Hi I have had lower back pain for 4 years which has stopped me playing golf, doing any physical work gardening that I enjoy etc.
I have a constant dull ache in my lower back that feels extremely tight, I feel this 24 hours a day. If I push through the pain I will then suffer sciatica in the days after. I visited the GP 3 years ago and was fobbed off, and told to take anti inflammatorytablets, I visited them again after a father 6 months, and they requested an MRI, in the report it said the following.
Relative degeneration of L5-S1 intervertebral disc is noted,
associated with significant marrow oedema at the opposing vertebral
endplates. This is associated with irregularity and erosions of the L5
inferior vertebral endplate.
The remaining vertebrae demonstrate normal heights and alignment and
marrow signal.
L3-4 down to L5-S1 mild posterior disc bulges and facet joint
arthropathies, flattening the anterior aspect of the thecal sac, with
mild narrowing of the exit neural foramina noted.
There is no evidence of spinal canal stenosis and nerve root
compression.
So I saw a consultant 9 months ago, I waited 18 months for the appointment, and he said the MRI was normal, I pointed out the issues in the MRI and he said this is normal for someone of my age I’m 50, he said surgery wise there is nothing that could be offered and suggested taking up swimming instead of trying to play golf. He said there is nothing in the MRI report that would indicate why I’m in pain. He made me feel like I was lying about the pain, so 9 months on I’m still in pain daily, I tried swimming it made it worse, so I looked up the MRI report again and wanted to see what others thought, and whether it does indicate a problem because I’m thinking about going back to the GP as I have had enough of being in pain and not being able to do the things I love.