What is the reason for the back pain as per MRI report?

Question

Hi doctor,

Other than Bell's palsy, I have a problem of back or neck pain now. In fact, this has been going on for a few months now. More recently, the right of the back (lower back and hip) has been causing a lot of pain. I got an MRI of spine done four weeks ago. I am attaching the report here for your reference. The pain has increased significantly over the last 10 days or so. I visited a physiotherapist two days ago. She did some nerve stimulation in that area and asked me to do some exercises. I am not sure about the nerve stimulation and how safe it is. Also, if the exercises to strengthen the core are good. My GP ordered some x-rays yesterday. I will get the results later today. I am not sure what is causing this pain and what I should do next.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. Regarding your new symptoms, they are due to degenerative changes in your spine that is, wear and tear after usage (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The changes are there in the whole of your spine, maximum at the neck than at the lower back. There is no medicine by which we can completely reverse it, but we can certainly control it. The back pain, which you have, is most likely due to the joint degeneration in your lower back. Your pain is not radiating (going down) down your leg, so there is no clinically significant nerve root compression. If you read the MRI report, you may think that a lot of your nerves are compressed. But, do not worry as the compression is clinically not significant. Regarding treatment of back pain, you can go for electrical stimulation. It helps with reducing the pain. It is safe, but it works for approximately 60 percent of patients. It may work for you or may not, but no harm in attempting.

I suggest you the following medicines which includes, tablet Ibuprofen 400 mg thrice daily for a week, tablet Pantoprazole 40 mg twice daily before food for a week, and tablet Tizanidine 4 mg twice daily for a week. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and take the medicine with consent. Once your acute spinal pain relieves, you can continue with spinal extension exercises for back and isometric neck exercises for your neck. If you do not exercise regularly, in a couple of years, you can have nerve problems.