Lumbar Strain And Lumbar Ddd

[yelloownumber5]

What exactly is lumbar strain? That makes it sound temp.

I tried to claim sciatica but was denied then with the NOD it was approved but changed to lumbar strain. However, the

approval did say no re-exams needed since the condition is not expected to improve.

My medical record I had "+ sciatica" remarks. I have lots of lower back issues and finally had a lumbar mri which revealed lots of buldging disks also at my S1..

Isn't lumbar strain and sciatica different? Would I mess myself up by filing or re-opening my claim for Sciatica and lumbar DDD? I am rated for Cervical DDD.

Thanks.

Edited August 4, 2008 by yelloownumber5

[allan]

Does this help?

Lower Back Pain Causes, Backache Diagnosis and Treatment of ...

Common causes of low back pain include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, ... This rupture is what causes the commonly recognized "sciatica" pain that shoots ...

Lumbar strain

http://www.medicinenet.com/low_back_pain/page2.htm

Sciatica

http://www.medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm

[rentalguy1]

You do not have a lumbar strain. You have Intervertabral Disc Syndrome (bulging discs and DDD). You are rated under the wrong code, and need to be rated under dx code 5243. They will change this, if you ask them to and hit them up with their regs and the MRI evidence. Once you have a IVDS rating, you can be rated for secondaries with only the single C&P exam. This does not always happen, but there are provisions for it. I would hit the RO up about changing the code, and get a diagnosis for any secondary conditions you have in your progress notes before the IVDS exam.