MRI results....PLEASE help!

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hopalong_too

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I had previously posted this in another thread but it was suggested that I reword the title in hopes of more response. I would like to know if anyone can tell me if the back, leg and foot pain I am having (and have had for 10 months now) could be caused by what has been found. Also if ANYONE would share their knowledge of a "posterior disc annular tear" and "subligamentous disc protrusion". Is it really a "normal" finding that doesn't cause pain?

Previous post: I have been having hip and leg as well as foot issues for months now. Muscle and bone pain. Thought it was because of Vitamin D deficiency so the doctor has me on 50,000IU Vitamin D supplementation. I had a nerve conduction study and EMG which were normal. The neurologist couldn't find anything wrong. I had an MRI of the lower back and the neurologist said all was OK with that too.

I just got a copy of the MRI results. Is there anyone that can help me to understand if this MIGHT be causing some of my pain and also the heaviness in my legs. Any thoughts would be really appreciated.

L4-L5 there is a tiny posterior disc annular tear or fissure with slight subligamentous disc protrusion. Moderate facet arthrosis is seen. No nerve root encroachment, central canal stenosis or foraminal stenosis is noted.

L5-S1 there is a small posterior disc annular tear or fissure with slight posterior subligamentous disc protrusion, not impacting neural structures. Mild facet arthrosis is noted. No central canal stenosis or foraminal narrowing.

Thank you, Hoppy
 
Hoppy...I have an idea. I posted my results, whenever I first joined the boarRAB. Please wait and let me see where it is now. I think we have a lot in common. Also, yes these "abnormalities" can cause those types of pains and nurabness. I will be right back...
 
Your results sound like disc bulges WITHOUT IMPINGEMENT on the nerve. However, with a bulge, I still think, especially in the L4-5 and L5-S1 area, you would have pain in the leg/hip area that radiates. You should discuss this with a orthopedic surgeon or physiatrist.
 
The reason the doc said nothing jumped out at him and that things looked Ok is because neither the MRI or the nerve conduction tests showed anything that would be associated with leg and foot pain. Nerves that would be associated with leg and foot pain are located at L4, L-5 and S-1, but the MRI indicates you do not have stenosis (this causes a narrowing in the spinal canal, taking up room that is needed for the bundle of nerves to pass through) and you don't have nerve root encroachment. These terms just describe things that would cause the nerves to be pinched or compressed. This would result in sciatic pain that would radiate down your leg to your foot.

One simple way to think of this is to picture a garden hose. When "normal," there is a large opening that the water passes through unhindered. If the hose becomes plugged up with minerals and gets all crusty and nasty, that open space goes away and you are left with just a little space that the water can trickle through...this would be what would happen if you had stenosis--and the nerves would be the water trying to force their way through all the junk inside the plugged up hose.

Hope this helps a little.:)
 
It does help, thank you! The problem lies in that I have and have had absolutely horrific sciatic pain from my behind right down my right leg! It is not constant but is frequent!
 
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