THE LAST RESORT.

After trying what has seemed like everything, I finally visited a spine surgery specialist who sent me for new MRIs. The findings:

"Progressive 3-4 mm L1-L2 subligamentous disc extrusion extending to the L1 inferior endplate and causing central canal stenosis (8-9 mm AP canal diameter). Disc protrusions at L3-L4 and L4-L5. Multilevel lumbar central canal stenosis due to discogenic disease and congenital short pedicles (8-9 mm AP canal diameter at L1-L2, L3-L4, and L4-L5)."

In layman’s terms, I have five discs in various stages of herniation with significant spinal stenosis. Two discs were barely visible in the films (see black vertical stripes in picture above). In addition, my gelatinous disc goo in these two discs looks as if it has melted around the spinal cord and the nerves, causing significant impingement (see the masthead picture above - that is my L3).

My specialist's recommendation: undergo a diagnostic procedure where the two worst discs are injected with a powerful anesthetic. If I am pain free for up to six hours afterwards, than we can determine that these discs are the culprits. And the most effective treatment for these virtually nonexistent discs is to remove them and fuse the vertebrae around them together to support the spine and relieve pressure on the surrounding nerves. This is called a spine fusion.

Whoa.