Question 1

i had back surgery 3 years ago and ended up with a spinal leak. i still have pain. will an mri of my lumbar spine with and without contrast show scarring or arachnoiditis. i will be seeing a pain doctor next week can he see this on an mri?

Accepted Answer

: Highly likely that post-operative scarring would be clearly and unambiguously imaged on an MRI.  Arachnoiditis is a clinical correlation as it is indeed a reason for chronic pain secondary to pre-existing events.  A pain specialist is an excellent choice.

Question 2

have had 2parialdiscecemonty supposed to ave spinal fusion the frautured a verbre should i have the pain pump  been on meds for 16 years in lower back?

Accepted Answer

Post laminectomy: You have symptoms that need complete evaluation by a spine surgeon. Pain pump is a last resort for problems that cannot otherwise be diagnosed or treated. You are too young to accept that if there are  options. Minimally invasive fusion/tlif has good results for single-level problems if a diagnosis is conclusive. Don't ever accept  "nothing can be done" unless another independent doc agrees.

Question 3

pain management: is an epidural injection in the lumbar spine the same thing as a nerve block? nerve block different than a denervation?

Accepted Answer

Yes: the point is to block the nerve….(at least like when a woman is giving birth)….sometimes there may be steroids given to help reduce inflammation of the nerve

Question 4

i had a cervical spine and lumbar spine mri, which showed diffuse mildly diminished marrow signal. neurologist says it could be normal as my blood work is normal. serious?

Accepted Answer

: The MRI finding have to be correlated with your symptoms, physical signs and other laboratory test results in order to make a differential diagnosis. If your neurologist told you that MRI finding is insignificant, you should trust him (her). In any case, you can always seek for a second opinion. Because of limited info you can give us in this forum it is difficult to give you a correct assessment.

Question 5

so my lumbar spine mri results are normal i even got a emg test done that normal and now the neurologist and my primary doctor cant find anything wrong with me i been limping for 5 months every mri i had came back normal im so confused i need help?

Accepted Answer

: Hard to understand from your post, as to if you are having pain in your back, hip, sacroiliac joints, leg, or foot.  A lot more detail would be required to sort this out.  Recommend you schedule a virtual consult on the paid portion of the HT site, and have one of our experienced physicians provide an analysis and suggested approach.

Question 6

if all my emg mris test come back normal then what wrong with me ?i been limping for 5 months now and i walk with a cane i am limping on my left leg and my left knee buckling my neurologist said that my lumbar spine mri is normal i can go back to wor?

Accepted Answer

: At this age, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a possibility and should be considered among other neurologic issues.

Question 7

i have spinal stenosis in both my cervical and lumbar spine, bulging discs, nerve abutment. do you think surgery is a good option for me?

Accepted Answer

Not enough info: It is impossible to even begin to answer your question when one has almost no history, cannot examine you and cannot review the MRIs. If you have questions, get a second opinion.

Question 8

what is spinal stenosis and what causes it? i have it in my cervical and lumbar spine. my 15 yr old just had  x-ray show it around l5s1. causes?

Accepted Answer

Cervical stenosis: Causes:
-narrowing of cervical spinal canal
-associated other predisposing factors
-congenital cervical fusions
-ligamentous instability
-intervertebral disc disease.

Question 9

my mri report say this: levoconvex curvature of the lumbar spine. the spinal cord terminates at the inferior aspect of the t12 vertebral body.meaning?

Accepted Answer

Likely is normal.: The spinal cord normally terminates at t12-l1 level, with spinal roots continuing more inferiorly. 

The spine curvature may be normal for this patient.

Question 10

i need more opinions about. my lumbar problems. i have had an mri of my lumbar spine and a myelogram recently, i have herniated discs, spinal stenosis?

Accepted Answer

Need more info: findings of disc and stenosis may or may not be surgical,. typically anti inflammatories, muscle relaxants, gabapentin/lyrica as well as epidural steroids, or radio frequency ablations are all useful in controlling symptoms. numbness or weakness is the more significant and would suugest more significant problems than pain. you need a full eval by pain doc or spine surgeon for options.

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Doctor answers about:

Can a pain management neurologist correct a spinal fluid leak after he implants part of a pain pump system in the lumbar spine

A member asked:

I had back surgery 3 years ago and ended up with a spinal leak. i still have pain. will an mri of my lumbar spine with and without contrast show scarring or arachnoiditis. i will be seeing a pain doctor next week can he see this on an mri?

A member asked:

Have had 2parialdiscecemonty supposed to ave spinal fusion the frautured a verbre should i have the pain pump been on meds for 16 years in lower back?

A member asked:

Pain management: is an epidural injection in the lumbar spine the same thing as a nerve block? nerve block different than a denervation?

A member asked:

I had a cervical spine and lumbar spine mri, which showed diffuse mildly diminished marrow signal. neurologist says it could be normal as my blood work is normal. serious?

A member asked:

So my lumbar spine mri results are normal i even got a emg test done that normal and now the neurologist and my primary doctor cant find anything wrong with me i been limping for 5 months every mri i had came back normal im so confused i need help?

A member asked:

If all my emg mris test come back normal then what wrong with me ?i been limping for 5 months now and i walk with a cane i am limping on my left leg and my left knee buckling my neurologist said that my lumbar spine mri is normal i can go back to wor?

A member asked:

I have spinal stenosis in both my cervical and lumbar spine, bulging discs, nerve abutment. do you think surgery is a good option for me?

A member asked:

What is spinal stenosis and what causes it? i have it in my cervical and lumbar spine. my 15 yr old just had x-ray show it around l5s1. causes?

A member asked:

My mri report say this: levoconvex curvature of the lumbar spine. the spinal cord terminates at the inferior aspect of the t12 vertebral body.meaning?

A member asked:

I need more opinions about. my lumbar problems. i have had an mri of my lumbar spine and a myelogram recently, i have herniated discs, spinal stenosis?

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