Lumbar Neck Case Studies

HISOTRY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: This 40-year-old Latin female presents with complaints of low back and right leg pain she said that she hurt her back in a motor vehicle accident three years ago and she has had a history of intermittent low back pain since that time. Last December she started a job where she had to lift boxes that weighed approximately 40 pounds. Around the first of January this year she began to complain of back pain that

MRI of the lumbar spine obtained on 05/19/15 revealed at L2-3, endplate osteophyte formation and disc bulge contribute to a mild degree of spinal canal stenosis and a mild degree of bilateral neural foraminal compromise. At L3-4, a disc bulge eccentric leftward and endplate osteophytes formation are responsible for a mild degree of spinal canal stenosis, a mild degree of right neural foraminal encroachment, and a moderate degree of left neural foraminal encroachment. At L4-5, there is a diffuse disc bulge and endplate osteophyte formation which effaces the ventral aspects of the thecal sac and are responsible for a moderate-to-severe degree of spinal canal stenosis, a mild degree of right neural foraminal encroachment, and a severe degree of left neural foraminal encroachment. At L5-S1, a shallow disc bulge and endplate osteophyte formation contribute to a mild degree of left neural foraminal encroachment, without compromise of the spinal

DOI: 09/12/2014. Patient is a 45-year-old male vacation relief route sales representative who sustained a work-related injury to his lumbar spine from bending and pulling a bread product. Per OMNI entry, he was initially diagnosed with disc herniation at L4 to L5 with radiculopathy. He is status post extraforaminal L4 to L5 discectomy on 04/09/2015. He has been off work for nearly 2 years.

MRI of the lumbar spine performed on 10/30/14 demonstrated mild anterolisthesis and prominent degenerative changes at L4-5, resulting in contact and possible impingement upon passing L5 nerve roots bilaterally. There is moderate bilateral facet arthropathy at this level. Mild central canal narrowing is seen at L4-5. Mild chronic compression deformity, superior endplate of T12 is seen.

Assessments are lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorder with radiculopathy, lumbar spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy and myalgia.

DOI: 03/08/2011. Patient is a 48-year-old male route sales representative who sustained an alleged work-related injury to his back, neck, lower extremity and abdomen which affected his psychiatric state while performing his duty.

In addition, CA MTUS criteria for the use of epidural steroid injections include an imaging study documenting correlating concordant nerve root pathology; and conservative treatment. As noted above, this is an appeal to the previously denied request on 02/09/16. The appeal letter states that the patient has low back pain. MRI report showed disc bulge at L5-S1 with left neural foramina narrowing. However, 01/06/16 progress report noted that there was no radiculopathy with a negative SLR on exam. The guidelines require documentation of radiculopathy on exam. In addition, there is no documentation of a trial or failure of conservative treatment, including PT, as recommended by the guidelines. Furthermore, there is no documentation of any focal neurological deficits on the exam that would indicate nerve pathology. The motor and sensory exam was normal. Medical necessity has not been established. Recommend

As per medical report dated 4/19/16, a lumbar MRI with and without contrast was requested to evaluate for a discogenic and/or facetogenic etiology for pain. MRI would also allow evaluation of conditions such as spinal stenosis.

The patient is a 50 year old male construction worker who sustained a work-related injury while lifting heavy boxes of metals. In an office visit dated 12/14/13, patient complaints of intermittent severe low back pain which radiates to bilateral lower extremities. The claimant had an epidural injection, which significantly alleviated right leg pain for a short period of time. Unfortunately pain has returned. It is in the right leg as well as severe pain in the lower back. The claimant wishes to consider surgical intervention due to severity of pain. Objective examination reveals weakness in the right extensor halucis longus and anterior tibialis which are 4+/5. The claimant has diminished sensation along the dorsum of right foot. The claimant has a positive straight leg raise.

MRI of the cervical spine dated 08/17/16 showed at C3-4 and C4-5, there is mild posterior disc bulging.

DOI: 6/26/2002. The patient is a 64 -year-old female patrol officer who sustained a work-related injury to her back, shoulder and legs due to constant driving at work. As per OMNI, the patient is status post lumbar surgery on 1/13/11 and epidural steroid injection on 9/24/12. MRI of lumbar spine with and without contrast dated 6/6/12 revealed congenitally shortened pedicales at the L1-L2 level but no impingement on the thecal sac or nerve roots at this level is identified; desiccated L2-L3 disc with bilateral facet joint arthropathy resulting in moderate bilateral neural foraminal stenosis but no impingement on the thecal sac or nerve roots at this level is identified; desiccated L3-L4 disc with bilateral facet joint arthropathy resulting in moderate bilateral neural foraminal stenosis but no impingement on the thecal sac or nerve roots at this level is identified;

MRI of the lumbar spine dated 11/02/16 showed status post right sided microdiscectomy at L5-S1. There is an enhancing scar tissue between the right L5 transverse process, right facet joint and sacrum with tiny 5 mm focus of fluid signal intensity likely seroma/minimal residual seroma. The iliolumbar ligament adjacent to the scar tissue appears to be intact.

DOI: 11/13/2014. Patient is a 32-year old male technician who sustained injury at the time he was breaking loose a pulser component, he felt a sharp pain to his right side, low back buttocks and right leg. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy and, lumbar spinal stenosis. Per MRI of lumbar spine without contrast dated 12/23/14 revealed at L4-5 there is disc space height loss, disc bulging and facet degenerative change; at L5-S1 there is posterior disc bulging resulting in mild narrowing of the central canal, and; at T11 to T12 there is posterior disc bulging resulting in mild narrowing of the central canal. As per focused history and physical dated 3/17/15, patient is presented to the office

MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast dated 8/24/15 revealed a broad-based bulge (4mm) at L4-5, which in conjunction with facet hypertrophy and ligament flava laxity, produces mild central canal narrowing and moderate-severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. There is a posterior superimposed central annular fissure (7mm). At L5-S1, there is a broad-based bulge (5mm) which in conjunction with facet hypertrophy and ligament flava laxity,

Per progress report dated 5/02/2016, patient continued to complain of constant pain but is overall doing better. He has pain in the axial neck and low back. The pain radiates only intermittently, rated as 5/10. The pain is relieved with Norco without side effects. The pain medicine relieves pain to a 2/10 which allow performance of grooming and cleaning. On examination, lumbar spine range of motion is limited with 45 degrees flexion due