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Good news. The doctor could identify the problem almost instantly. (I would have been highly frustrated if nothing showed on the MRI.)
I have torn the cartilage of my L5-S1 disc, the lowest disk in the spine. It looked like a little angry, dark disc on my MRI compared to all of the other happy, content, and non-disgrunted lighter-shaded discs. I most likely did hurt it in class and just don't recall doing it, or fluffed it off as something that would be fine by the next morning. I really should be more gentle with my body. (Ha!)
This is good news, because it means all of my other discs are otherwise intact and picture perfect, not bulging or out of place or blown, and nothing pressing on any nerves they shouldn't be. No surgery or other major procedures required. I'm still taking the Tramadol, and I've been prescribed an oral steroid pack. I have scheduled a 2-wk follow-up with the doctor that gives the steroid injections, but that's only as a just-in-case I don't feel any better by then, otherwise I'm free to cancel that appointment at will. Continued spinal adjustments aren't really going to do any good, and actually run the risk of keeping the torn cartilage from healing, but the ice to keep any inflamation down is still highly encouraged.
I'm looking at anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months for it to heal (it's already been about 3 or 4 weeks as is). I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and try to keep that area from moving much.
I have torn the cartilage of my L5-S1 disc, the lowest disk in the spine. It looked like a little angry, dark disc on my MRI compared to all of the other happy, content, and non-disgrunted lighter-shaded discs. I most likely did hurt it in class and just don't recall doing it, or fluffed it off as something that would be fine by the next morning. I really should be more gentle with my body. (Ha!)
This is good news, because it means all of my other discs are otherwise intact and picture perfect, not bulging or out of place or blown, and nothing pressing on any nerves they shouldn't be. No surgery or other major procedures required. I'm still taking the Tramadol, and I've been prescribed an oral steroid pack. I have scheduled a 2-wk follow-up with the doctor that gives the steroid injections, but that's only as a just-in-case I don't feel any better by then, otherwise I'm free to cancel that appointment at will. Continued spinal adjustments aren't really going to do any good, and actually run the risk of keeping the torn cartilage from healing, but the ice to keep any inflamation down is still highly encouraged.
I'm looking at anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months for it to heal (it's already been about 3 or 4 weeks as is). I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and try to keep that area from moving much.
