MRI Results - Upset, I'm new here

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poopoopadoop

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Hi, All,
I am a 30s woman and I have been dealing with low back pain and sciatica for about a year now. I didn't deal with it sooner because I had neck pain and had surgery on that last year (ACDF C5-6). I'm upset because my MRI says that things are not serious, but I AM IN PAIN!!! I cannot believe more didn't come up.

Results:
L2-3 Mild Facet Hypertrophy
L3-4 Mild to moderate Facet Hypertrophy
L4-5 Mild to moderate Facet Athrosis
L5-S1 Mild to moderate Facet Hypertrophy
No Focal Disc Herniation or Stenosis.

Impression:
Essentially Normal study, mild to moderate facet hypertrophy
That's it. I am kind of shocked, considering I had severe spinal cord compression a year ago in my cervical area. I know what pain is like. How could my MRI be "essentially normal"? Any advice from you lower back experts would be great.

PS - I am going to PT 2x/wk and taking Neurontin 300mg/day.

Thanks so much,
Lisa
 
My MRI results didn't show much, will they do an EMG? That is how they found the pars fractures in my spine.
 
Hi there,

Well the sad thing is MRI's don't show pain, if they did wouldnt we be just so much happier and better off. Just a little red light showing the area of pain.

My MRI read like anyother person on the street. L4 - L5 slight bulge, DDD on L4 L5 and L5 S1. Yet I cant walk far, sit for long, cant stand for 5 min, and basically cant do much, cant do housework, Yet pick someone that doesnt have back pain and they could have the same MRI results as me, and not suffer at all. Yet I had a fusion done due to my pain, and yes I am still in pain....... did the fusion help? a small bit, can i still do the things i want to do. NO.

At least your MRI has shown there is nothing "seriously" wrong. But the serious part is your pain, and now to try and pin-point exactley where that is coming from is the hard part. It is a guessing game. Is if Discs or Facet joints? is it the structure of the spine? therefore mechanical pain. (which they now have put mine down to !) or is it muscle weakness.

Yes it would be nice to have a straight forward MRI and say yes this is bulging and its pinching on this nerve causing your pain........ we are going to take part of the disc............ etc........ so you are left with the frustrating part of normal MRI and No answers and you are left in pain thinking you are going mad, and now that your MRI is normal, everyone else is thinking you cant be in that much pain, Am I right?

Is it the same surgeon that did your neck that you are seeing for your lower back? Has he suggested any procedures for you. Epidurals, facet blocks, nerve conduction study? I know you are in total shock and you were hoping for answers in the MRI. Let us know what options they are giving you. Sorry I am not able to give you any help, but I hope from the post you know that I fully understand your frustration of an "normal MRI" with lots of pain.
Round1
 
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