Question
I've been dealing with this same back pain since Dec. '08. It started in my lower left back, now it is radiating down to my ankle on the left side. I had a CT scan done, and I don't understand the results. It says "AT L4-L5 there is a central disc protrusion producing indentation of the anterior aspect of the thecal sac. There is narrowing of the AP spinal canal diameter at this level. The approximate AP measurement of this disc bulge is 7 mm with a transverse diameter at its base of 1.4 cm. and also "At L5-S1 prominent posterior osteophyte." They are referring me to a neurosurgeon, so does this mean surgery? I've already been off work since May because I can hardly move somedays. Does this mean I'll be like this forever?? Thank you for your time.

Answer
Amanda,

Here's the key thing:  the disc protrusion.

The common cause of disc protrusion is muscular contractions along the spine.  They pull vertebrae together, squeezing the intervertebral disc(s).  They bulge and press on local nerves, causing the kind of symptoms you describe.

An osteophyte is a bone spur.  These typically form at the point of muscular attachment and grow in response to muscular pull.

And there we are.

The non-surgical option is to relax the contracted muscles and alleviate compression.  In many cases, that is sufficient to alleviate symptoms and restore mobility.  It's fast, it's relatively inexpensive, and it's painless, if done by the methods of clinical somatic education, and the results are lasting and leave you fit for the activities of life.

May I direct you to a few pages on my website:

http://www.somatics.com/back_pain_terms.htm
http://www.somatics.com/back_pain_Q&A.htm
http://www.somatics.com/backpainreliefsantafe.htm (explains clinical somatic education)