiencing. Question. Never give up.

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I read and concurrent with your decision to wait. I had numbness that prevented me from walking more than two blocks. A laminectomy was done on L3, 4, and 5 in November. Unfortunately I have had a rough recovery. Now 8 weeks later the incision is healed but I have severe sciatica in my right leg. I have been on several medications to relieve it with no help. What was your post op recovery like. How long did it take you?

REPLY
Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | Jan 21 9:49am

I did not have a laminectomy. So my recovery might not suggest what you will experience. In my case - fusions require bone growth which is slow! Sorry I can't help more...

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