New here - need some advice!

[feethead]

Hello, I have suffered with pain for years and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2019 and have tried all the medications going. Doctors always tell me that my chronic neck and back pain is fibromyalgia but I disagree that it is all down to that.

I have had MRI's in the past which showed some degeneration and bulging discs in lumbar but my recent MRI has a lot of knew things and im not sure what they mean.

Moderate to severe intervertebral disc degenerative change at L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. Moderate endplate sclerosis at L5-S1.

C5-C6 mild posterior disc bulge. Mild central spinal stenosis

C6-C7 minimal posterior disc bulge with bilateral uncovertebral hypertrophy

L3-L4 mild circumferential disc bulge. Mild lateral facet joint hypertrophy.

L4-L5 posterior disc bulge asymmetric left with annular fissure and stenosis of lateral recess. Mild bilateral facet joint hypertrophy. Partial impingement of traversing left L5 nerve root.

L5-S1 circumferential disc bulge. Mild bilateral facet joint degenerative hypertrophy.

I would be so grateful if someone could interpret it for me! I am despaired with pain and am wondering if these changes would warrant me seeing a Spinal Consultant instead of a Pain consultant which I have seen many of before.

Thank you!

[Blue-52]

Hi, basically some of your discs have dislodged, and are bulging, which could mean they are causing nerve pain, C5 needs to be kept an eye on, your doctor should know this, do you suffer pain in ur neck too?, I have spondylitis, which can bulge the discs out, but I also have spine and neck nerve damage, if your mri is showing all the symptoms, not sure why you are not being referred to a surgeon, I would certainly question this, as the spine can be aligned, possibly, also the bulging disc can be corrected, or silicone ones to replace.

Unfortunately I can’t have surgery, due to extreme claustrophobia, and can’t have mri, but my surgeon assured me, at the time, it could be done, I would tell your doctor, this is not fibromyalgia, but related, possibly.

Good luck, I know the pain you feel.

[feethead in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you for your reply. I have nerve pain all down right side into arm and hand and my hand goes freezing cold. also get nerve pain in right side ribs. Ive always had neck pain but last 4 months or so it has got much worse.

Have booked to see Spine doctor at end of february so hope something can actually be done, hate taking strong painkillers. Poor you not being able to have surgery or MRI. Maybe things will change in the future.

[Blue-52 in reply to feethead]

Ahh, good luck, can’t take any strong pain meds either, so I have to keep strong.