Could Annular tear be the cause of my problems?

I am 47 I was injured at work I had damaged L5-S1, L4-5 I had a disc replacement at L5-S1 I felt great after the surgery then I started physical therapy. and my pain started all over again. It has been 31/2years since I have worked L4-5 is herniated with DDD and an annular tear. I have been trying to have another disc replacement done, But the system would rather you deal with the pain. Does anyone know how to get around all the red tape? so that I can get another disk replacement, and get on with my LIFE I am not a lazy person I would like to get back to work.

I too, have been told there is pretty much nothing that can be done for my back. In 2004, I was in an auto accident and in the long run we found 13 discs from C-2 all the way to S-1 which were either dessicated, bulging or torn. L4 and L5 both had fairly larger annular tears. They said part of the damage was from DDD, which just gets a "everyone has that" from docs...now, I focus on eating the best I can, staying hydrated and exercising as much as I can. I used to be able to carry my weight 10 miles hiking in inclement weather, now there are days I cannot fold a blanket or carry a gallon of milk...basically docs want to give me Flexeril and Nuerontin so I will be doped up and not complain...but one of those makes me really snappy the next day and the other has such intense side effects I can't bring myself to take it...last two doctors said "there is nothing we can do...it is not a matter of health, it is a matter of quality of life" and the other said they couldn't schedule an appointment with a neuro "just to figure out" how my back is five years later...here's hoping we all find relief someday.

I recently had an MRI of my lower back due to pain and weakness in both legs. When I went to the neurosurgeon to get the results I was told that it was just normal degenerative stuff that they would expect to see in someone my age. I'm 36 by the way. Never been in an accident or fall. I decided to go get the written report of my MRI today and this is what is said in a nut shell. l3-l4: facet hypertrophy with a minimal diffuse disc, l4-l5: facet hypertrophy with minimal diffuse disc and annular tear, l5-s1: facet hypertrophy with a central and right paracentral disc protrusion with minimal contact of the right s1 nerve root. Sure sounds like normal to me. YA RIGHT. I have been told that I need to lose weight I am 5'11" and @170 I am NOT fat. I am tired of being treated like this is all in my head. Can anyone help me? I live in constant pain, I have been known to lose control of both bladder and bowel. Any other women having this problem?

I injured my back a year and a half ago opening a gate where i work. i have an annulur tear in my L 3 or 4 with dics degeneration. my doctor has told me there is no surgery to help. ive had 4 injections with no results. they ahve me in therapy now but it doesn't seem to help- much. is there anything else my doctor can do? do i need another opinion? i need help with the pain.

I had a nerve conduction study that said mild never denotations in the hips, hamstrings, etc. then went for an MRI, mild DDD, arthritis, and an annular tear with no compression on the nerves. I am scheduled to go to phys therapy. My pain comes and goes. Today it is horid. I have pain in my buttocks deep and tingly numbness in my big toe the worst. In both legs below my knees are always swollen. Also hip down is colder than the rest of my body. I have had these probs since I came back from Afghanistan where I was wearing body armor several hours each day. What am I in store for? I can't take this anymore.

If anyone has had similar experience or knows what these symptoms add up to please let me know !!
History--I've had C5C6 herniations in 97 with compression on cord and long rehab period (I refused surgery). Basically recovered over a two year span(with some residual chronic pain but bearable with only occasional requirement to take medication). I reinjured myself 2 years ago with bulging and annular tear of C6C7 (also T5 annular tear). Could these following symptoms be related to the annular tear??--I've been to neurosurgeons and neurologists with no real answers, they have disappointed me with their lack of desire to investigate further. I am a nurse so I guess I was expecting more from them but then again I understand they are busy. I have searched the internet long and hard to find any similar symptoms but cannot.

these symptoms come in sudden episodes and last 3-5 hours (or until I take enough assortment of medications to knock myself out), during these episodes I am completely unable to function in any way:
---deep dull ache in my neck and shoulders
---sudden onset of nerve irritation sensation where I cannot lie still--almost like a painful "restless leg syndrome" but it is all over my body, it's almost as if someone has poured noxious chemicals on my all the nerves in my body
---unable to stand (as I will pass out), my blood pressure drops to 60's systolic
---sensation of being very cold, like cold down to my bones, and I have very fine, tense shivering---I wrap up in as many blankets as I can or get in hot shower(actually I lie down on the shower floor as I cannot stand up)
---uncontrollable, repetitive hard yawning, to the point where my muscles contract and almost spasm/cramp up--during the first part of the yawn it momentarily helps the pain a bit but as I complete the yawn it makes it worse--I know this sounds weird but it is a common factor of almost all the episodes I've had
---all these sensations are so intense I am in such intense, severe discomfort--there is no way I could tolerate it for any length of time, its almost as if I feel it any longer I will go insane, I've had bad pain in the past, in fact I live with a degree of pain everyday but can tolerate that, this pain or sensation is indescribable in it's severity
---heart pounding and rate more rapid than usual (occurs sometimes)
---nausea and vomiting (occurs sometimes)
---coldness of both arms with heavy sensation like they are recovering from "falling asleep" (occurs frequently but not always)
---deep pain from chest going into back, like I've been hit real hard and the "wind is knocked out of me"(occurs frequently but not always)
Thanks for reading this long winded explanation. Hope to hear from some of you. And my best wishes to others in pain, I understand!!

I work at the Scoliosis and Spine Center. Though some of these posts are quite accurate; most are mis leading and wrong. We tell patients that an annular tear can be best described as a 'bad papercut.' It hurts like hell, but will heal on itself. The healing process can take upto 18 months to heal. There is not much you can do to treat it. You can do physical therapy or try the epidural injections to alleviate some of the pain or medications help as well.

I also just wanted to say; do not listen to these people that tell you that back surgery is not the way to go. I had two bulging disc's last year in my lumbar spine pressing on my sciatic nerver and I could barely walk. I tried everything I could do before surgery (therapy, meds, injections) and nothing worked, so I moved forward with the surgery and it was the best thing I could have done for myself. I am 100% better! The people that are so against back surgery as an option are the older individuals who still think back surgery is something like it was in the past. Even in the past 10 years, spine surgery has advanced so much and as helped a lot of people get their quality of lives back. Of course, you do not want to jump right in to the spine surgery. Please try everything you can to avoid it first; and you'll know when you have a good doctor because he will want you to try everything before surgery (unless it is something that requires immediate surgical attention.)

Hang in there w/you annular tear. It will take awhile to heal, but you will get better.

Hello fellow back patients!! Ended up with a bulged disc by lifting a piece of wood and wanted to share my success. The pain went down both legs, crippled me to wheelchair. I treated with topical DMSO and Epsom salts gel, alternating with heating pad every 20 minutes. I started doing physical therapy to strenghten my abs, started some Stontium for bone re-mineralization. I then sought out accupunturist for autoimmune (arthritis) treatment. I take adaptogens to modulate my immune system. Never have felt better in my lift. Although it has been 2 years, I am very careful with body mechanics. I believe in prevention. It's strange...I work in the Ortho/neuro medicine arena and would not even think about surgery...no way. May God bless.

I've had a lot of pain in my lower right pelvic area for the last 10 years.  I've had 3 laparoscopies to try and find out what caused the pain - no answer.  I was finally sent to see a pain specialist who made me take an MRI.  Result: I have an anular tear in L4/L5 that releases the "toxic" fluid to the nerves and the pain is unbearable in my lower back and my pelvic area.  I've lost bladder control and feel numbness in my right leg.  I've had three sessions of nerve block injections and after about 5 days the pain is back.  Is surgery an option?

i have an annular tear and have had an mri to show it. My doctor has prescribed me Lyrica and Percocets and they work 10x better than any of the 10 different kinds of muscle relaxors that were prescribed to before getting to the Lyrica, has made my life better. I was in terrible pain for 18 months before getting lyrica and i'm going on 20 now... makes a big differnce for me.

I had an MRI done which found I had this annular tear. I injured my lower back lifting a heavy mattress and the pain was so severe, as well as suffering from sciatic pain, the doctors thought I had a herniated disk. I suffered 24 / 7 with the most intense pain - not able to sit, stand, lay down. I had about 5 different medications, one of which was percocets and Lyrica (for nerve pain) None of this helped. You know what helped ???? A chiropractor ! A friend recommended his chiropractor to me. After the 2nd adjustment, I could feel some improvement. The chiropractor had me coming to his office 4 times a week for the first month and as I said, after the second adjustment, I did feel some relief. I would highly recommend seeing a chiropractor to anyone with this lower back injury. Just try to talk to friends so you can find someone who they can recommend. My chiropractor saved me ! If I hadn't of gone to see him, I still would be suffering. Chiropractic treatment is the way to go..... !

I also have annular tear at L5/S1 and this has been going on for two years I've had 2 epidurals that did nothing but made it worse. I've had PT twice and acupuncture that did nothing. I also have DDD at L3/L4, L4/L5 have been on Vicodin and other meds including prednisone. The pain in my back is so bad some days I have trouble walking the numbness goes down my left side from face to toe to groin area. The constant pain is maddening some mornings I don't want to wake up because I know the pain will be there as soon as I walk. I wish I could tell you it will get better but so far it hasn't. The doctors only want to keep giving you pain meds and not fix the problem. This is a workman's comp case and the doctors I've seen so far are terrible, I just want the pain to stop and my life back and for someone to help me.

i have annular tear and disc l5s1 i have had discogram didnt work i have had this two years result of lifting at work . i am in constant pain sitting standing walking and driving great pain.im on co -codamol and amitripaline just takes the edge off .i am terrified of having surgery.any advice please help

If you still work at the Spine Center I would love to chat with you. I'm an oncology nurse looking for some positive feedback about an anular tear

I am very sorry to hear of your troubles. I am a 32 year old female. Ive been dealing with spinal stenosis, disc degeneration, 2 herniations, and annular tears since ive been 25 years old. I was in a motorcycle accident when i was 25. Then atwo years later i was in a car accident, lady hit me head on. Ive forced my way thru everday life. Its difficult. If ur injury doesnt call for surgery...dont do it. I have a genetic disorder that should have hit me in my 80's but the accidents sped up the process. It took me quite a while to acceptmy fate of never sleeping, walking sitting taking long trips without extreme discomfort n serious crippiling pain agaain. Pain meds help me. Tremendously. I have ni bad side affects from them. They help me to be able to do things like walk, wash dishes, work as longs as isnt cold where i am. Etc. I also found that walking regularly, swimming in the summer as long as the water isnt too chilly, and staying at a consistant weight help enormously. Keeping my feet warm at all times is a must. If u smoke or have smoked cigs the chance of surgery being sucessful drops by 80%. Accupuncture, as skeptical as i was, is amazing. Hurts worse at first but improves amazingly with ttime. Didnt hurt nearly as bad as the 2 times they had me try epidurals. Each time i couldnt walk for about 10 days. Family membera had to literally carry me room to room. Accupuncture i could walk on my own with no recourse. Theres also an herbal chinese supplement called 6 tea pills. A friend gave them to me for my stomach and they worked on that and my back. The more i researched them the morw i found they are a main supporter in helping restore quite a few health issues. Taking things slow and stopping when ur body tells u to stop are also important. I wish u luck. Hope some of this info was helpful.