I'm hurting after being rear ended

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Finally, I'm being referred to a neurologist / spine specialist... was rear ended on Aug 31st.

I enclose the report from the CT scan done on Sep 18th.
I'm hoping someone understands the wordage and can explain this report to me.
How bad does my back condition seem to be?

I read it as I better not continue normal activitivities such as hammering, lifting lumber, operating chain saw or backhoe, etc. In otherwords, take it easy and do next to nothing I enjoy. We may even have to travel light!


REPORT

Technique: A CT scan of the lumbar spine was performed. 1.2 mm volumetric axial images of the lower back were obtained. Images were obtained from T12 thru S2. Sagittal and coronal reconstructions were performed to better evaluate the bony anatomy.

Findings: The vertebral bodies are preserved. Mild disc space narrowing is present at L2-3 and L5-S1. There is 3 mm of anterior subluxation of L4 on L5. Multiple disc osteophytes are present. There are posterior disc
osteophytes at L2-3 which are projecting into the spinal canal. Facet arthropathy is present bilaterally at L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1.

L1-2: Normal

L2-3: There is broad-based disk bulging with the disc osteophytes. No focal disc herniation is present. This bulging disc material does extend into the inferior aspect of both neural foramina.

L3-4: Broad-based disc bulging is present with mild secondary spinal stenosis.

L4-5: The disc bulging with posterior ligamentous hypertrophy, facet arthropathy and spondylolisthesis is causing moderate spinal stenosis.

L5-S1: Right sided posterior hemilaminectomy changes are present. Minimal disc bulging is present. No focal disc herniation or significant spinal stenosis.

No fracture is demonstrated. The visualized soft tissue structures appear unremarkable.


IMPRESSION:

Multilevel spondylosis is present. At L4-5 there is moderate spinal stenosis with anterior subluxation, disc bulging, posterior ligamentous hypertrophy and facet arthropathy.
---------------------------------

Robert

[susieq Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close susieq]

Sorry to hear of your accident Robert. Can't help you with your report, it's all mumbo-jumbo to me!! Hope with rest and time you'll feel better!

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Sorry about your wreck. I didn't know you had had one. I don't know how to read your report but I'll bet you a plug nickel you'll be back on your feet in no time!! BTW, I'm in Raleigh right now waiting to fly out early tomorrow am.

Hugs, Shaggy

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

...
I read it as I better not continue normal activitivities such as hammering, lifting lumber, operating chain saw or backhoe, etc. In otherwords, take it easy and do next to nothing I enjoy. We may even have to travel light!
....

I thought it would shake off with laying low, muscle relaxer and a few pain killers.

Did minor construction and only operated the backhoe to fill two small holes, yank 3 old bushes and move a small tree. I tried it... the pain made me be careful how I did. That was all in one day and non of it for the past week.

Hurting is tolerable if I watch how I move. Shooting pain reminds me when I do.

At least nothing is broken.

I went through back surgery for removing L4 disk 33 years ago. I never want anymore of that so will finally have to cave in to whatever keeps the aggrivation down.

Thanks, but not needing sympathy, just thought someone might know what the report says.
I looked up a few phrases and it appears I'm getting aged. LOL Not funny!
Was doing pretty good till somebody was in more of a hurry then me.
Their insurance max payment is $10k. I hope this doesn't cause me to need a lawyer.

Shaggy, you go enjoy seeing that rock and canyon country. The weather reports say you won't melt nor freeze. That night breeze can be chilling at 40. Keep wrapped up.

Robert

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Robert I had L4 L5 with the S1 root pressing on the nerve it was so bad I could not move because the pain was going into the groin area. They preformed emergency surgery on me back in 98. Also osteophytes are bone spurs that you have which IMO could not be part of the accident, Yes I have osteophytes also.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Robert....Sorry to hear about the accident, and hope that you are feeling better.

[Dori Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dori]

Ouch! I'm sorry to hear about your lingering back problems. My DH has suffered on and off with back problems for years. Don't overdo any physical activity that will create stress to your back. I know it is hard to cut back on these activities, but pace yourself. When DH's back was giving him problems (he is a retired letter carrier, and sometimes had very heavy days), a bag of frozen peas, placed on his back ,helped numb the pain.

I hope you are feeling better very soon.

Dori

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Every time I read the title to your thread I can't help but think that, if I got rear ended I'd be hurting but it wouldn't be my back that would hurt.

But seriously, I've dealt with similar back issues most of my life. I got the "official" diagnosis of degenerative joint disease in my 20's but it really started in my teens. My biggest issues are L4-L5 and L5-S1. The outside part of my right thigh has been numb for better than 25 years. At one point it got bad enough I couldn't walk more than a few feet and sitting wasn't much of an option either. The two things that have helped most have been inversion therapy (turning yourself upside down and hanging there for awhile) and massage therapy.

I still have issues but I can walk upright (most of the time at least) and have never taken disablity payments. I just have to watch the things I do and how I do them. Hopefully, with treatment you back will get better. You may have to learn to do things in ways that protect your back rather than the way most of us get use to doing things.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

I have spondylosis with spurs, which my PC doc explained to me as arthritis of the spine. Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal column. Hope you are feeling better soon.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Every time I read the title to your thread I can't help but think that, if I got rear ended I'd be hurting but it wouldn't be my back that would hurt. ...

Yeah, I thought of that but then decided "Oh well, there's only so much space for a title". And I figured my post would set things straight.

I could have used "Rear Ending Hurts".

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

From Wikipedia

Spondylosis is degenerative arthritis of the joints between the centra of the spinal vertebrae. In this condition the interfacetal joints are not involved. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent pain or paresthesia in the limbs.
When the space between two adjacent vertebrae narrows, compression of a nerve root emerging from the spinal cord may result in radiculopathy (sensory and motor system disturbances, such as severe pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, back, and/or leg, accompanied by muscle weakness). Less commonly, direct pressure on the spinal cord (typically in the cervical spine) may result in global weakness, gait dysfunction, loss of balance, and loss of bowel and/or bladder control. The patient may experience a phenomenon of shocks (paresthesia) in hands and legs because of nerve compression and lack of blood flow. If vertebrae of the neck are involved it is labelled cervical spondylosis. Lower back spondylosis is labeled lumbar spondylosis.
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I do experience:
Severe lower (L4-5) pain in certain movements and positions. No radiating pain in limbs though.

Occassional balance loss, shocks in legs.

Numbness of outer thigh muscles, once it starts, lasts for as long as I walk or stand.

I feel fortunate!

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

From Wikipedia

Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. It can also sometimes be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor. In the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) region it can be a congenital condition to varying degrees.
Spinal stenosis may affect the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. In some cases, it may be present in all three places in the same patient. Lumbar spinal stenosis results in low back pain as well as pain or abnormal sensations in the legs, thighs, feet or buttocks, or loss of bladder and bowel control.
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Apparently my spinal canal has narrowed due to degeneration while aging.

Some probably was caused by L4 disc herniation back in 1976. Prior to removal by surgery, my low back pain radiated into my thighs.

I've recuperated just fine and thought I had it made. Now, here we go again.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Yeah, I thought of that but then decided "Oh well, there's only so much space for a title". And I figured my post would set things straight.

I could have used "Rear Ending Hurts".

That might have made me spit out my coffee onto my compter screen.

I sort of like the title. It always manages to put a smile on my face. I hope you find a way to manage you back pain so that it's not to intrusive on your life. I know that, over the years, it's just become an old friend that I have to deal with from time to time.

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

Basically, your back shows normal aging, mild arthritis, and the spinal stenosis as you mentioned. There also may be a bit of nerve impingement higher where the neural foramina (holes that nerves come through) may have disk pressing on them.

Spinal stenosis and the neural foraminal impingement can cause the shooting pains. Typically, they will respond to physical therapy, NSAIDs, and possibly epidural steroid injections. Recovery can easily take up to six months. I generally recommend against surgery unless you're having bowel or bladder issues related to the back, significant weakness, or other major neurologic signs (not just pain). If you do get surgery for this, most people do have some improvement, but at two years out, the folks that had surgery are no better off than those who didn't.

Also, many neurosurgeons won't operate on this without an MRI or a CT myelogram (if you have a pacemaker).

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Thanks for the many words.

I'm laying low till Monday when I visit the nerve/pain doctor. I will live with what I have and take shots if necessary.

If I can accept limited movements to keep from hurting so bad, that's the style of life I'll have. I don't want surgery.