Back Issues :: Torn Disc At L4/L5

I have a a torn disc at L4/L5 (not herniated). It showed up in an MRI I had in March 2014 (and symptoms first showed up, I believe, two years before that). I won't go through why it took two years to be properly diagnosed (my handle here was created when I thought I was going to have to have reconstructive foot surgery because I am severely overpronated).

I had an epidural 12 days ago, and the chronic lower back pain I had when seated has been reduced significantly. Of course, I hope that it will last for a long time. I am starting PT.

I am wondering if anyone with a similar diagnosis ended up feeling the same way I did, and, if so, if/how you finally got better.

Before I ever had any pain, I first had a sense of being out of alignment. First thing I noticed was my right shoulder and back slumping on my right side. I have a desk job, and this sounds nuts, I know, but I started holding a dictionary in my lap as a sort of "guide" to align myself against.

Eventually I started shifting in my seat all the time; it felt like my pelvis was out of balance. I couldn't find balance from my right foot to my right glute; I had to really work at it. On a recumbent bike, my right leg turned in. At the gym, not really knowing what I was trying to do, I would constantly reach down and touch my right heel (when seated on a bench), as if trying to straighten my foot. I couldn't clench my right butt cheek, and my right glute eventually atrophied to the point that my gym shorts would slide down my right side, and I could feel the difference in my glutes in my jeans.

I felt like I was caved inward on my right side from my neck to the bottom of my foot. Breathing was affected.

My gait was messed up: It began to feel as if I were walking on two different legs; it didn't hurt to walk, it was just difficult. Sometimes I had a limp. It was difficult to stand for any length of time, again, because of feeling misaligned rather than pain.

Low right back pain when seated kicked in, and starting about nine months ago, was chronic. It hurt all day long, and I ate ibuprofen like M&Ms.

So now, as I say, I have (what I believe is) a correct diagnosis; have had the epidural, which has greatly reduced the back pain.

Now I just have the lingering sense of my back and shoulder on the right side not being aligned, and still have mobility and gait issues. Have had only the initial PT consult, but gearing up to go twice a week next week.

My question (finally! sorry!): With a small torn disc at L4-L5 like this, did you feel like that? And, more important, did you get better? From when symptoms first started (the dictionary days) until now, it's been nearly four years. I think all the alignment stuff just got worse and worse during that time because I couldn't get a proper diagnosis. I hope I can get better.