5.0 MM. - Back Problems Message Board

want2Bcalm · 05-26-2003, 10:29 PM

I have two 5.0mm herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1, are these large???? And one smaller at L3-4. I have had problems on and off since I was 26, when I herniated my first disc giving birth (L4-5) , I am 44 now, and 2 years ago the other two disc's herniated. One above and one below. And I have DDD.....
I have never had surgery only the series of injections in my spine which did not help....
What is next for me, I feel like they are going to just continue right up my back!!!
Any advise or imput would be apreciated.....

mmglobal · 05-26-2003, 11:38 PM

Wannabe... the potential problem depends on what they are pressing on. If your spinal canal is clear and you have good disc height, a 5mm bulge may be completely asymptomatic.

However, if you've had an MRI it's because you have a problem. Maybe the bulges are a problem and maybe they are a distraction as they were with me. I had discectomies on 2 large protrusions. Both those surgeries were successful in dealing with the issues related to the protrusions, but my underlying low back pain continued to get worse and worse. Finally I had a 2-level disc replacement surgery last September that resolved my problem.

So, it's hard to say. Probably 50% of people in thier 40's have disc bulges of 4 and 5 mm and don't even know it. Some may cause serious problems and some will never be a problem. There are other issues that may be overlooked because the bulges are easy to focus on.

Good luck,

Mark

want2Bcalm · 05-27-2003, 06:53 PM

Thanks for your reply Mark!