Training Log Archive: anniemac

I don't expect anyone to read this long entry, this is just for the record...

Decrease dosage to avoid nausea/stomach pain to regular alleve 2x day.
Doc completed my short term disability paperwork in a flash. He's great! As the clinical finding that supports the diagnosis of sciatica, he listed "foraminal stenosis," not something we ever talked about. It's also true that I have a herniated disc in L4-L5 with previous surgery on L5-S1.

Yesterday in PT the therapist seemed to think my pain was not from a disc pressing on my nerve (in fact 80% of people with herniated discs feel no symptoms.) Instead, showed me the foramen on a model of the spine, the area through which the nerve passes, and explained that it can get clogged (by a bone spur, I guess) and press on the nerve, causing the sciatic pain. Foraminal stenosis.

Online: "Each of the 33 bones of the spine has a large central opening for the spinal cord. Additional openings called foramen allow the nerves branching from the spinal cord to travel to the arms, legs and other parts of the body.
Normally nerve roots have enough room to easily slip through the foramen. However, with age and conditions like arthritis, the foramen may become clogged. Bony spurs can develop inside and press on the nerves. When the passage through which the spinal cord runs becomes clogged, the condition is called spinal stenosis." I don't have stenosis in the central canal, just in the foramen in my L4-L5 and in L5-S1 too.

According to doc's paperwork, I can never lift anything about 20lbs. Lift 20lbs occasionally, up to 10lbs can be done continuously. Twisting/bending/stooping can only be done occasionally. He expects I can return to work in around 6 weeks, if the conditions of no heavy lifting are met.

BUT. What is the long term idea here? How will I unclog my foramen? This remains a mystery. PT tomorrow, I will ask her lots of questions.

C • Naproxen 2

Planned on doing a whole routine but decided not to push through the pain.