Advice on annular tear and mri results

[Magrego]

Hi I am new to this forum mainly because I am new to chronic back pain but I am scared and in need of some advice if possible

I am 28 years old who needs to sit at a computer 10 hours a day for work and have recently had an MRI on my upper cervical spine which revealed c4/5 posterior annular tear. c5/6 disc protrusion and some prominence of the central canal. The central canal of the spinal cord at c1 and c/2, at t1/2 the canal measuring up to 1.5mm in size. this is unlikely to be of significance the mri report says. c5/6 the disc is narrowed, there is a posterior central disc protrusion with a slightly greater left paramedian component with no focal cord or verve root compression. c6/7 discs are normal
I also found out they have had no tests on my lower back which I was also experiencing pain. The specialist did not believe there was anything wrong with me at first. I am now not working and quality of life is really bad.

I have had 3 car accidents in my life, a guy grabbed and squeezed my neck at work (which gave me stiff neck) this neck pain and stiffness has reoccurred in the last 3 years all the time but getting much worse. I have also had a big fall on my back which I did not feel anything but a slight pain in my shoulder blade area. I have had a lot of accidents in my life and bad posture. I FINALLY had a mri last month to find problems that I have not been told much about my condition except it is chronic. I love working as it is my passion but cannot sit at a desk.

After my MRI the specialist told me to see a physio andi may not need surgery. In the last few weeks I have seen him 3 times a week. He has been performing some sliding and pushing on the joints on my upper neck(ultra sound etc.) and also showing me exercise to strengthen my upper neck. In the first couple of physio treatments I have noticed a significant increase of pain in my spine and lower back. I now get tingles and cant even sit down for longer than 5 minutes (before i could sit for a long time) which is destroying me now. I have seen the physio and he said it is a little more complicated than first thought and has started working on my lower back now. I am just hoping he is not making my back worse and what are your thoughts? as I have more pain now in my spine and sometimes feel like I have been cut open which was not the case before. I just had stiffness and soreness. My back also seemed week before hand. So maybe this is a part of getting better but I cannot do anything now. before the physio I could at least sit down or is it possible it was going to get worse anyway although I have lived like this for years. I could even do weights 1 month ago before the mri with no real pain but now I cannot even lift a peanut without being scared. Is this all a part of getting better through a recommended Physio Therapist?

thanks in advance Magrego

[dshobbies]

Hi Magrego and welcome to the forum,

I'm sorry for you spinal problems but honestly, that's why we're all here. In addition to your cervical problems, it also sounds like you have lumbar issues. Is there a reason your doctor discounted this area?

I know we all like to think our doctors are G-d and we want to believe everything they tell us but different doctors have different strengths. You didn't mention where you live which is important if you want any recommendations but at this point, it would seem in your best interest to obtain a second (or more) opinion as well as an MRI of your lumbar spine. Similarly, if your physical therapy is producing more pain than relief, it's time to find another one. Personally, I had a chiropractor and physical therapist that absolutely made my condition worse. I also had a doctor who was a great surgeon but who failed to inform me of failure rates or alternative treatments. He knew I was not a good candidate for a second surgery but...

You should also know - sometimes doctors claim your condition couldn't result in your pain symptoms. Keep looking, you are in pain and there's a reason. Should surgery become a recommendation, research carefully.

Financial circumstances and/or insurance companies are also usually an issue.

So - find another doctor, find another p/t, get a lumbar MRI and if it hurts, don't do it!

Good luck to you and keep us posted. We are interested and want to help, Dale

[Maria]

Welcome to the forum and sorry you've problems like most of us here!

re the physio I don't do what makes me feel worse however sometimes anything will aggravate a tear or bulge to the point of feeling much worse. I learned over the many years of back pain to try and know when to rest and when to try something else.

Have you tried a Toradol injection for muscle spasms? That much might give a bit of relief and it's only a non steroidal antiinflammatory injection. Not the oral drug tho the injection has been helpful to me to reduce spasms/acute pain in both my neck and low back. I learned this of course after 2 back surgeries and many bouts of PT, drugs, lumbar epidurals and so forth.

I have also learned that I believe me more than what someone tells me I should feel be it a doctor, surgeon, PT or whomever. I mean when we're really scared we don't know what to believe tho you know how you're doing with whatever is going on when it comes to what makes you feel worse and what doesn't.

I have found the following website very helpful as a resource: ChiroGeek's Home Page

re sitting.. couldn't do it for years so my last job was as a telephonic triage nurse/advice nurse and I had a standing station with a very thick mat on the floor where I'd stand (shoeless tho some good supportive shoes would have probably been helpful). At least I was able to stay at work an additional 5 years that way before I retired on disability tho I did have alot of pain tho not nearly as bad as if I tried to sit.

I think what might have helped me would have been to try lumbar ESIs earlier as well as pain meds. Maybe surgery tho I didn't want to go there again.

It wouldn't hurt to consult with several doctors and maybe to stop the physio if you think it's creating more pain than helping you at all. Sometimes it does start out that way and sometimes it's just too much and you have to find what works for you no matter what anyone else tells you will work for you in terms of exercise and strengthening. I found core strengthening using the stability ball easier on my back than anything else tho couldn't ride the bike, use the stairmaster, or treadmill and do a bunch of other things in regular PT.

Good luck and hang in there.

[Magrego]

Thanks for the comments it is greatly appreciated. I have made major progress in my lower back as I can sit in my car for a while without getting sore. I think I am making real progress in this area with strengthening exercises. I will get a second opinion as well but will continue my physio to see if it is just from lying down all the time although I found it difficult to sleep. I don't mean to sound like a whiner and I have total respect for anyone who has to put up with this crap and I guess to stay positive is the key although it is hard sometimes when you cant do much except wait.

I guess with some more physio I am hoping to see some real progress in my pain although this is not the case yet. One thing I can say is my range of movement is much better. I was mainly concerned with the sliding of the joints and pushing down although these areas seem less sensitive from when was first pushing and sliding them although I do get more sharp pain a few days later. Maybe this is the healing process and will hang in there for a little longer too see. Although the physio seems really good and knows what is talking about and was recommended by my specialist I was just concerned because I have never felt pain like this in my life and I am sure you guys know this. I will keep you guys updated and really wish you guys the best with your own injuries to get better as soon as possible and to be pain free.

I think the problem with back injuries is there are too many people who fake it and makes us look like we fake it so they tend to not believe you which is a shame. even with MRI report my gp was saying I was taking her for a ride so I have a new GP that understands . All i can say is I think it is the annual tear that hurts from what I have read. It seems to throw pain all around my body in different places which must make it difficult to solve and pin point. In Sydney AUstralia

Kind regards Magrego

[mmglobal]

Not only are there some people who a gaming the system, but there is also a VERY wide variance of what shows on imaging vs. severity o symptoms. There are people with MUCH, MUCH worse looking imaging, but little or no symptoms. So when the docs see someone with relatively benign looking imaging but moderate or severe symptoms, they tend to be dismissive.

Believe it or not, in many cases they are doing us a favor. One of the reasons they pass on the confusing cases is because they have bad experiences doing surgeries that don't have positive outcomes.

Spine sucks...

Mark

[Magrego]

It sure does suck because my symptoms are much worse now since trying to treat my back. I spoke too soon my legs are all numb and tingly now after teatment I also just went to do my physio and it felt like it teared or pulled or something again in the same spot in my lower back when moving into my next excercise carefully. Not sure to keep doing physio cos it felt like it was working.