Lumbar MRI Results explanation - My doc says there shouldn't be any pain

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Hey all,
First off, sorry for the long post, but, I would really like to know if I'm crazy or if my doc's crazy. I'm wondering if someone can give me some insight on this MRI Report. My doc told me that there isn't really anything that should be causing me the pain that I'm constantly in. So, first, a bit of background: I was retired from my job in 1994 do to the fact that I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondolosis and it was getting to the point that I couldn't stand or sit for extended perioRAB of time. I had(have) constant pain throughout my spine that radiates down my legs and is effecting my lirab's ability to function (I walk with a very pronounced limp). Several specialists that I have seen said that I shouldn't have surgery because, as they put it, "...they would have to put a zipper in". Fast forward to the present and recently I was told by one doctor, that my main doctor sent me to, that I have lurabar stenosis. However, something that I find odd, is that no one even mentions the AS anymore. All I ever hear is that I have bad arthritis throughout my spine and I shouldn't be in a lot of pain! Now, on to the MRI Report. This was done about 2 weeks ago the findings are below:

Findings:
Normal conus medullaris that terminates at T12-L1. There is variable disc desiccation between the levels of T10-11 L5-S1

T10-11, T11-12, T12-L1 (sagital images): There is normal disc morphology without central spinal canal or neural foraminal narrowing

L1-2: There is a circumferential disc bulge that posteriorly impinges approximately 2mm upon the central spinal canal where it is superimposed upon minor bilateral facet arthrosis and ligamentum flavum redundancy. The approximate residual AP diameter of the thecal sac is 13mm consistant with minor thecal sac narrowing. The bilateral neural foramina are normal patent.

L2-3, L3-4: There is normal disc morphology without central spinal canal or neural foraminal narrowing. There is minor facet arthrosis

L4-5: There is a circumferential disc buldge that posteriorly impinges approximately 2-3mm upon the central spinal canal where it is superimposed upon bilateral facet arthrosis and prominent ligamentum flavum redundancy. The approximate residual AP diameter of the thecal sac is 13mm consistant with minor thecal sac narrowing. There is moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing without nerve root impingement. There are degenerative-reactive marrow changes of inferior L4.

L5-S1 There is normal disc morphology without central spinal canal or neural foraminal narrowing. There is minor facet arthrosis

Normal lordosis without spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis

There is no significant scoliosis

There are no infiltrative or desctrutive processes of the vertabrae

There is no paraspinous soft tissue abnormalities

Impression:
There is no disc protrusion

L1-2 and L4-L5 disc buldges
 
I have been going on 3 yrs now with the same kind of thing. I have done all the treatments and went to specialists, pain management, everything and they still can not understand why I hurt so much.
I can not stand for more than 5-10 min and it kills to sit for an hour. I mostly have to walk around or lay down. It kind of wrecks your life and then to be on the pain meRAB too.
 
Hi there, What type of physician did you see who ordered your MRI? The report states there are 2 bulging discs and that is also called herniated discs which causes pain, at least it did for me. I can't believe they told you it should not cause pain. Pain in relative.What hurts me may not hurt you anad I would not let anyone tell me that I don't have pain. Have you ever seen a neurologist? If it were me I would be demanding to see one. If you have pain radiating downo your leg there is some nerve involvement somewhere. Do you have a teaching hospital close to you? If I didn't get anything other than there is nothing in your MRI to cause pain I would be seeing someone else and teaching hospitals are great because they are usually up on all of the latest technology.

I hope this helps you. Be your own advocate. You know your body . Good luck. Jane, the invertebrate!
 
I can understand your frustration at being told you shouldn't be in pain and that "nothing is really wrong". I have had back problems for over 20 years and have heard this many times. I just went to my os yesterday who told me that he doesn't trreat the MRI, he treats the patient. Even though it's frustrating, you need to be assertive and aggressive in your quest to find answers/treatment for your issues.

Take care and don't lose hope. jill
 
I can relate to this completely!

I just spent 7 days in the hospital with excruciating back pain. They finally did an epidural and released me. Although my MRI does show some mild disc bulges at L4-L5 and L5-S1, I am experiencing pain on the interior of my thigh down past my knee, nurabness and a feeling like my skin is sunburnt and raw, which clearly it isn't! I have decreased motor control in my left knee, yet the neurosurgeon says the MRI does not show a problem therefore there must not be an issue.

It really is incredible. Today I went to see my pain management doctor and he has agreed to treat the symptoms rather than the MRI, which I am happy about but it really is frustrating when doctors do not want to consider that not every diagnosis and ailment follows the text book.

I am 29 and had a discectomy and laminectomy over 10 years ago, L4 through S1 and aside from the occasional pain from overdoing it at the gym, I have had no problems. This pain came out of nowhere and I still can't figure out what I did to trigger it. Went to bed okay, woke up and couldn't move.
 
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