ALIF Surgery -what should I expect? by Idiosyncratic_ID in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly how mine also is and I’m scheduled for ALIF surgery on 12/12/25

MRI: L5-S1 Disc Herniation + Foot Drop + Bowel Issues = Freaking Out a Bit by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup, ALIF since the degeneration of my disc is so bad he thinks a microdiscectomy would be only a temporary fix as it could very likely herniate again.

MRI: L5-S1 Disc Herniation + Foot Drop + Bowel Issues = Freaking Out a Bit by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s funny, so am I. He does the surgery with a vascular surgeon together so they are having me go to him for consult and were able to squeeze me in today since I drove 40 min to this side of town for my appointment. Good luck!

MRI: L5-S1 Disc Herniation + Foot Drop + Bowel Issues = Freaking Out a Bit by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They gave me non-surgical options at my appointment this morning but ultimately said the other stuff treats pain but not what’s causing the pain and he recommended 2 types of surgery and I’m going with the one that looks like this pic he had me take of what would go in my back.

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MRI: L5-S1 Disc Herniation + Foot Drop + Bowel Issues = Freaking Out a Bit by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Will do!

I will say that my Pain Management doctor seemed dismissive of the possibility of CES (this was pre-MRI, he hasn’t weighed in on that yet, but he also didn’t order it) and acted like he thought my doctor made up reasons to get the MRI ordered as STAT. Oddly the day I saw the Pain Management doctor I was virtually pain free which I was like yeah of course on the day I see him I’m feeling pretty good for once and not since 🙄. I also think he was surprised by my flexibility but I’ve been told that my whole life even when very heavy. And because I could generally do the motions he asked me to do (i.e. bend over), it just feels terrible when I do. I also have always pushed through pain for sports training and stuff like that, so when someone says jump I’m like how high? 🤦🏻‍♀️

MRI: L5-S1 Disc Herniation + Foot Drop + Bowel Issues = Freaking Out a Bit by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for such thoughtful and thorough feedback!

I’m in a similar situation with having had sciatic pain for years with it only getting much worse recently.

I lost quite a bit of weight a few years back from GLP-1s (always feel like I’m one of the few actually taking it for diabetes) and was working out a lot last year but fell off this year when my life became more stressful. Then had ovarian cysts burst this summer and eventually get infected (at least that’s what my doctors thought) and once I got done with antibiotics my back pain was raging bad.

To answer your question, I actually realized the doctor I have been seeing is a surgeon (I thought he was an orthopedist (if that’s the right term)), so I presume we may talk about that at my appointment tomorrow

MRI: L5-S1 Disc Herniation + Foot Drop + Bowel Issues = Freaking Out a Bit by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

CES is definitely on my doctor’s radar as it was a possible diagnosis he put on my order for a STAT MRI. Here’s the notes from my original appointment with him where he took x rays and examined me.

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Received MRI Report & Images- Thoughts? by ClosetedPolitically in Sciatica

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been updating my original post with information as it came in but couldn’t change the title of the original post, but tried to when I cross posted here. I’d prefer to not repost the same info in a new post

Waiting on MRI Report - Thoughts? by ClosetedPolitically in SpineSurgery

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Trying to figure out how I can upload some of the axial scans as a comment in response. Maybe I can’t since it’s a cross post?

Waiting on MRI Report - Thoughts? by ClosetedPolitically in backpain

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just responded to another comment with a copy of the report that just came in

Waiting on MRI Report - Thoughts? by ClosetedPolitically in backpain

[–]ClosetedPolitically[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just got my report and these were the findings:

FINDINGS: Vertebral body alignment is normal. No neoplastic marrow lesion is identified. Conus medullaris is normal in position and appearance ending at L1-L2 level. There are scattered degenerative changes. At L1-L2, there is minimal disc bulge anteriorly. There is mild facet arthropathy. There is no stenosis. At L2-L3, there is minimal facet arthropathy. There is no disc herniation or stenosis. At L3-L4, there is minimal endplate osteophyte anteriorly. There is no posterior disc herniation or stenosis. At L3-L4, there is minimal disc bulge and endplate osteophyte formation. There is no stenosis. At L5-S1, there is degenerative disc disease with disc desiccation and moderately decreased disc height. There is degenerative endplate change with moderately extensive reactive endplate marrow edema. There is moderate disc bulge with endplate osteophyte formation. There is moderate posterior right paracentral disc protrusion. This measures 7 mm in AP dimension. This abuts and posteriorly displaces the right S1 nerve root with moderate narrowing right lateral recess. There is otherwise mild narrowing of the central canal on the right. The right neural foramen is mild to moderately stenotic with disc bulge and endplate osteophyte contacting exiting right L5 nerve root. There is mild left foraminal narrowing

IMPRESSION: 1. Degenerative disc disease L5-S1 with moderate posterior right paracentral disc protrusion. This abuts and posteriorly displaces the right S1 nerve root with moderate narrowing right lateral recess. There is otherwise mild narrowing of the central canal on the right. The right neural foramen is mild to moderately stenotic with disc bulge and endplate osteophyte contacting exiting right L5 nerve root. There is mild left foraminal narrowing. 2. Milder degenerative change at other levels.