Question
Hi.  I am a 35 year old female.  I started to have sciatic nerve
pain down my left leg in Nov 2005.  I had an MRI and here are
the results: "L4-L5 disc is desiccated, and demostrates diffues
bulge with a focal central and left paracentral disc herniation.  
There is a small exruded disc with mass-effect on the traversing
L5 nerve.  There is a moderated central canal stenosis related to
the broad-based dorsal herniation.  The canal stenosis is
contribution by bilateral extensive ligamentum flave thickening
and moderate facet hypertrophy with fluid noted in the left facet
joint."  I had a x-ray guided steriod injection the end of
november.  The pain decrease and I went to physical therapy for
6 weeks.  At the end of the six week period I was feeling about
90 to 95 percent better.  This lasted about two weeks and then I
woke up one morning with pain down my left leg again.  The
pain has gotten progressively worse over the week (pain started
one week ago) - especially at night, waking me up, pain is
mostly in ankle, calf and lower butt - during the day if i don't sit
for long periods, the pain is mild.   Do you think another
injection is the best way to go or should I look into another
treatment option?  I really don't want to have surgery.  thanks
for your help.

Answer
Beth:

Thanks for Writing!


This sounds like a surgical case. The "extruded disc" verbiage means that a small piece of the disc has broken loose. And the  "mass -effect on the traversing L5 nerve" means it is touching the sciatic nerve which would give you a pain down t he leg.

This type of surgery is usually successful as long as it is done with the least amount of cutting. Look for a doctor who can put a scope thru a small incision and pick out the piece of the disc.

I would also recomend you look at taking some magnesium citrate and progesterone to build the bones and ligaments. Basically, the bones and ligaments are really weak and worn.

Dr. Rozeboom