HELP FOR RETROLITHESIS

HELP FOR RETROLITHESIS

Q:

Age: 59 Sex: F Concern: Chronic pain

i have been seeing a chiropractor for over a year due to severe back pain. he diagnosed me as having retrolithesis of lumbar l4 and 5, plus degenerative dics. it was from a childhood trauma and was also contributed from falling down a hill 2 years ago. although he has helped with the pain, i am still having enough pain to keep my lifestyle from being normal. i do back excercises, walk and anything to help my pain, yet it doesnt help. i take alieve to ease it some but no other pain meds. i do not want surgery but the pain is unbarable. do you have any suggestions?

-- BONNIE

A:

You should go see an MD and get flexion extentiom Xray to rule out instability. Need an MRI to rule out disc herniation. Then you might benefit from an epidural. Go see a physiatrist.

-- Sherman Nam Tran, M. D.

to ask Dr. Tran.