Question
Dr. Rozeboom,
Thank you so much for the quick reply and definitions in laymen terms. I will print out your letter for my mom with your recommendations. I have a few more questions if you don't mind...
1) How did her discs get this way?
2) Are your recommendations preventive from further degeneration or can they reverse the effects?
3) Is it possible to become paralyzed with this condition?
4) How does this relate to her feeling tingling or numbness in her right leg?
5) I couldn't find the book, "Arthritis and Joint Pain" anywhere (online at Amazon, Borders, or Barnes and Noble)?

Thank you.
Thao
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Please help, I am unable to interpret the MRI results my mom sent me. The doctor said she will be ok, but she still feels pain(and now some mild numbness at times in her right leg)and is very concerned. I don't know what L1/2/3/4/5 means or what her next steps should be to prevent further injury and pain.

Her MRI findings:
(1) Conus is at the level of L1
(2) There is disc desiccation at L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5
(3) At L3/4, there is a diffuse disc bulge w/o neuroforaminal narrowing or spinal stenosis (what is this?)
(4) At L4/5, There is a broad based central disc protrusion w/o canal stenosis (is this bad?)

Impression: Multi-level degenerative disc disease w/o canal stenosis or nerve root impingement.

I am not familiar with any of the medical terminology and what the diagnosis means, so any help you can provide is appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Thao
-----Answer-----
Thao:

Thanks for writing!

The "conus" is the lower end of the spinal tubing inside the spinal bone. It is located next to the First Lumbar bone (L1)in your mother. The First Lumbar is in the low back, the first bone below  the bones that have ribs attached. This location sounds about right to me, check it out in an anatomy book.

The disc are the pieces of gristle between the bones in your back. "Dessicated" means they are dried up and crumbly. These dried up crumbling disc do not appear to be pressing on the tubing of the spinal cord or the branches that come off of it.

If the dried up disc do not appear to be pressing on the tubing, the medical doctors assume they cannot be causing pain. This is not true

Your mom needs to start drinking some water, filtered or spring, and get rid of the cola and coffee and alchohol.

I would suggest she go to www.sorsi.com, www.soto-usa.com, or www.icak.com and find a good chiropractor near you. They can realign the muscles to take the pressure off of these crumbling discs.

Chrondroition Glucosamine Sulfate or shark cartilage would also help.

I also recomend the book "Your Bodies Many Cries for Water" and the book on "Arthritis and Joint Pain" by Dr. Batmanheldigh. They are  available at any book store. It contains positioning procedures which would help your mom a good deal.

Does this answer your question?

Dr. Rozeboom

Answer
Thao:

Here is the listing on Amazon.

5.   
How to Deal With Back Pain and Rheumatoid Joint Pain by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj (Paperback - Oct 1991)

Buy new:  $14.95 $10.61   Used & new from $7.43
Get it by Tuesday, November 7, if you order in the next 24 hours and 10 minutes.
Excerpt - page 47: "... December 21, 1988 Dr. Fereidun (sic) Batmanghelidj 2146 Kings Garden Way Falls Church, Virginia 22043 Dear Fereidun ..."
?See more references to Batmanghelidj in this book.
Surprise me! See a random page in this book.



Dr. Rozeboom





Thao:

Ok!

1) The discs got this way through not drinking enough water, lack of exercise and poor nutrition. The typical American diet is a prime example of poor nutrition.
2)My recomendations are designed to restore your mom's health. The results depend on her age, present health, drugs and how well she changes things to be more healthy.

3)This condition will accelerate aging. A typical symptom of aging is loss of the ability to walk. I doubt if this would result in a paralyzed legs, but walking would definitely get more difficult.
4)The tingling and numbness occur because the bones get in the way of the nerves and when the nerves are unable to do their job, they tingle and things go numb.
5) Search for the book under the author's name. It is Batmanhelidg or something like that spelling. Search for Batman*.*

Dr. Rozeboom