Annular Tear L5/S1

[cp7959]

Longroad, sorry to hear your tear has progressed.

A few questions if you don't mind, did pain increase with extrusion? Do or did you have good disk height when the tear was discovered? What is your primary symptoms? Where you diligent about doing all the right things, core strengthening, diet, no bending or twisting and lifting heavy objects?

From what I understand that an extrusion has a better chance to heal. But as Hooch said "No one knows what the future holds".

My primary symptom is sciatica, also if I sit for an extended time it makes things worse. I hope I get lucky and this resolves. I made a mistake in my first posting., it was 8/2010 not 8/2009 that this first acted up. So I'm about 8 months into this.

Hooch, I did read Doug's story and his entire WEB site. Very informative.

Maria, I did have 2 epidurals with no success.

The strange things about my situation is that the tear is towards the right at L5/S1, but my symptoms are on the left. I do also have a central herniation at L3/L4 with no neural compression. My pain management Dr. feels my issue is L5/S1, however my Surgeon for my neck reviewed my MRI and said it is possible that L5/S1 is not my problem and the real issue is L3/L4.

My sciatica is not really following either dermatone exactly, it becomes more broad. It does radiate to the top of my foot, not my big toe, or little toe. I know I could get a discogram to get a better picture. But I feel what's the point unless surgery is where I'm headed.

ANy advice from anyone is appreciated.

[longroadahead]

Originally Posted by cp7959

Longroad, sorry to hear your tear has progressed.

A few questions if you don't mind, did pain increase with extrusion? Do or did you have good disk height when the tear was discovered? What is your primary symptoms? Where you diligent about doing all the right things, core strengthening, diet, no bending or twisting and lifting heavy objects?

From what I understand that an extrusion has a better chance to heal. But as Hooch said "No one knows what the future holds".

It is hard to say if the LBP increased. It is different for sure but exactly how I cannot say. For sure the right leg hurts more when I try to extend it out or any stretching to the right leg is painful. The tear was discovered in 2009 with a Lumbar MRI but was not a grade 5 at the time.

Primary symptoms are LBP with right leg pain. I am very diligent and go to the gym at least twice a week for light weight exercises and core strengthening. Try to walk 10,000 steps per day and do PT exercises at home.

Since the nature of my back pain has changed with the 8mm extrusion I am seriously considering a microdiscotomey before fusion/ADR. Realize I may need add'l surgery down the road but by then maybe some of the newer disc will be FDA approved or the treatment for the disc regeneration will be FDA approved.

There are many successful back surgeries and not successful procedures for every procedure I have researched.

[dshobbies]

LRA,

I agree in trying the disco before more drastic surgeries. You may be one of the lucky ones whose problems stop there. I'm not sorry I had the first disco/lami but it was an emergency situation so I had no choice to consider anything else, not that my doctor recommended anything.

However, when I think about it, I get angry when he recommended the second surgery, knowing full well the chances of success were limited. So just keep it in the back of your mind if this occurs.

CP, it does look like a discogram is in your future. Fear not - the pain last for only seconds, if that long. Also agree that if you're not willing to do anything about it, like surgery, what's the point. Making the right decision - not easy.

My best to both of you, Dale