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Suggest Treatment For Spinal Stenosis And Bulging On The Spine
Question: I had an mri and it said I had mild bulging at s1 and l5 wIth spinal stenosis and foraminal compromise. Would this be the cause of my severe debilitating bilateral leg pain?
Brief Answer:
Nerve pinching in lower back might cause severe bilateral leg pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
The spine is made up of an alignment of small bones. These bones have sponge like discs between them and the spinal cord passes along the back of these bones through the spinal canal. Between the bones we also have nerve roots originating in the spinal cord and passing through foramen between bones.
You seem to be having discs at a L 5 - S 1 level that is protruding between the bones and this protrusion is backwards and causing narrowing of spinal canal and nerve root compression leading to the symptoms.
The disc protruding at level L 5 - S 1 is causing obliteration of lateral recess and neural foraminal compromise. This is leading to pinching of nerves causing severe pain in both legs. The nerve supply to the legs takes their origin in the lower back spine.
There are patients who get relief by doing physiotherapy and taking neurogenic pain relievers for up to a year.
Epidural injections are also given for relief. Facet joint procedures—intraarticular joint steroid injection, medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation are also among treatment options.
Other conservative treatment methods are Spinal Cord Stimulation, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, Increasing dose of pain relief medications and including specific medications and opioid analgesics.
If your pain is severe and not responding to medical treatment then the disc bulge causing pressure on nerves needs to be removed by doing a small surgery at the lower back region by a neurosurgeon. Presently, laser assisted surgical techniques is also available.
You can try to feel more comfortable at work by taking small breaks every 30 minutes and not straining your spine especially the painful areas.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Nerve pinching in lower back might cause severe bilateral leg pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
The spine is made up of an alignment of small bones. These bones have sponge like discs between them and the spinal cord passes along the back of these bones through the spinal canal. Between the bones we also have nerve roots originating in the spinal cord and passing through foramen between bones.
You seem to be having discs at a L 5 - S 1 level that is protruding between the bones and this protrusion is backwards and causing narrowing of spinal canal and nerve root compression leading to the symptoms.
The disc protruding at level L 5 - S 1 is causing obliteration of lateral recess and neural foraminal compromise. This is leading to pinching of nerves causing severe pain in both legs. The nerve supply to the legs takes their origin in the lower back spine.
There are patients who get relief by doing physiotherapy and taking neurogenic pain relievers for up to a year.
Epidural injections are also given for relief. Facet joint procedures—intraarticular joint steroid injection, medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation are also among treatment options.
Other conservative treatment methods are Spinal Cord Stimulation, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, Increasing dose of pain relief medications and including specific medications and opioid analgesics.
If your pain is severe and not responding to medical treatment then the disc bulge causing pressure on nerves needs to be removed by doing a small surgery at the lower back region by a neurosurgeon. Presently, laser assisted surgical techniques is also available.
You can try to feel more comfortable at work by taking small breaks every 30 minutes and not straining your spine especially the painful areas.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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