Brief Answer:
Disc prolapse at L4-L5.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Your mother is having a disc prolapse at L4-L5 with minor age related degenerative changes in the lumbar and cervical spine. The treatment is done according to the severity of symptoms. Medicines are the first line treatment along with physiotherapy. If the patient responds well with medicines then physiotherapy helps in preventing further progression of the problem. Surgery is kept as a last resort to improve the quality of life of the patient.
The main treatment of such problem is bed rest along with pain killers and muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants can help with her symptoms if used in appropriate dosage in combination with a potent analgesic. You can get these prescribed from her orthopedician.
Local analgesic gels and hot fomentation may provide a short term relief. She can use analgesic gels like Volini gel. Exercise is not advisable in the times of acute pain.
Using an LS contour belt of appropriate size might be helpful in providing support to back muscles.
The following measures will help with the pain
• Lie on a hard bed.
• Anti -inflammatory drugs like Tablet Motrin 1 tablet as and when required ( dont repeat a dose before 6 hours) with food.
• Avoid forward bending.
• Correct your posture while sitting
• Avoid prolonged sitting
• Avoid strenuous activity & lifting heavy weights.
• Apply diclofenac gel/ Volini on the affected area. Warm compresses will also help.
Physiotherapy also plays a major role in treating such conditions. Epidural steroid injections have been used if oral pain killers are not very effective. Discuss with your orthopedician and an appropriate treatment can be planned depending on the response to medical drugs.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

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Brief Answer:
Details below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The changes in the spine are not something serious. These are normal age related degenerative changes. Regular physiotherapy exercises will help in improvement and will prevent further progression of the problem.
There is an old healed fracture in the back. Since the fracture has healed now this is not the reason of the pain she is having.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.

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