Re: Can an MRI be Misleading?
- From: bae@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: 4 Jul 2005 19:23:05 GMT
In article <1120301838.664204.326190@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Vetro Chelly <vcellucci@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Look, all I was trying do was ask a question, not get my head bitten
>off because I was ordered an MRI...
You had the bad luck to ask at a time when some posters were
particularly irked by the behavior of other posters, and not feeling
very helpful.
>I just have had multiple
>diagnosis, SI joint, Facet joint and herniated disk... apparently,
>according to all the physicians I saw, the symptoms all mimick each
>other... I just want to know what the problem is so I can treat it and
>get on with my life.... and wanted to know what people may think of
>these medical opinions...
Unfortunately, problems with the spine are common as the back ages, and
there are seldom any cures, just management. Also, imaging of the
spine shows these kinds of changes in the backs of people who have no
symptoms at all, so imaging is not as useful for diagnosis as one might
wish. It's possible that none of the things that showed up on the
MRI are what's causing your back problem.
I recommend you get one of the books by Hamilton Hall. He's an
orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the spine, and is an
exceptionally good writer. He writes a new book every 8-10 years as
the field changes. I can't remember the name of the most recent book,
but the previous one is "The New Back Doctor", and I think it's a more
useful book. His books describe the character and progression of back
problems, and what you can do to relieve the symptoms and reduce
recurrences, as well as diagnostic methods and treatment options.
>Now onto another question...
>
>if it's mechanical problem, i.e si joint or facet joint, the pain would
>not be constant right? I seem to have tingling down my leg after a 20
>min walk or when I initially get up or sit down, the pain usually goes
>away after I sit down for 10 min... just wondering... it doesn't seem
>like a disk even tho my mri said I have bulging disks...
Caveat: I am not a doctor.
Since certain positions aggravate or relieve pain from various back
problems, and the same positions may have different effects for
different people with the same problem, yes, intermittent pain or
discomfort doesn't rule out any of those problems, AFAIK.
You get tingling down your leg when something presses on certain spinal
nerves. Often this is a disk. The disk may shrink back into place in
a couple of months and the problem go away... until the next time.
The space for the nerve to exit the spine is very small, so small
changes in position may increase or decrease the pressure markedly.
IMHO, you should ask your doctor what he or she recommends as the next
step, if any. Ask if there are any particular symptoms you should be
wary about, that should send you back to the doctor for reevaluation.
A referral to a physiotherapist specializing in back problems may be
helpful. A physio may be able to help you identify things you do that
aggravate the condition (such as posture problems, or use of poorly
designed chairs or of desks at an inappropriate height, or bad methods
of lifting) and recommend exercises to strengthen the muscles that
support the spine and devices like footstools and support cushions that
may be helpful.
I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!
.
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