Can a osteoporosis patient having severe asthma undergo a surgery for multilevel degenerative disc disease after a bad fall ?
Patient: MY MOTHER IS 52 YEARS OLD WITH SEVER OSTEOPROSIS. SHE IS ON STEROIDS FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS FOR ASTHMA . HER ASTHMA IS SEVERE. A MONTH AGO SHE FELL AND HAVE SEVERE PAIN DUE TO DISC COMPRESSION. SHE HAVE CONSTANT BURNING SENSATION IN BOTH HER FEET AND SHE IS ON HEAVY PAIN MEDICATION. NEURO SURGEONS WE HAVE CONSULTED SAY THAT SHE IS UNFIT FOR SURGERY AND ONLY PHYSIO THERAPY AND TIME WILL HELP HER RECOVER. THE MRI REPORT SAYS MULTILEVEL DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE INVOLVING L3-L4 AND L4-L5 LEVEL. AT L3-L4 LEVEL, RIGHT PARACENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION NOTED CAUSING RIGHT LATERAL RECESS NARROWING. AT L4-L5 LEVEL, RIGHT LATERAL DISC PROTRUSION NOTED CAUSING RIGHT LATERAL RECESS NARROWING AND RIGHT RADICULAR COMPRESSION. ON THE LEFT SIDE, THERE IS ENCROACHMENT OF LEFT NEURAL FORAMINA WITHOUT ANY RADICULAR COMPRESSION. IMPORTANT. I AM I PAKISTAN SO CONSIDERING THAT A NEURO SURGEON MIGHT SEE 20 TO 30 PATIENTS IN THE 2 HOURS CONSULTING I AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME TO EVALUATE MY MOTHERS CONDITION PROPERLY. SHE IS TAKING MULTIPLE PAIN MANAGEMENT MEDICATION INCLUDING OPIOIDS AND STILL CANT WALK MORE THEN A FEW STEPS AT A TIME AND CANT SIT. THE BURNING SENSATION IS CONSTANT AND I AM WORRIED THAT MIGHT LEAD TO SOMETHING WORSE IN THE FUTURE. I NEED SOME ADVICE AND HELP. THANKYOU Doctor: Hi Noman, Your Mother seems to be suffering from complications of degenerative disc disease. Since she in on steroids do make sure she is taking Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements to help prevent progression of Osteoporosis at her age. The pain she experiences is due to nerve getting pressed by the degenerated and herniated discs from her spine. She can try using a Lumbo-sacral corset belt to attain better posture while walking and reduce her symptoms. Usually, the main exercise you will be asked to do is that of extension which is leaning backwards by propping yourself up on your elbows when lying on your front. This mobilises the joints but more importantly closes the area of the prolapse and reduces the disc prolapse. If the disc prolapse is reduced the tear in the disc can heal.