Lumbar MRI Results

[sofaman]

Vin, I had the exact same issue last year L4 and L5 at first we tried meds and PT and it didnt work at all then we tried injections with PT and still no relief so my DR sent me down to Pittsburgh to get the Epidural Injection and it realy worked for me. It is not a very pleasent procedure but it was worth it for me after the first injection i felt much better and once I had the 2nd injection my pain was totaly gone and I havent needed another one since then, that was last August.

[mash]

As you can see from the answers above, the results are mixed. But in the right hands they are safe and if you have radicular symptoms (nerve root irritation and pain down your legs) they are worth it. The vast majority of people with your symptoms don't need surgery. Stay active, backs need to move.

[billybarue]

My wife is an interventionalist Pain MD. She did her fellowship in your "neck of the woods" in downtown Boston at Beth Israel. Neuro consult standard for spine. Hopefully the Neuro group has a Fellowship trained board certified Pain doc (most likely a trained anaesthesiologist like my wife). Epidurals for pain intervention are right in the wheel house for a Pain Doc with anaesthesia background. Neuro guys do them but you might consider getting it from a Pain doc.

She cringes everytime I lift stuff. She refused to watch me pack the trucks of household goods for our recent move. She sees destroyed backs everyday.