I injured my back 3 years ago while lifting a 50lb box of printer paper at work. Had MRI Dr. said only minimal bulging of l4 l5 and l5 s1. 2.5 years later and PT, injections of lidocaine and 1 epidural I am still having the most excruciating pain I've had in my life (even childbirth can't compare) Feel's as though there is bone on bone, constant throbbing in buttocks, down legs, into feet and also pain in both sides. I requested another MRI and I showed an annular tear. I have had to look the info up on the net b/c my doc doesn't seem to know much about it. Does anybody know what my options are? Found a site for Nucleoplasty. Anybody ever hear of this kind of procedure? What about a fusion. Is one better than the other? Would love to hear from other with same!

I'm surprised your Doc could diagnose an annular tear with MRI. I have had so many tests also but the CT discogram found a large annular tear in my L4-L5 disc. My doc has suggested we try the nucleoplasty first before the fusion. The nucleoplasty is newer but similar to IDET and is minimally invasive compared to anatomy changing spinal fusion. If it doesn't work we can always opt for major surgery. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had the nucleoplasty....Good Luck to you. We seem to have very similar problem.