Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does The Following MRI Report Indicate?
Question: i started getting acute pain in my right buttock and a tingling feeling in my toes after a few gymming sessions. I consulted my family physician who referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon the orthopaedic surgeon prescribed me volveran sr 75 twice a day, sirdalud before sleeping at night and pan 40 before breakfast and reffered me to a physiotherapist who started giving me heat therapy and gave me some excercises. The surgeon advised me MRI. MRI results showed as follow:
l 4-5 disc shows diffuse posterior bulge with medium size posterocentral protrusion compressing the thecal sac and encroaching bilateral neural foramen and l5-S1 disc shows diffuse posterior bulge with posterocentral and right paracentral protrusion compressing the thecal sac right budding nerve root and encroaching bilateral neural foramen. The doc confirmed that it was a slipped disc. The doc advised me to continue the medicines and 10 sessions of physiotherapy. Today is the 4th day after visiting the orthopaedic surgeon. When I walk a little or even sit for sometime I get acute pain in my buttock. I have also started developing muscle spasms. I am using hot water bag and ciplas omnigel to treat spasms. I have also taken 5 days including 2 days weekoffs leave from work. I read a lot about what a herniated disc is. Currently I am doing the exercises advised by the physiotherapist twice a day. I am trying to do these exercises thrice a day. Could you please explain what is happened in my case. What is the extent of the problem and advise on whether if it is ok for me to go back to work on tuesday.
l 4-5 disc shows diffuse posterior bulge with medium size posterocentral protrusion compressing the thecal sac and encroaching bilateral neural foramen and l5-S1 disc shows diffuse posterior bulge with posterocentral and right paracentral protrusion compressing the thecal sac right budding nerve root and encroaching bilateral neural foramen. The doc confirmed that it was a slipped disc. The doc advised me to continue the medicines and 10 sessions of physiotherapy. Today is the 4th day after visiting the orthopaedic surgeon. When I walk a little or even sit for sometime I get acute pain in my buttock. I have also started developing muscle spasms. I am using hot water bag and ciplas omnigel to treat spasms. I have also taken 5 days including 2 days weekoffs leave from work. I read a lot about what a herniated disc is. Currently I am doing the exercises advised by the physiotherapist twice a day. I am trying to do these exercises thrice a day. Could you please explain what is happened in my case. What is the extent of the problem and advise on whether if it is ok for me to go back to work on tuesday.
Brief Answer:
You have acute disc prolapse
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query
I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. You are having acute disc prolapse.Primary treatment of acute disc prolapse is rest in lateral position with both hip and knee flexed.Analgesic is required for pain relief which you are are already taking. You are advised not to join duty till your pain subsides and numbness is there.Mecobalamine is helpful in reducing numbness. You are curious to know what was happened to you. Discs(cartilagenous soft structures) are between vertibra bones. Whenever more strain is there by weight lifting and bending etc then these relatively soft structures ( disc) protrudes ( comes out) and presses over nerve and spinal cord leading to severe back pain and radiating pain and numbness in legs.In your case disc between Lumbar fourth and lumbar fifth vertebrae and between lumbar fifth and sacral vertibra has prolapsed.
You can discuss with your doctor about it.
Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
The
You have acute disc prolapse
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query
I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. You are having acute disc prolapse.Primary treatment of acute disc prolapse is rest in lateral position with both hip and knee flexed.Analgesic is required for pain relief which you are are already taking. You are advised not to join duty till your pain subsides and numbness is there.Mecobalamine is helpful in reducing numbness. You are curious to know what was happened to you. Discs(cartilagenous soft structures) are between vertibra bones. Whenever more strain is there by weight lifting and bending etc then these relatively soft structures ( disc) protrudes ( comes out) and presses over nerve and spinal cord leading to severe back pain and radiating pain and numbness in legs.In your case disc between Lumbar fourth and lumbar fifth vertebrae and between lumbar fifth and sacral vertibra has prolapsed.
You can discuss with your doctor about it.
Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
The
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you doctor. A few follow up questions?
1.) How long does this condition take to heal?
2.) When can I expect to hit the gym again?
3.) Will traction help in my case?
4.) What's the difference between a disc bulge and a prolapse. Which is a more severe condition?
1.) How long does this condition take to heal?
2.) When can I expect to hit the gym again?
3.) Will traction help in my case?
4.) What's the difference between a disc bulge and a prolapse. Which is a more severe condition?
Brief Answer:
See detail answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query
I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. Following are answer to your questions.
1.It takes nearly 6 weeks to recover.
2. You should start gym again after you are completely pain free. I will advise you to advoid weight lifting as it can again occur. You are advised not to do weight lifting in future at least for 2-3 years.
3. I think traction is of no use except it is like forced rest.
4. Disc bulge and prolapse are same and used interchangeably.
You can discuss with your doctor about it.
Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
See detail answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query
I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. Following are answer to your questions.
1.It takes nearly 6 weeks to recover.
2. You should start gym again after you are completely pain free. I will advise you to advoid weight lifting as it can again occur. You are advised not to do weight lifting in future at least for 2-3 years.
3. I think traction is of no use except it is like forced rest.
4. Disc bulge and prolapse are same and used interchangeably.
You can discuss with your doctor about it.
Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for your prompt reply doctor. A couple of more questions:
1.) Approximately how long should it take before the pain goes and I start going to work again?
2.) What is the indication that I have completely healed? Do I have to do the MRI to determine that?
3.) What exactly is the anatomy of the healing process? When we say that the disc prolapse is healed, what exactly happens in this case?
1.) Approximately how long should it take before the pain goes and I start going to work again?
2.) What is the indication that I have completely healed? Do I have to do the MRI to determine that?
3.) What exactly is the anatomy of the healing process? When we say that the disc prolapse is healed, what exactly happens in this case?
Brief Answer:
When one is pain free it is said that it has healed.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
1.You are likely to pain free in nearly 6 weeks. You can go to work as soon as you are pain free.
2.If you are pain free it means you are completely healed. MRI is not needed for it.
3.Prolapse means disc is bulging from normal position and pressing spinal cord and nerves. During healing these come back to normal position to some extent. When one is pain free it is said that it has healed.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you good health
Take care
When one is pain free it is said that it has healed.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
1.You are likely to pain free in nearly 6 weeks. You can go to work as soon as you are pain free.
2.If you are pain free it means you are completely healed. MRI is not needed for it.
3.Prolapse means disc is bulging from normal position and pressing spinal cord and nerves. During healing these come back to normal position to some extent. When one is pain free it is said that it has healed.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you good health
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for your prompt reply. Any special diet or excercises that may help fasten my healing proceess?
Brief Answer:
Rest is very important to recovery.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
Diet has no role except balanced diet full of vitamins help in recovery. In initial days rest is required. Exercises do not have much role in recovery. After recovery back exercises are useful to regain strength.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
Wishing you good health
Take care
Rest is very important to recovery.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
Diet has no role except balanced diet full of vitamins help in recovery. In initial days rest is required. Exercises do not have much role in recovery. After recovery back exercises are useful to regain strength.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
Wishing you good health
Take care
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
