lumbar osteoporosis with degenerative discs

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badbackbitch

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Hello, could anyone help decode a recent lurabar MRI as follows;

At T12/L1, L2/3 and L3/4 there is a disc dehydration but with reasonable preservation of disc space height.
There is a shallow left sided annular disc bulge at T12/L1 without root compression and at L3/4 left sided disc bulging with mild left L4 root impingement.
At L4/5 there is marked degenerative loss of disc height with reactive endplate changes.
There is diffuse annular bulging at this level with mild bilateral L5 root impingement. There is better preservation of the L5/S1 disc.
None of the facets are excessively hypertrophied.
This is no abnormality at the lower end of the spinal cord.

I think whoever read the MRI read it back to front as most of my pain is right sided body pain, along with lower back pain that can and does disable me. I've had this problem since 2002. Anyway, thank you for reading thus far. I look forward to any response. ;)
 
Do you have a formal diagnosis of osteoporosis? I didn't see that on the MRI results. Just wondering..........
 
"Hi", SpineAZ, thank you for your response.
I was given a formal diagnosis of osteoporosis in 2005, aged 41. Since been treated with Adcal D3, vitamin D3, Bendroflumathiazide. It is interesting that you ask, as the treating endocrinologist changed her opinion and later said I did not have osteoporosis, but low bone density with severe vitamin D deficit. Despite this my GP (PCP) continues to refer to osteoporosis.
I have no confidence in either.
Could you tell me what you do see from the MRI blurb ?
Thanks for your time SpineAZ. :)
 
Disc dehydration is common as we age - the question you'd have to ask your doctor is if you are in the normal range. The area with the annular tear and impingement could be an area of concern if you have symptoms that are associated with that level. Every level of the spine has corresponding dermatomes which are areas of the skin/body in which you may feel affects. What type of symptoms do you have?
 
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