hi new to forum. could use some support and advice

[cid]

Recent Mri below. Back pain. Legs feel weak and shaky. Electrocution feelin down legs left more than right. Hip pain off and on sometimes unbearable. Unbearable pain where imner thighs meet body muscle tightness & spasms
L1-2 no signifacant spinal or foraminal stenosis
L2-3 disc degeneration mild disc height loss. Mild facet hypertrophy. No significant spinal or foraminal stenosis
L3-4 disc degeneration mild disc height loss mild facet hypeetrophy no significant spinal or foraminal stenosis
L4-5 disc degeneration. Mild disc bulging. Superimposed small right disc protrusion superimposed shallow left foraminal disc protrusion. Moderate facet hypertrophy and ligament flavum thickening mild spinal stenosis. Mild foraminal stenosis bilaterally right more than left
L5-s1 moderate facet hypertrophy. No significant spinal or foraminal stenosis

[KBear]

So sorry you are going through this. It sounds like L4/5 is your worst disc and most likely the pain generator. Have you had a discogram? It's not the funnest procedure, but it will help pinpoint your pain generator, so you can find a solution. For me my L4/5 was my worst disc, with L5/S1 & L3/4 both having small herniations. I had a discogram and it showed that L4/5 was indeed my pain generator and the other two weren't. I had ADR at L4/5 and am now pain free. Best advice is to research, there is a wealth of information on her, and be your own advocate.

[cid]

Thank you for your response. I have not had a discogram. I've had physical therapy. Injections. I have an appt with my Dr this thurs I'm going to ask for a consult referral to a neurosurgeon to see if they can help. It's been 2 yrs of this and I'm having different symptoms now hips legs the pain with that is so bad sometimes I would rather have 500 more c sections viz I know that pain gets better. Lol. Thank you again. I'm at the point of frustration beyond belief. I just want to feel better and enjoy life with my husband and 12 yr old daughter

[Justin]

Hi cid,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

I'm sorry that you have been dealing with spine issues for the last two years. Kathy gave you some great advice above regarding finding your pain generator. You may want to ask the neurosurgeon if you should be referred for diagnostic facet blocks in your lumbar spine to see if your hypertrophied (enlarged and degenerated) facet joints are causing your pain.

Get a few surgical opinions and definitely ask about a discogram and facet injections to help find your pain generators.

Keep us posted and let us know if we can help in any way. Be well.

[laid up doc]

agree w/ kbear and justin - as usual have d/w cid more in PM, wanted to chime in on thread for others in future.

[Gilbert P]

CID

You have been given great advise

All The Best

Gil

[cid]

Update on Dr appt. Was reluctant to give referral to spine specialist. Thinks my pain meds are causing my pain. I did get the referral. Started me on lyrical & suppose to call in a round of steroids. Told me the specialist is just gonna send me back to him. He said I'm not doing what he want me to do I told him I've been researching on internet & he told me I'm not a physician. He was angry with me I .left feeling horrible all I want is to find out what's goin on with my body. He also told me I might need to.find another Dr because I'm going in one direction & its not what he thinks I should be doing. Ugh. I did post something last night on here but not sure where & if I did it right

[Pbchoclovr]

Cid,

Welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of good information here on the site and many willing to share their experiences with you, as we've all been there or are going through it now. I'm really surprised and sorry for the response you got from your doctor. Have you considered finding another doctor after the response from your current doctor? A good doctor will make you part of the treatment process and won't be insulted that you are researching. I remember when I met with my surgeon asking questions and telling him of my research. He was actually impressed, since it made me a more informed patient. With my other doctors, if my research is in contraindication for my situation or their choice of treatment, they patiently explain to me why they're choosing to go a different direction. For me, if a doctor wasn't receptive to something I was asking in a respectful manner or made me feel bad, even if he disagreed, I'd be finding another doctor post haste. My attitude is it's my body. The doctor may have the knowledge to fix it, but in the end I have to live with the results, so I need to be comfortable with any treatment plan. It's team work, and I'm part of the team. Just my opinion.....

I really do hope you find the answers and relief you're seeking.

Linda

[Katie]

Linda just gave some great advice. Don't waste any more time and tears over this doctor...it seems like his ego is threatened and he cannot discuss your case in an honest and intelligent manner. I met with so many like him until I found GOOD doctors, both with their caring attitude and skills. It was a breath of fresh air to be able to ask questions and work with them instead of butting heads.

The hardest part is finding them...it took me almost eight tries to get one who was interested in helping, but once I did, things just flew and I got my life back.

I'm glad you found your way here, but sorry that you have the need.

[Badgolfer]

Hi Cid,

That is what is great about this site is that many of us have been down the same track. I saw 4 Neurosurgeons before I found one that would fix my problems. One looked at my back, said too hard, and kicked me out the door....at least he knew his limitations. But it feels very hard when you have been waiting and hoping to find the right person and suddenly your hope is dashed.

So recognize that getting this fixed is actually a priority and start behaving that way. Ask to see a different Dr in the same clinic, start seeing a different GP, get a referral from a pain control specialist, etc. I took a list of the few Neurosurgeons in Perth to my GP and we discussed each one and he wrote me referral letters for 3 of them. It took me 6 months from the time things got really bad to find 'Dr Right'.

Part 2 of this is the Dr has to be doing what you want and need. As you read here many of the folks have Dr suggesting solutions that they don't agree with. So a 'willing' Dr may not be 'Mr Right'.
Dan