Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am a 47 year old woman who has just been diagnosed with bilateral severe facet jointv arthropathy at L5/S1, with no neural compression. I have normal vertebral alignment and marrow signal throughout, and discs are preserved at all levels with no sign of degenerative disc disease. At L5/S1 there is a shallw disc bulge . Please could you explain to me in layman's terms, what this means and what can I do about this?  My doctor has just said pain management, but are there any exercises that will help, and are there any things I can do to stop this getting worse? Are there any exercises I should avoid. I have quite a bit of pain most day's and have had this for almost 20 years.  I have a problem with my knee (right) also which I feel may have contributed.  Thank you for your time.
Regards,

Lou

ANSWER: Hello Lou,

I'm very sorry to hear about your pain for the last 20 years.  And I'm sure you've tried many, many techniques over those year in your attempt to find some lower back pain relief.  I'm cautiously optimistic that I may be able to help you, but let me explain a few things first.

Most chronic structural pain in a body is due to the shortening and tightening of tissue around joints.  All the muscles and soft-tissue in your body is like the rigging (ropes) on a big old-fashioned sailboat.  Everything is pulling and releasing against everything else in order for us to stand, walk, lift things, etc.  But just like the rigging on a sailboat if some of the rigging, especially the bigger stronger pieces, gets inappropriately tight, then it will start yanking and torquing the joints so they no longer function optimally.

Once you understand that bones are really just chunks of calcium that do not move on their own, you can begin to see the benefit of releasing the inappropriate tension in your soft-tissue in order to give the joints the space and freedom they need to function optimally and just as important, in a pain free way.  I explain all of this in greater detail on my free website,  Do-It-Yourself-Joint-Pain-Relief.com,
http://www.do-it-yourself-joint-pain-relief.com/

I would recommend that you visit my Lower Back Pain Relief page,
http://www.do-it-yourself-joint-pain-relief.com/lower-back-pain-relief.html
Follow along with the videos and I think there is a good chance you will find noticeable relief from your lower back pain.

I do hope this was helpful.

All the best,

Gary Crowley

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much Gary that was really helpful.

I just wanted to ask.....because it is severe, does this mean that maybe in later age I am going to have really bad mobility problems or even be disabled by this?

Am I best to give up playing any sport now ( I play badminton, go rowing, and really was hoping to start jogging again) as this may worsen the condition?

Thank you,

Regards,

Lou

ANSWER: Hello Lou,

I'm not sure if I ever answered your follow-up question.

I would say "no", this does not mean you will be disabled by this or have bad mobility problems.
If you can do your sports without pain then I would continue. If you begin to feel pain, then figure out
how to fix it and if the pain goes away then you can continue your sport.
As we age, we may need to cut back on our intensity levels with any given activity, but I would certainly
continue to be active if you can do it without pain.

All the best,

Gary Crowley

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Gary,

Most things give me pain whether exercising or not......mostly when I stop though, and kind of cease up. If my degeneration is 'severe' now, what can happen in the future?  I mean will it progress beyond 'severe' as I am only 48.  I am rather confused and almost worried to do anything incase I make things worse!

Thank you,

Regards,

Lou

Answer
Hi Lou,

If your condition gets more severe then I would expect the pain to become more intense, even when exercising.  I really think the goal is to create as much space and freedom in the area as possible, which is why I recommended my Lower Back Pain page.   Stretching , yoga, getting bodywork will all help free the area that is causing your pain.

Hope this was helpful.

Best,

Gary Crowley