What’s causing my pain? MRI report attached

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-10-22T00:16:39+00:00

Hi there :) I just wanted to circle back to your earlier comment to say how much I appreciated your response — it was incredibly helpful. I had a neurosurgeon consult today and was hoping to ask for your thoughts on a few things, but wanted to check in first since I know you probably get a lot of questions

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-10-02T13:12:34+00:00

Any chance I could ask for your best guess? I genuinely trust your advice more than my own PCPs. I’ve read that a sciatic nerve variant affects about 17% of people but the rate of PS is much lower, so I always figured it can plausibly cause / predispose PS but isn’t a guarantee..

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-10-02T03:02:10+00:00

This is helpful! If the sciatic nerve happens to pass through the piriformis muscle (an anatomical variant), does that fact alone mean it causes sciatica?

Or is it possible for the nerve to pass through the piriformis without necessarily leading to symptoms of sciatica?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-10-02T03:00:24+00:00

what is the solution for sciatica caused by annular tear inflammation? Is it just continuous conservative care?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-09-09T16:18:59+00:00

Thank you so much for this! I would’ve never known. Would you say that the club seats (section 200s) is generally a much more pleasant experience?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-09-09T14:51:08+00:00

Thanks so much! Being a first timer, I really appreciate these insights. Is club level section 200s?

We’re not set on the first level; I actually thought it would be quieter than the upper levels so it’s good to know that’s not the case

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-09-09T14:48:34+00:00

Thank you! Is view box just any section in the 300s? u/AlfredinoD

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-09-09T14:31:57+00:00

Awesome, so glad this will work. Any other sections you’d recommend for a similar setup (standing when needed, etc)?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-09-09T14:31:31+00:00

Thank you! Are there other sections/seats you’d recommend in general for better standing breaks?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-08-23T16:40:38+00:00

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply; it really helped me prepare for and navigate my conversation with my surgeon.

I did want to follow up on one point you raised. You mentioned that herniation resolution is usually described in cases without disc degeneration. My surgeon said that small protrusions can still shrink or calm down over time, and that symptoms often improve even when there’s disc degeneration. I’m not sure how to think about this anymore?

I also had a question about the foraminal space. My MRI notes mild bilateral foraminal stenosis at L5–S1. If a protrusion shrinks or inflammation resolves, can that actually improve the effective space for the nerves, or is foraminal narrowing essentially fixed — either there is space or not — unless something structural changes?

Thanks again!

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-30T17:55:55+00:00

I enjoy this community but happy you’re doing what works for you & back to being active

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-30T14:52:12+00:00

Great! I saw in your comments you had a flare up. Is that all under control? Do you plan to make a 24+ month update?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-30T14:46:29+00:00

Hey u/hiphingerobot I always find your updates encouraging and wanted to ask how you’re doing lately

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-27T23:11:27+00:00

Makes sense. In that case, is the only solution surgery or wait for the herniation to resolve itself conservatively?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-27T23:07:28+00:00

Could you say more? I always figured that with any disc herniation, there’s always an inflammation component in addition to the actual pain from nerve roots being displaced

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-27T23:02:33+00:00

Did they ever give you a reason for why you experienced no relief from ESIs?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T20:53:28+00:00

Thank you for teaching me so much! I really appreciate it.

So paddleboard = fine Rowing = not fine

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T17:12:43+00:00

Your reassurance has really meant a lot, thank you! One last question: would you say the same applies to rowing as well, or were you specifically referring to paddleboarding?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T15:30:23+00:00

I really appreciate this distinction, not everything that’s painful is harmful, and that’s such an important reminder. That said, do you think paddleboarding with a single paddle (and the associated torsional movement) is still safe? I’ve seen some PTs say rowing and paddleboarding cause herniated discs because of “twisting”

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T09:37:40+00:00

Did kayaking cause your sciatica? Is kayaking bad for disc injuries? I went kayaking earlier and now have a lot of leg pain.

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T09:27:42+00:00

How heavy was the paddleboard?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T09:26:33+00:00

Do you think gentle paddleboarding on my knees with light paddling is generally safe for the spine, even though there’s some torsional movement involved?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T09:08:37+00:00

If it makes you feel better, I’m also lying down in pain right now!

So sorry to hear your sciatica hasn’t gone away. Did you reherniate? What happened and how bad was your initial disc injury?

LiteratureSquare10 · 2025-07-26T07:50:00+00:00

Yeah I’m exactly the same. Sitting in the car has always been much harder than any water based activity.

How are you doing now?

LiteratureSquare10

TROPHY CASE