Off bike for a while

[mary9761]

I saw my doctor today and the results are in.. I DEFINITELY have a bulged disc and pinched sciatic nerve.

From the MRI report

A. There is grade 1 anterolisthesis of L4 and L5.

(Layman's terms sort of ) In anterolisthesis, the upper vertebral body is positioned abnormally compared to the vertebral body below it. More specifically, the upper vertebral body slips forward on the one below.

The amount of slippage is graded on a scale from 1 to 4. Grade 1 is mild (20% slippage), while grade 4 is severe (100% slippage).

B. There is mild anterior height loss of vertebral bodies T11 and T12 with minimal degenerative change at this level. No associated bone marrow edema or bony fragments.
(I'm guessing this is likely one of my original compression fractures from my accident in 1988)

C. There is disc desiccation at L4 - L5 and L5 - S1 with mild space narrowing at these levels.

Basically I've been told L1 through L3 - L4 basically look normal with no disc compromise.
L4 - L5 show degenerative disc disease with a mild stenosis (pinching) of the nerve root
L5 - S1 is a diffuse bulged disc, lateralizing to the right (why I have the pain in my right leg) This is where the real damage is.

Our next step is a new course of another prednisone type and a referral to a neurosurgeon to see what he feels is the next step we need to do be it surgery or what.

It's been a LONG day and I'm probably going to be laying down soon to rest and will likely try to be online a bit more tomorrow.

My doctor says that I will likely be able to get back on the bike eventually, but being a cyclist , he did say that whatever bike I get on that we make sure the fit is right to keep pressure off the lower back etc. I told him that right now I'm on a comfort bike so I'm for the most part in an upright position and that when the time comes I'm comfident that Jimmy at The Bike Line will make sure we've got the bike adjusted correctly if there needs to be any changes made.

Thanks again for all the good thoughts, prayers etc. I have gone back to the original dose of antidepressant that I'd been prescribed some time back and that I'd cut in half (with the Ok of the doctor) since my cycling had improved my mood etc. I'm hoping that it's going to help elevate my mood from the deeper depression I had started to fall into.

I don't know how soon I'll be able to see the neurosurgeon but I'm hoping it's sooner than later. My DH has some health issues we're checking into as well so the stress from it has NOT helped my stress from my injury or other things that the POOP faery has dropped on our family for the holidays. Here's hoping the POOP FAERY is FLUSHED away and NEVER bothers anyone else!

Take care and I will check in again tomorrow when I'm a bit more rested.

Mary

Bcipam - re the fun stuff narcotics do to your system... the doctor prescribed colace (a stool softener) that can actually be purchased over the counter. Doctor also told me to keep an eye on any OTHER changes in bowel or bladder function as that can be signs of other (increased severity) changes in the nerve being pinched. Good luck.. I have a feeling surgery is in my future as well unfortunately as I have to get better asap so I can get back to watching my grandchildren.

[bikerchick68]

Mary... I'm glad to hear that you at least now know what is wrong...
hopefully it can be corrected without the surgery...

bcipam... keep me posted and let me know as your surgery approaches... I've been thru this twice with mom... one was a fusion of the neck and the one 11/16 that she is recovering from was a laminectomy... I'm here to answer any questions that I can...

Hoping you BOTH get better soon...

[Triskeliongirl]

Hi Mary, I am so sorry you are going through this, but knowledge is power. At least you now have a definitive diagnosis and can start taking appropriate steps to be healthy. Someone suggested water exercise. Ask you doctor if that is a good idea, or if he can suggest other movement (stretching, yoga, etc.). that is safe for you to perform now. I think anything you can do to stay active will help you get through this. Maybe even a recubment bike may be an option. Good luck at sorting it all out, and try to keep your spirits up. -e

[DrBadger]

Hey Mary-
Sorry to hear that you are still feeling so poorly, but at least you know what is causing the pain now. I know exactly what you are experiencing. 6 years ago i fell and herniated the disc between L4 and L5, I was a senior in college trying to finish and apply to graduate school, so I put up with extreme leg pain for ~ 6 months before seeing the neurosurgeon and having a micro-discectomy. I would not recommend waiting. See the surgeon, and if he thinks that surgery is your best option I would recommend getting it done sooner rather than later. The longer you wait the more possibility there will be permanent damage to the nerves, no fun.

The surgery it self was really not that bad... over night in the hospital, but the first time I got out of bed following surgery the leg pain was gone! Granted, now I had pain in my back from them cutting and digging around... but I was glad not to have the pain in my back!

As for the pain meds... I don't deal well with them either, and find that they make me quite depressed as well. For the 6 months I was in pain I was on therapeutic doses of Naproxen (Aleve), it is stronger than ibuprofen, but isn't a narcotic. I think that I was taking 2 Aleve (440 MG) 3-4 times a day under Dr supervision. This is what a prescription dose would be, but we were using the over the counter meds.

Good luck getting in to see the neurosurgeon soon, and keep your chin up. If surgery is your best option it isn't that bad, and you will be out riding again in no time (maybe on the trainer at first to protect the back from falls). I am back to an even more active lifestyle than I was pre-surgery.

PABadger

[bcipam]

Mary

Pam here checking in. Well I guess your DX is not unexpected. After the first of theyear I also get to do the cortisone injections (in the hospital) to see if I get any relief. I'm hoping that's just the ticket. Right now my pain (with alittle help from the pain meds) has subsided and last night and today have been the first days I could walk normally, not all gimpy. I'm hoping your back calms down soon and you get some relief.

I'm wondering about your riding. My doctor said it was good for me and I have to say, I do feel well riding and afterwards, have hours of relief but I'm not positioned up on my bike, I'm fairly bent over, stretched out. The doctor said (and it appears to be the case) that flexing the back right now is a good thing. Have you tried that or is it just too painful?

We basically have issues at the same location but different DX - yours being a disc budge and mine being stenosis due to arthritis . But I can see bending and stretching will take pressure off the disc. Sitting upright would put pressure on the disc.

* * *

PABadger - I'm a firm believer in Aleve and have tried to take that for relief but unfortunately it'seither just not strong enough or isn't working the way I need, as I still have pain while on it so I'm still struggling with the Vicodin although right now down to 1 tab a day (1/2 in the am 1/2 at night). Kind if hoping to get down to 1/2 in the pm soon. My system is getting better I think cause I cut down the dosage.

[silver]

Mary,

Mr. Silver here...the good news is that there is some explanation that can be addressed.

I've thought of you often over the last couple days with sympathy sciatic pain too boot!

When the Poop Faery comes your way, drop a pinch of Pixey Dust on her!

Silver's Estogen Laden Hubby

PS: I'm going to go back to my manly old car forum and hang with the "Old F*rts" there. I'll leave all you athletic, healthy, superior gendered folks alone...