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I would like to know this means exactly
Hi Dr. Tran,
I am a 26 year old female, and had a lumbar discetomy at the L4, L5-S1 done nine months ago. To date I am still experiencing some back pain that is aggravated by particular activities or movement, and the pain radiating down my left leg is twice as bad as prior to surgery. I also have a lot of tingling and numbness from my L buttock, generally down to my calf. Two months ago I had a post surgery MRI done. The findings were:
FINDINGS: L4-4: There is left paracentral protrusion causing about a 3 mm encroachment on the thecal sac in this location. There is some increased signal in the posterior annulus on the T2 weighted images. This is suspicious for an annular tear. There is some thin epidural enhancement seen in this same region. L5-S1: Left sided laminectomy is suggested with enhancement along the left side and anterior to the thecal sac. No recurrent disc herniation is seen.
IMPRESSION: 1. Left sided laminectomy at L5-S1 with enhancing fibrosis extending along the left lateral aspect of the thecal sac. 2. There is what appears to be an annular tear centrally and to the left at L4-5 with some protrusion of the disc. There is some overlying enhancement in this area. Some of the enhancement could be due to epidural fibrosis at L4-5, although underlying annular tear is suspected. Appearance at this level is not significantly changed from 07/15/02. (Three months prior the the surgery)
Can you please tell me what all this means? Am I possibly going to have to face another surgery in the future? Thank you very much for your time.
-- Rachel
I would ask your doctor if you would be a candidate for epidural to relieve your pain.
Another surgery is probably unlikely but I would have to see you to determine that.
to ask Dr. Tran.
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