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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Chronic Back Pain Due To Disc Protrusion Be Treated?

I have ongoing chronic back pain, my MRI 2 years ago showed deg inl3/4 and L4/5 with a central to right paracentral disc protrusion at L4/5 which distorts the thecal sac and impinges the right L5 nerve root ni the lateral recess but no nerve compression.

I have tried everything, osteopathy, physio and have been seeing a chiropractor for the last 6 months and cannot get anymore than a couple of days without pain.



Should I be considering surgery, I am at my wits end!



Thanks

Fri, 13 Feb 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
If the pain has been getting worse and you are not able to manage it in spite of all the therapies you have gone through, I think it would be worthwhile to consider surgery. You need to discuss with the physician and also get a thorough neurological examination done so as to accurately decide which nerve impingement is causing most problems and at what level a microdiscectomy would most help. If it is at multi levels, you will probably require fusion surgery. Your spinal surgeon is best equipped with making the decision based on his clinical findings and what the imaging shows. Microdiscectomy is the most oft done procedure and has a really good rate of success of about 95%. Hope this helps you make a decision.
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How Can Chronic Back Pain Due To Disc Protrusion Be Treated?

Hi, If the pain has been getting worse and you are not able to manage it in spite of all the therapies you have gone through, I think it would be worthwhile to consider surgery. You need to discuss with the physician and also get a thorough neurological examination done so as to accurately decide which nerve impingement is causing most problems and at what level a microdiscectomy would most help. If it is at multi levels, you will probably require fusion surgery. Your spinal surgeon is best equipped with making the decision based on his clinical findings and what the imaging shows. Microdiscectomy is the most oft done procedure and has a really good rate of success of about 95%. Hope this helps you make a decision.