HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

MRI Shows Disc Protrusion With Herniation. Have Pain In Buttocks. Treatment?

Hi Dr. Samuel, I had an MRI two months ago prompted by significant pain radiating from my left buttock region down the back of my left leg into the heel and base of my foot.The MRI showed a large left para-central and left lateral disc protrusion with herniation of the nucleus pulposus with extension posterior to the S1 vertebrae and compression of the existing left L5 and descending S1 roots.
What treatment would you suggest for this?
Tue, 13 Aug 2013
Report Abuse
Pain Medicine & Palliative Care Specialist 's  Response
Hi,
Your initial pain was sciatica and this appears to be supported by the MRI findings. There are a number of management options which can reduce the symptoms before surgery is considered.
Pain relief with paracetamol and ibuprofen will help. Keep active with low impact exercises such as walking, swimming and cycling. Some forms of yoga can help. There are many exercises that can help strengthen your core muscles which may give your back more support. A physiotherapist will be able to advise.
Surgery may be appropriate so I would suggest consider seeing a spinal surgeon for further advice.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
MBChB FRCA
I find this answer helpful
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement Dr. K. Naga Ravi Prasad's  Response
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.

The primary conservative management of Lumbar disc herniation is as follows -

* avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back
* avoid forward bending activities as it will worsen the disc protrusion
* Use a lumbosacral back support to augment your spinal muscles
* Intermittent pelvic traction to cause a regression of disc
* Maintain optimum body weight,if you are obese
* Physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscles. Physiotherapy has to be done only after the acute pain has subsided.
* Judicious use of analgesics and muscle relaxants.

If all the above measures fail to provide pain relief, then surgical decompression may be an option.

Hope this information is helpful. Good day
I find this answer helpful
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement Dr. Saurabh Gupta's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM

your MRI report suggestive of prolased intervertebral disc( PIVD) where the nerves get compressed by the protruded disc.This is the cause of radiating pain to buttock and leg.
There are several treatment modalities with medicines, physiotherapy and with injections in the back called epidural injections and root/facet blocks.
If you dont get better with these treatment , another option is surgery, by which the nerves are decompressed by removing the protruded disc (discectomy), which would significantly improve your symptoms.

Hope this will helps you. Take care.
You can consult me again directly through my profile http://www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-saurabh-gupta/64132
I find this answer helpful

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Nucleus pulposus


Loading Online Doctors....
MRI Shows Disc Protrusion With Herniation. Have Pain In Buttocks. Treatment?

Hi, Your initial pain was sciatica and this appears to be supported by the MRI findings. There are a number of management options which can reduce the symptoms before surgery is considered. Pain relief with paracetamol and ibuprofen will help. Keep active with low impact exercises such as walking, swimming and cycling. Some forms of yoga can help. There are many exercises that can help strengthen your core muscles which may give your back more support. A physiotherapist will be able to advise. Surgery may be appropriate so I would suggest consider seeing a spinal surgeon for further advice. Regards, Dr K A Pottinger MBChB FRCA