All messed up - discharged soldier

[MiniEOD]

Ok, I injured my back in Iraq in an explosion, or many, dont know how exactly or when it happened. Hurt for a month, then went away. This was early 2006.

Feb 2009 starts hurting, badly. Seeing PT and Chiro, not helping. X-Ray shows DDD in L5-S1.

09March 2010, MRI. Results as follows:

Report Status: Verified Date Reported: MAR 09, 2010
Date Verified: MAR 09, 2010
Verifier E-Sig:

Report:
Exam: MRI lumbar spine.

Indication: Low back pain, new radiculopathy.

Findings: Multiplanar noncontrast MR images of the lumbar spine
were performed utilizing standard protocol, including sagittal
T1, T2, STIR and axial T1 and T2-weighted sequences. There are no
priors for comparison.

There is straightening of the normal lumbar lordosis. Normal
vertebral body height and marrow signal. No acute compression
fractures or finding to suggest discitis or osteomyelitis.

L1/L2: No significant central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

L2/L3: Mild diffuse broad-based disc bulge with some flattening
of the anterior thecal sac, no significant central canal or
neural foraminal stenosis.

L3/L4: Mild diffuse broad-based disc bulge, flattening of the
anterior thecal sac, ligamentum flavum hypertrophic changes are
noted, mild to moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing is
present.

L4/L5: Diffuse broad-based disc bulge, facet hypertrophic
changes and ligamentum flavum hypertrophic changes resulting
tricompartmental stenosis.

L5/S1: There is a central disc extrusion, this measures
approximately 1.3 cm transverse x 6 mm in AP dimension. This does
cause some effacement of the anterior thecal sac, mild to
moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing is noted.

There is a normal terminating conus. No abnormal epidural
collections. Paraspinal muscle signal intensity appears normal.



Impression:


1. Focal central disc extrusion at the L5/S1 level measuring
approximately 6 mm in AP dimension. There is some effacement of
the anterior thecal sac, mild bilateral neural foraminal
narrowing is also present. 2. Diffuse broad-based disc bulge
also noted at the L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels as above. 3. Normal
terminating conus. Normal marrow signal.

Primary Diagnostic Code: ABNORMALITY, ATTN. NEEDED

[Keano16]

Consider selective endoscopic discectomy.

It can help your IDD (DDD like anunlar tear) and it can help your radicular syndrome caused by disc herniation.

[linda]

Welcome to the site miniEOD,
First of all I'd like to thank you for serving our country and risking your life for all of us. I'm sorry you are having these back issues. I'm also an L5-S1 person and have been hurting pretty bad daily for about 2 years. On my MRI it looks bone on bone. The people here are very nice and full of information. This place has been a real help to me. I look forward to hearing more about your back and what you might plan to do about it. I'm enrolled in the Freedom Disc Clinical Trial in NC and considering having this artifical disc put in or the Prodisc. I would not know which one I got until I woke up from surgery. They only do one level. My other option is fusion. Can't seem to commit yet.
Take Care,
Linda

[MiniEOD]

hey to both of you

Linda, any more information about that trial? is it NC only or nationwide? I will google for more info too

I actually found this place 2 weeks ago while looking up TDR options, and found the XL TDR, which i am disqualified since they are only considering L1 through L5, and not my S1

i will let you all know more, though im not sure where to go from here

oh and I figure --- my name is Mike , feel free to use that instead of the handle

[linda]

Texas Back Institute and I think somewhere in CA. Im not sure but look at cdscuddan's threads - she just had surgery on Feb 18 and got the Freedom disc and seems to be doing pretty good. I've only found a few other posts of people that have gotten the Freeom Disc and that was on the ADR Support site I think - they were happy too. I like the looks of that disc also. The prodisc looks totally different - moves a lot like a ball and socket thing. I saw a model of both of them at my doctor's office. This trial has been going on for awhile - about a year and my doc said it could be over mid year. I'm still trying to get up the nerve to do this but I know I just can't keep going like this. What is you pain like? Mine feels like somebody hit me with a bat - more than once. I still manage to work every single day.
Linda

[MiniEOD]

constant pain in my lower back, no matter the position...worse if i keep that position for longer than a few minutes

except lying flat on my bed, i have a tempurpedic, i spoiled myself

and i have a lot of pain in my upper thighs....almost all the time, closely associated with my position problem from above

eh, it all sucks really, haha

[Keano16]

This indeed sounds like discogenic low-back pain. You should maybe consider some less invasive treatment prior to ADR.

Regards from Croatia

[linda]

Mike,
You are so right - this sucks and what else sucks are the oxycodones I'm on that do not work very good anymore. What they are good for is messing up my ability to think and even type coherent sentences. This is one reason that I don't post a lot. Then there is the extreme fatigue. Anyway, the tops of my thighs have started hurting recently also. My GP said it was my sciatic nerve. I'm very close to commiting to this surgery. I've turned into a hermit and depression has set in. However, it has warmed up here which has brightened my spirits somewhat.

Enough about me. Will the military pay for ADR? Whichever way you go I'm sure you have youth on your side and your recovery thus successful. I wish you much luck.
Linda

[MiniEOD]

haha, yeah im 24, this shouldnt be happening!!!

i have actually not been on pain killers yet...i think i need to request some soon though, as this has been getting worse and worse lately

dont let this beat you up more than it can though...i try to do as much as i can, short of working out anymore, which infuriates me...it hurts to work out, and i do not want to mess things up more, but i cant stand not running or lifting...sigh

stay active is waht they tell me, strengthen your core, and use physical therapy...this wont help...first two yeah, last one nah

depression....dont let that happen either....much better things to do than that! buy a playstation



its iffy if the military will pay, i am seeking disability through the VA now, awaiting response...and my medical coverage is through the VA and is free, though i do not have universal health care of another type

have to investigate more with my hospital / GP to find out what i can do now....endoscopic microdisc. sounds like a nice thing to try, at least for me

- mike

[Keano16]

Not sure where are you located, but Dr. Yeung invented this technique and he is best option for you. Consider him