Finally, Answers on my back!

[Bummer Knees]

I saw my primary saw physician today. My doctor is an osteopath that has treated me for 18 yrs, and most important I trust & respect what he has to say.

Today he reviewed the MRI with me and although it has no major changes it gives some answers of the problems I experience with my back.

The MRI shows DDD, 3 disc with bulging, 1 with posterior hypertrophy changes, and 1 with spurring.

My doctor told me the sedentary restrictions are “here to stay” He also told me I will not be able to return to the job I held when I was injured or, any job requiring any physical activity.

He also told me surgery will not fix what I have and future treatment will require pain management, and I will have my good days & bad days, very true!

My former treating wc doctor writes in the IME Report: “Considering the length of time this individual was dealing with her knee problems, I do believe that this could have then resulted in a strain to her lumbar spine.

I will have a 2nd IME later this month, this one ordered by the judge. Then the judge will make a decision if my back issues are related to the injury.

The doctor said most what I needed to hear, and that is the MRI explains my symptoms and that in itself gives me a peace of mind.

Thank everyone for being patient with me.

[halftrak]

glad you are finally finding some answers,good luck

[Cycler]

I wonder how he arrived at that conclusion since it is well accepted that there is no correlation between symptoms and imaging study findings; ie everyone has bulging and degenerated discs with spurs and etc etc but not everyone has issues with back pain. Sedentary lifestyle is the one thing associated with chronic low back pain.

[Bummer Knees]

Cycler

I've also had a discogram, 3 ESI's 4 CT Scans, 1 biopsy, 1 Pet Scan, and 3 other MRI's in the past 2 1/2 years.

As you can tell by the testing I have other issues of the spine.

My doctor knows my medical history.

[AQA]

I am glad to hear you are getting some answeres to your symptoms and that a connection is being made in reference to the knee and spine.

Take Care

[buildergirl1973]

glad you got more info on why your hurting. hope you can get some relief. take care

[Cycler]

[quote=Bummer Knees]
"Cycler

I've also had a discogram, 3 ESI's 4 CT Scans, 1 biopsy, 1 Pet Scan, and 3 other MRI's in the past 2 1/2 years.

As you can tell by the testing...."

Well, that seems to support my view on the matter; that no one has been able to tell you why you have the symptoms you do and that is exactly in line with the peer reviewed spine and chronic pain literature and science on the matter. In other words, had a recognized patho-anotomic condition been present the battery of tests would not have been necessary. Again, there is no correlation between imaging studies and the patients complaints and that includes discograms.

This in no way is to say that you the patient does not have significant and debilitating problems but only that the Spine medical science had not been able to
make any headway in the past 30 years in understanding and treating chronic back pain despite a 600 % increase in expenditures on back pain.

IT may interest you to know that while the incidence ( annual rate ) of back pain has remained constant over decades and across nations the disability from back pain has accelerated tremendously DESPITE the above mentioned 600 % increase in money spent on it, new surgeries, all the pain management and prescriptions.
Clearly something else is going on and the most recent research is finally paying attention to bio-psycho-social issues for the same reasons.

[Bummer Knees]

Cycler many of the test I've had are due to the tumor in the bone morrow at T12.

And according to the cancer specialist they were needed for diagnosis.

[Still in Limbo]

Bummer, even though it May sound Bad that You are left at the Sedentary Level, at least Your Spine is Stable, and can be Treated with the Proper Med. Regimen and Possible PT! I'm Very Happy to Hear it wasn't Worse, and Something that can be done to Control Your Pain!

Cycler, I Understand what You are Saying about the Correlation of Imaging of the Spine and Pain, or Chronic Pain. I knew Nothing about My Spine until I Injured Mine, then I Spent as Much Time as Possible Learning, until I felt Comfortable with what I've Learned. I spent Many Years with 4 Totally Dried and Bulged Discs above My L5/S1 Area, had DDD, and only had the Normal Aches and Pains Associated with the Heavy Lifting I Performed in My Work. When My Lower Disc Blew, and Crushed My S1 Nerve Root, and then after Surgery My Area where my Half of Disc was Removed, and My Crushed Nerve Root was Wrapped in Scar Tissue, and Unable to Heal, did I Thoroughly Understand Chronic Pain. The Laminectomy done to remove Debris of Pulpus from My S1 Nerve and Root has left My Spine Unstable, and I now Deal with Retrolethesis. So I Agree 100% that any and All other Options should be Used to Provide Relief before Spinal Surgery, My Surgeon did nothing Wrong, My Body just Produces Excess Scar Tissue, and this was My First Surgery, and I didn't know that! Believe Me, in My Instance anyway, You can't cut away Pain with a Scalpel all the Time, if at All. Some Pain May be Psychological, Some May be Exaggerated, and there are the People where the Pain is Real, and Brought on by a Traumatic Injury. None the Less, each type of Pain Described above to the Person Having it is True Pain, and has to be Diagnosed and Treated Correctly. There Lies the Problem with w/c, the Delays they Cause has caused More Simple Injuries to Become More Pronounced, and in Cases Like Mine Disabling. So I feel Quicker Diagnosis and Treatment of any of the Kind of Pain I wrote Above is the Key, and would turn Out in the End to be Much Less Costly, and the Injured Party May be able to return to Work Quicker, and with Less of an Injury than is being Caused by the w/c Delays in Diagnosis and Treatment!! So it's not always the Injured Party, or Their Conception of Pain, or Money Spent that is the Problem, the w/c System has to Move Quicker to Treat Back Injuries, thus Less Pain, and Less Cost,not to Mention Less Disabling Claims!

[Cycler]

Bummer;

Yes, tumors do correlate well and thankfully for most people make up only a very small percentage of back pain cases. Unfortunately so in your case.