New Chick! - L5/S1 problems

[Meggie2479]

Hi All!

I guess this is a bitter sweet introduction. I'm 32 and just recently found out that I have, what I'm assuming, is a serious back issue. I've know that I've had a slightly bulging disc between L5-S1 for a year. I have been having back pain off and on for the last 5 yrs, since the birth of my last child. I'm suspecting the delivery of said child is the beginning. I was in labor for 2 wks straight, well they finally admit me and I had chosen water birth so our (my son's and mine) vitals weren't monitored as closely as a bed labor. I finally get dilated enough for them to break my water, my son goes from a -2 station to out in 7 minutes. When they broke my water his head slammed down very hard. The cord was wrapped around his neck 3 times and his body twice. We are very lucky to have him. Fast forward to this past spring, we went on a road trip, very long road trip. I have been in constant pain since. I won't even get into the run around I got from the doctors at my clinic. I ended up taking matters into my own hands and I contacted a local spine clinic (where my sister in law works). I have had 2 sets of injections and we started the test for facet nerve blocking, I failed that test miserably.
I had my second MRI 3 weeks ago and found out that I now have **"[COLOR=#]L5-S1: There is mild degenerative disc disease at this level with a 5 mm right posterolateral caudally extruded disc herniation with impingement upon the traversing right S1 nerve root. The foramina appear patent and the facet joints are unremarkable"**.
I met with a doctor at this local spine clinic and he has told me that I would be a perfect candidate for a disc replacement surgery, now for the catch, BCBS of MN doesn't cover the surgery. At the time of that appointment I thought I could hold out until the first of the year to see if maybe they will cover it. My opinion has since changed. I ran out of pain meds this weekend. The depression set in pretty fast and very hard. I cried a number of times. I have my pain meds now, but I have realized that I don't want to have to rely drugs for the next 3-4 months.
I have an appoint this Friday to see where we can go from here. To be honest I'm not even sure what my MRI results mean. I saw the pictures and it looks not so good. But I don't know what options I have. The doctor I spoke with said he suspected I have a tear in my disc and he doesn't believe that it will heal itself.
Also I have a PT appointment that was scheduled before my MRI, I'm not even sure I should be going to PT.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this is all Greek to me. I'm swimming in new waters and I'm scared. I hate that my health issue is stressing out my husband and I hate that it's also effecting my interactions with my kids. If I'm in pain I get snippy and it's not fair to my family.
This is also starting to effect my work performance at my job.
I need guidance. I need support.
Thanks for reading this book, LOL!
Meg
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[KBear]

Welcome to the forum and sorry for the circumstances. Are the injections and the testing the only treatment you have had? Have you tried physical therapy? Generally insurance companies (and surgeons) want to see that you have done at least 6 month of conservative treatment before having surgery. I did 3 years of conservative treatment (you name it, I tried it) before surgery... that being too long in my opinion. I think 1-2 years would have been more appropriate in my case. You want to know that you did try everything and that there was no possible way you were going to get better without surgical intervention. Spine surgery (especially lumbar) is very major surgery with great potential benefit, but also lots of risks and is not reversible. I wanted to know that when I went into surgery, that regardless of outcome- good, bad or ugly, that I could be confident knowing it was my only option.

Also for the L5/S1 level I wouldn't rule out fusion. That level doesn't have as much movement as others, so an ADR isn't as necessary, or theoretically as beneficial and some theorize can make it have too much movement, thus causing problems. I know it's completely overwhelming jumping into this and having so much to learn and figure out, but it is time well spent. By researching your options and learning as much as you possibly can, you will become a well informed patient and can be confident in your treatment decision.

Kathy

[Justin]

Hi Meggie,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

To be honest I'm not even sure what my MRI results mean.

Your MRI notes that there is "5 mm right posterolateral caudally extruded disc herniation with impingement upon the traversing right S1 nerve root" -- this means that the disc, or the "soft cushion," between two bones in your lower spine, L5 and S1, has essentially "opened" in such a way that the material inside the disc is now pushing upon a nerve (specifically the S1 nerve root on the right) that runs down your spine close to the disc.

Here's a link to a great explanation with pictures in our Patient Education section of the website: http://www.spinepatientsociety.org/education/patient-education-2/?api_path=topic/e823ebc7486389d4e332f47be29059e6
(A Patient's Guide to Lumbar Disc Herniation)

The most powerful tool to "get through this" is educating yourself about your condition. We have a lot of great reading material and videos under the Patient Education tab at the top of the Forum.

Good luck with your upcoming appointment and please keep us posted.

[laid up doc]

kbear hit it on the head as far as trying nonsurgical options and that fusion is a very viable option at L5/S1.

i'm just a year older than you... same level, but have annular tears rather than a herniation. i get all of the side effects and none of the relief from pain meds... i have found that a TENS unit is a great pain treatment w/o side effects.

i too had work issues and eventually had to leave - but i have a very physical job.

my advice:
- find a really good SPINE PT and do everything they say
- walk a lot, swim if you can
- minimize narcs
- try to get a TENS unit
- try massage therapy - some of your pain may be muscular and a deep tissue massage may relieve some of this
- look into overseas ADR if you can afford it and really don't want fusion