Question
In 2005 an MRI confirmed a bulge between L4 and L5, the size was a size 9, very large they told me. It was a work injury and so I was put on Workers Comp and had to get an attorney, because they wouldn't let me stay on the job. I was sent to a WC Doctor and given meds and injections, therapy, acupuncture, and chiro help. Nothing happened except I lost track of time and had memory problems from the meds, so I went off of them. The pain was always there, I couldn't even lift the laundry to put in the dryer, and if I did, it was hard and very painful to stand up. My atorneys sent me to a Surgeon and he said to see to wait and see what happenes with treatment, because my bulge was large.  After a year I had a final MRI to close out my case(my third or fourth MRI from this), and this time the Surgeon said, "are you ready to go back to work?" Well, I was still in the pain, a little less severe, but still hard to sleep, walk, and especially sit, and forget vacuuming, laundry, walking the dog, or picking up the grandkids, much less driving and sitting at a computer ten hours a day! The Surgeon said my bulge was gone and I was healed! Healed...that would be great, but I didn't feel healed. He said it was a miracle..of sorts. When I asked him why I was still in constant pain he said, "who knows the answers to these questions."
Well...now I have been diagnosed with Diverticulosis Disease, and last month when they did an MRI it showed disentigration of both disks and a small buldge still there, but I didn't need surgery. My Doctor said inflamation breads inflamation, in reference to my Diverticulosis. My doctor said he can't see how the surgeon said it (Bulge) went away as in a MIRACLE.
I haven't really been able to do work, I am in sales, and my job consists of sitting, and driving, and running to appointments. I tried three jobs and haven't been able to deal with the pain, my legs just don't want to take me places I need to go.
I always knew there was something fishy about his reading of the MRI, especially since I was afraid of any surgery.
What do you think?  How could he medically dismiss the buldge in the MRI? What reason could there have been for him to say it was gone and a miracle? Why would he say it didn't show up? Lastly...does this happen, a miracle that is, that it simply goes away? Doc says it never went away and the degeneration in the disks shows its age.
I knew it was still there...I had no choice but to take his recommendation to go back to work.
He did disable me 28%...what does that do or mean?
Thank you, I hope you can help me.
Gina


Answer
Gina;

I am fascinated by your question, and want to answer you question, but I'm a slow typist!!! So let me begin by saying it sounds like you are a really active woman.

The beauty of MRI is that it's all there in black and white.  Get the copies and take them to someone else for review.  Any chiropractor or MD can look at these and tell you the real deal.  Disc injuries can and do resorb, it's not a miracle per se, but it does happen.

You can read my take on the disc on my website, www.dynamicclinic.com, under the articles section.   It may help to understand the nature of the disc.

There's been no tie I know of between the Diverticulosis and discs... I'm sure youv'e been told to up your fiber intake dramatically and reduce red meats.

As for the disability, that's an area I'm not an expert in.   It's a formula according to the state you live in, and what you've been diagnosed with.  Sorry, I can't help you on that part of your question.