Facet joint+Prolapsed disk together ? .

[DutMataaea]

Hi Everyone ,

Just found this forum and was enquiring if it is possible to have a bad Facet joint and a Prolapsed disk at the same time . I have had bad lower back pain and sciatica for 3 years now always in the left lower back and left leg . I have seen 2 doctors , 3 physiotherapists , specialist pain clinic and occupational health . It started off from using a 8kg strimmer at work for on average 3 hours a day (april-october) from 2001 up till the present date but the pain started in the late summer of 2003 . It has always been the same problem ie bad lower left back pain and sciatica extending to the foot . Finally I was diagnosed in june 2006 by the pain clinic as having a facet joint problem (after years of diagnosis as lumbago and muscle pain[]) . I had a Facet joint block but this did not work , but the consultant is 100% sure as he did some test's at the same time I was having this done . I first saw a occupational health doctor in november 2005 who said “misalignment particularly at the level of the lower thoracic spine. As rotary movements occur in the thoracic spine this would correlate with reported difficulties strimming " ,then he put me on light duties for six weeks . Then when I saw him again after my back had straightened up , put in a report that I was fit for unrestricted work and could see no problems in the future and also said that I had psycho motivational factors[] .
Work then sent me out again strimming which caused another 2 months off work ,I had to have a morphine injection after 3 days due to the pain/no sleep then I was put on Solpadol 30/500 and Naproxen 500mg which I am still on . I saw the same occupational health doctor today and now he want's me to have a Mri scan as he thinks I have a Prolapsed Disk , but seems to think I can't have a Facet Joint problem at the same time . Does anyone know if it is possible to have both at the same time ? .

Regards

Barrie

 

[JokyAppoity]

I now have the result of my Mri scan . I understand 75% of it but hope that someone could enlighten me a little bit more about the report .

Report Findings .
1. At L5/S1 disc is associated with chronic reactive endplate changes .
2. There is a large, left paracentral disc herniation which compresses the descending left S1 nerve root within the lateral recess . The remainder of the disc shows broad bulging which , along with mild ligamentum flavum and facet joint hypertrophy , results in mild bilateral L5 foraminal narrowing without evidence of neural compromise .
3. Disk dehydration at L4/L5 is present . There is a small central disc herniation which contains an annular tear . This indents the thecal sac but does not appear to cause neural compromise .
4. The other lower thoracic and lumbar discs show normal hydration and height . There is mild ligamentum flavum and facet joint hypertrophy but the spinal canal and the foramina appear capacioys at these levels .
5. There is normal vertebral alignment.
6. Normal appearances of the conus and cauda equina .

It has taken me 3 years to get these results , and hopefully now I can make some kind of progress . I will be seeing my GP next week and will have to take it from there . All I can suggest is if you are getting nowhere with your GP etc , keep badgering them until something is done .

Regards

Barrie .