After waking up one morning with weakness in my right leg and searing pain in my hip, thigh, and lower back, I was ordered several X-rays and 2 MRIs. The MRI of spine read as follows: Transition lumbosacral vertbra, mild herniation L-4, L-5. Central disc protrusion, L-5, S-1. I see the spine specialist on Friday, however, I m curious after much reading if this couldn t all be caused by degenerative disc disease and would that have been read by the radiologist on the MRI? Also, the MRI was ordered because they thought they saw a hairline fracture in my right hip. The MRI of my hip was inconclusive of that. I am on crutches and have minimal use of my right leg as of 2 weeks. I just want to be prepared for the worst if I have to be.
Degenerative disc disease is a fancy way if saying you have arthritis in your spine which is very common.  There are no treatments to reverse arthritis.  Most of the time the initial symptoms lessen over 1-3 months but if it doesn't there are medications, injections, and surgery are the choices