Degeneration? - Bone Disorders Message Board

sierra · 02-13-2004, 11:35 AM

Hi everyone ~ I hope I can find a nice person here who may have a thought or two about this!

I've have a vertebrae bone that hurts like a very bad bruise for almost 2 years. I'm always guarding it and sometimes it aches at night and during movement. In the last few months, I have noticed several other bones up my back getting the bruise feeling, as well.
My doctor (who is also a chiropracter) wanted to perform manipulation. I declined because at the time, no tests had been done to see what is wrong. Finally, x-rays showed a possible pars defect. So the doctor ordered CT scan. Now they say it is mild degeneration--can anyone elaborate on this? The nurse was quick with me, quite vague, in fact. She didn't even say for sure if there is or isn't a pars defect. She told me the doctor wants to follow up with this "manipulation"--I think it's strange that he keeps pushing this, and not looking further for answers--and wouldn't manipulation be dangerous if there was a fracture?
I was initially seen in the first place because of bad dizzy spells, which were a result of anemia, but are still present. All colon checks were normal and my blood count is back to normal. Should I accept this "mild degeneration" diagnosis or pursue the doc for more tests?
Thanks for the time~

The Cardinal · 02-13-2004, 11:51 AM

You can do a "google" search to learn more about the condition on your own.
After that, my first thought is get a second opinion, probably from a orthopedic physician/surgeon.

My second thought is that you should inquire as to whether the condition can be stabilized, or can be reversed, through medication or supplementation. Of course, the google search should provide you enough info to make an informed decision.

sierra · 02-14-2004, 12:24 PM

Thank you for helping out ~ when I called the radiologist for clarification yesterday I was told by the secretary that the report said "mild degenerative change". I guess that is the same thing. I asked her what that meant and she said , "Basically, nothing." I'll do another google search, but so far I can't find my symptoms to match any of the the conditions under degeneration--they all say "low ********, aching back, etc., not a specific few bones that ache to touch. I do need a second opinion or another to read the scans, atleast. ~Thank you once again!

Mitch_4444 · 02-28-2004, 06:14 PM

Degeneration means the bone has lost its density. It does not appear as white as the normal bone density on an x-ray. This is a normal occurence with age depending on how old you are. What your chiropractor should have explained to you is, you are subluxated in certain areas of your spine. Signs and symptoms such as localized pain, radiating pain, inflammation, swelling, edema, tender to touch (TTT), misalignment, etc. all help a chiropractor find subluxations. Subluxation is when nerves coming out of your spine are irritated or impinged by the vertebrae surrounding them. This leads to decreased nerve function and if you know anything about nerves, you know that they control the body transporting information sent from your central nervous system. By allowing your chiropractor to place the vertebrae back in place, the body can begin to heal properly and slow down further degeneration as you age. If your chiropractor did not explain this to you, he may not be the right doctor for you but you should still go to another chiropractor because they are the only doctors allowed to adjust patients spine for normal nerve function. Good luck and keep us informed of your outcome. Mitch

sierra · 02-29-2004, 08:08 AM

Hi Mitch~ thanks for your nice and informed reply

I haven't been to see another doctor yet. The nerves are not involved in my symptoms--only one of the symptoms you list applies to me (TTT). I have very bruise-like tenderness over L1, and 3 more up in the thoracic area have, in the last few months, been getting the same bruise feeling to the touch--what I think is strange is the vague CT report and NO further communication with the doctor. They said mild degenerative change in L5!!! I thought perhaps I should have another type of scan, or have another doctor view them because I have absolutely no symptoms that low. I'm wondering if they only did a lumbar scan. If they didn't do thoracic, then the ones that hurt may not have been pictured. Even the doctor was in question about the location of the main one hurting. The bones ache to touch, and manipulating them, to me, is out of the question!

I'm putting off anymore doctor visits for now, because I'm not sure who to see. I guess as long as I feel pretty good, I can live with a few sore bones!
I'm still a little worried, though

Thank you again for your generous response!

sierra