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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Chronic Back Pain And Mild Tingling Sensation In Legs?

I am a 41yo female with worsening chronic low back pain over the past 9 years. I have seen several chiropractors, PT, my primary care, and pain medicine. My visits to pain med left me with 2 epidurals and lumbar medial branch radiofrequency ablation to L2,L3,L4, L5 and L5-S1. I did experience minimal improvement after the ablation 9 months ago but it seems as though the pain is back and worse than ever. I do experience mild tingling down the front of my left leg and occasionally into the left toes. Every Dr I see says that my MRI does not show any reason for pain. They just want to keep giving me pain pills to fix the problem....MRI was done 2 years ago L3-L4 Mild intervertebral disc height loss is seen. There is mild circumfrential disc bulge. No focal disc protrusion is identified. Mild facet joint degenerative changes are noted and there is mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. These changes result in what is considered central canal encroachment without frank stenosis. No neuroforaminal stenosis is appreciated. L5-S1: There is a tiny right neuroforaminal annular fissure but no discrete disc protrusion or significant bulge is seen. The intervertebral disc appears otherwise unremarkable. Mild degenerative changes are noted. There is no central canal stenosis. Left neuroforaminal encroachment is seen without frank stenosis.
Fri, 26 Mar 2021
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi,

There are few changes in your MRI which are good enough to cause symptoms which you have mentioned above. Intervertebral disc height loss, degenerative changes and disc bulge with central canal encroachment. The doctors are advising painkillers as these changes are not big enough for any active surgical intervention. If you are not getting relief with the current medications then I would advise you to get more supportive treatment or change of medications.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Anoop Kumar, General & Family Physician
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What Causes Chronic Back Pain And Mild Tingling Sensation In Legs?

Hi, There are few changes in your MRI which are good enough to cause symptoms which you have mentioned above. Intervertebral disc height loss, degenerative changes and disc bulge with central canal encroachment. The doctors are advising painkillers as these changes are not big enough for any active surgical intervention. If you are not getting relief with the current medications then I would advise you to get more supportive treatment or change of medications. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Anoop Kumar, General & Family Physician