.jeri.

Let me borrow and improve an image from the mayoclinc to show you my condition:

Official Report:
DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE AT THE LUBOSACRAL JUNCTION WITH 3 MM BROAD-BASED PROTRUSION WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF NEURAL IMPINGEMENT.

Well DUH. I've been saying that for the past two years. Well, I've been saying "degenerative disc disease" but of course I had no idea how to predict that it was "at the lubosacral junction with 3mm broad-based protrusion without evidence of neural impingement."

The key phrase there is "without evidence of neural impingement." This means the disc rupture has not bulged out far enough to hit any nerves (it's actually bulging right between two nerves). As a result, I'm actually kind of lucky. I could have shooting pain down my legs if the nerves were being hit.

The doctor said (after I sat in the waiting room for an hour while the nurses, operating on a new computer system, lost my file in the great confusion a maiden vs. married name can cause) my problem is a lot better than it could be. He says he even thinks it could heal over time because it is so small. Well, it's been three years already, so I'm not getting my hopes up, but I'm supposed to see him again in six months.

At any rate, I'm supposed to identify what actions cause pain and avoid them. I guess that means I should quit my job and never exercise again. OR I'll have to relax once in a while when I know certain things are going to cause stress on my back.

So I finally have a diagnosis, after all these years. And I'd just like to say a little something to the three physical therapists, a few nurses, a couple of doctors, and a back specialist who all told me to strengthen my back muscles, stop exercising so hard, or that I was just top-heavy:

I TOLD YOU SO!