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Doctors Lounge - Orthopedics Answers
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| Sandy49
- Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:14 am |
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58 year old female, fusion @L4-5 in 2002, w/terrific results. (No family history). Have been treated for lower back pain, right hip pain, numbness in thighs, for over a year, with facet injections, radio frequency, epidurals, and drugs. Recent MRI shows a severely herniated disk at L3-4, and I've been referred to an orthopaedic doctor for evaluation. My question is...If left untreated, what damage or effects can this herniation cause?
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| Dr. Chan Lowe
- Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:28 pm |
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 Hi Sandy49,
If the herniation is pushing onto the spinal cord it can begin to cause dysfunction of the areas below the spinal cord. This can become very severe. This would be one of the main indications for surgical correction if physical therapy has failed.
Your orthopedist can evaluate for these issues and go over the benefits/risks of the surgery to allow you to make an informed decision.
Best wishes.
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