bilateral heel pain related to facet cyst?

[maz]

Hi ,

I have a question for anyone who knows more than me about facet joint pain and cysts. I have had an MRI of my lumbar spine the 2 radiologists reviewing it said all discs were all well hydrated and ok but I had "mild bilateral facet degeneration on L4/L5 " and "facet degeneration on L5/S1 saying "there is a small cyst in the left exit of L5 not Obviously compressing the root which may be related to the posterior joint"

I am concerned about the heel pain as having had a 2 level cervical ADRs I was hoping it would resolve. The spinal surgeon who looked at both MRI's first told me there was nothing wrong with my neck and I had a syndrome, he said radiologists use MRI to explain symptoms!!

I saw a 2nd surgeon who said lets do your neck 1st and see what settles. He wanted to do my neck as he said it really was extremely bad. I am due to see him on 4th for post op check up.

I want to bring up the facet issue and the cyst because the 1st surgeon referred to my neck as "normal" and the cyst and "pretty irrelevant" this makes me think it isnt !!! I will show the MRI to the surgeon reviewing my neck but fear fear he will be too busy

I dont know what questions to ask really but I know electric heels arent normal and as there is a cyst near a nerve root exit wondered if any of you had the same sort of symptom or any info/questions I could use

thanks

Maz

[annapurna]

A simple sanity check for you could be to do a internet search and find the enervation pathways for the different nerve exiting points and check to see if where you hurt matches where L-5 is supposed to be connected. If they don't match it doesn't mean that the two aren't related but it's less likely.

I also disagree that radiologists use MRIs to explain symptoms. From the discussions we've had with a radiologist, they're often given a set of symptoms and asked to look at an area. Based on what the radiologist sees and what he/she thinks he/she should be seeing, they report back. Equally often, though, they're not given the list of symptoms or don't read the symptoms and just read the images compared to a hypothetical perfect whatever and tell the ordering doc what is different and notable without giving any opinion as to whether or not it applies to the symptoms. In both cases, you're paying the surgeon reading the radiologist's report to determine what's important or interesting in your case, not the radiologist and if your first surgeon thinks otherwise, I'd find another surgeon.

[maz]

Hi AP

I do think that L5 /S1 is heel related and buttock too from what I have seen. The radiologists read the MRI blind . Also for free (its on the NHS in the UK ....they didnt know me or my symptoms they were looking at it for the neurologist who ordered it with no notes). They have no reason to match the symptoms like the 1st surgeon says, and I didnt believe him about my neck and less about my lower back!! I will say this to my new surgeon (who saw my neck issue straight away ...straight being the operatove word!!) and ask if he can get rid of the cyst asap I have read a cyst like this wher I have it can mimick spinal stenosis or cause it??

thanks for taking the time and effort to reply really appreciate it

Maz