Question
I have had back pain for the last few weeks. I saw an orthopedic surgeon, got X-rays. and got my MRI done.
At first, he suggested microdisectomy (a surgery), then after looking at the MRI, he decided against the surgery. He has asked me to wear the lumbosacral belt and start physiotherapy. I start therapy on Monday. I'm just at my wit's end with this pain.
Here is the conclusion of the MRI:
Small central disc herniations are seen at L4 - L5 and L5 - S1 indenting the thecal sac and effacing the anterior epidural fat respectively. There is no evidence of neural impingement.

Diffuse marrow signal alteration deserves BMD/hematological correlation.

How do I get relief from the pain? It seems like it will never go away!

Answer
Dear Sharmin,

The obvious question here is to ask, Have you tried chiropractic?  If not then why?  I see these cases in my office all the time, and most never need surgical correction.

Often acute disk injury/bulges are pretty easy to treat.  You calm the local inflammation down with electrical stimulation and ice, and then adjust the spine manually, with a drop table, or a cox flexion table, and some mild stretching techniques, the pain reduces in just a few visits.  I often have people who couldn't walk without being bent over, almost pain free in as little as 2-3 weeks.  And if they are a more stubborn case, I might have them placed on an intervertebral disk decompression machine.  Obviously these patients need physical rehab as well to work on spinal stability, but that comes after we get the initial pain reduction.

I would suggest that you seek out the advice and care of a local chiropractic physician.  Ask around for a referral from your friends/family/co-workers, then schedule a free consultation so that you can be sure you are comfortable with the doctor.  Oh and get some blood tests to follow up on the hematological correlation of the bone marrow signal...rule out anything else.

Good Luck.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net