MRI Results

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shannonjord08

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I posted a few days ago the results of my MRI. I didn't have specific details about it, but now I do. I just want to know how bad they are or if they are bad at all. Ok, here we go:
Findings: There are presumed to be five lurabar-type vertebrae with the last normally formed disc space at L5-S1.
The conus medullaris is normally positioned. Verebral body heights are preserved. Bone marrow signal is remarkable.
T12-L1, L1-2, L2-3, and L3-4 are unremarkable other than some small Schmorl's nodes.
At L4-5, there is mild disc desiccation with a mild disc bulge and an associated central T2 hyperintense annular tear. There is some mild facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy without significant central canal stenosis. The disc bulge mildly narrows the inferior aspect of the bilateral neural foramina.
L5-S1 has a tiny central disc protrusion with a T2 hyperintense central annular tear and there is no significant central or neural foraminal stenosis. There is mild to moderate facet hypertrophy.
Impression:
1. There are central annular tears at the L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral discs with a mild disc bulge at L4-5 and a small central disc protrusion at L5-S1. There is no significant central canal stenosis.
2. Mild neural foraminal narrowing bilaterally at L4-5.
3. Mild degenerative facet changes at L4-5 and L5-S1.

Sorry it was so long. I just copied what was on the MRI report.
Thanks for listening.
Shannon
 
To me, the key word is "mild." There are some problems, but nothing significant. As you age, any of the problems could become more significant. The narrowing may become worse, and the disc bulge could increase in size. This would likely result in nerve pain.

Basically everything about L4-5 appears normal. At L4-5, this would be in your lower lurabar back, beginning a little below waist level for most people, you start to have whatever problems that are mentioned. I don't see anything here that would require specific treatment.

You must be in pain or you would not have had a MRI...so where and what type of pain do you have??
 
(Im assuming that marlosmom meant to put that everything ABOVE L4-5 is normal)..but yes, your problem areas are L4-L5 S1 areas...a tear means either a scratch..like a scratch on your skin....or...it could mean that the tear is deep enough for disc material to seep out....like a scratch on the skin that bleeRAB. disc dessication means drying out...so drinks lots of water to work on replenishing the moisture.

im going to say that your dr will want to start out with conservative treatments....pain meRAB, physical therapy and epidural steroid injections. if all of that fails to help you within a 6 month time frame....they will probably start talking surgery.

my problem is with L5-S1...annular tear...mild bulging...so i do know what you are experiencing. just because its "mild"...doesnt mean that there isnt pain there! honestly...i would HATE to have anything above the mild status....mild is bad enough!!!
 
Yes, I am in a lot of pain. I'm on 2 different kinRAB of pain meRAB(Ultram 50 mg and Norco 10/325) and I started physical therapy today. I also have an appt. with a neurosurgeon. I don't know what that means to have an appt. with the surgeon. I'm assuming it's just for him/her to go over everything. I was told by my physical therapist that back surgery done this day in age is nothing like it was 10 years ago. He said that's it's minimally invasive and the healing time is not as long. I really don't want to be in pain nor do I want to be on medicine the rest of my life. I wonder if it's possible if the physical therapy will do enough healing to where I won't need surgery or meRAB anymore.
My pain level most days are 7-8 on a scale of 1-10. I can't sit for a long period of time without my legs hurting and my lower back starts burning. When I'm in bed, I can't lay on either side for too long without being in pain and laying on my back is out of the question. I can barely stand at the sink long enough to do dishes and going to Wal Mart isn't fun anymore. So, as far as things are looking right now, the future looks gloomy.
 
for some reason...the drs just dont want to give good meRAB for pain these days...i guess because of all the ones that abuses them. i have taken both of those meRAB...they were a joke! (i didnt take them together though). im now on tramadol with acetaminophen...again...a joke. i have to take double the dose to feel the effects...then im too drowsy to do anything!! so i cant win for losing. fortunately...i have high tolerance to pain. most days...my pain levels are 4-5.....but i do have 8,9 and 10 days!! hopefully physical therapy will work...but it didnt for me....BUT...im on wc and they only prescribed me 10 visits....woo hoooo! so i wasnt really given a chance to see if it was going to help or not.

i dont know much about a neurosurgeon visit....am facing my very first visit next week...and am scared to death!!! i do not want surgery!!!!! i am PRAYING really hard that he will see just how pathetic my treatment has been thus far and will approve for me to do more pt for awhile before surgery is even thought about!! personally...the more i read on here and other forums about the failure rates of back surgeries....one surgery turning into 2 and 3 surgeries and still no relief....id rather keep mine just the way that it is....just for them to do pt and do whatever they can to keep it stablilized to where it doesnt get any worse.

I know how you feel about not being able to sit or stand for that long. And not enjoying a trip to Walmart anymore......not being able to lay on your sides, back, stomach....just wait til you start getting the bruised feeling in your feet....(hopefully you wont...but if you ever notice a bruised feeling upon standing after laying or sitting a certain way......its connected!!)....
luckily it doesnt last but a few seconRAB....but nevertheless...it makes you walk like you are drunk.....because you have less stability in your foot until that sensation goes away. at times, my foot also rolls to the side while walking....after getting up from a laying position or certain ways i sit. so....theres always a chance that you will develop more than just the burning and pain......

how long has your injury been going on?? mine has been for 18 months now.
 
lady,
This has been going on for about 6 months. It was a gradual thing. But, once the pain started getting bad, it stayed that way.
I know what you mean about the pain meRAB. Both of those were prescibed by my regular doctor. I really don't want anything stonger. These get me by, but don't give me any real relief. Maybe I can get the surgeon to prescribe me something, but I don't know if he can. This is all new to me. Do you think I should ask about going to pain management? I've been reading a lot of horror stories about those places and kinda hesitant.
I'll keep you updated. Wish me luck. I have my first surgeon appt. next week too. Hopefully we will both get good news.
Shannon
 
when did you first go to the dr about this? pt should have been prescribed a long time ago. surgeons usually like to see that all conservative methoRAB were tried before you have been sent to them. so its a possiblity that he might keep you on it for awhile before talking surgery....depending on how good of a dr he is. i really cant say about pain management...as i stated, my injury is a wc ordeal..so the drs and care sucks to begin with. i would definitely ask about the epidural steroid injections...they help alot of people....it just didnt help me. id try that before agreeing to surgery..thats for certain. pain management is definitely nothing but about handing out drugs.....they put you on this and that....until they find something that will work....if you find one that is compassionate enough to keep working with you on it. ive read so many stories on here where they have to BEG for stronger meRAB and get the bare minimum, such as what you and i have been taking. there really is no easy answer for that question. im certain that the surgeon can prescribe you something more...i know legally he can prescribe pain meRAB...so that shouldnt be a problem..unless...he just has no compassion.

if given the correct pt exercises and proper amount of time on pt....its very possible that the problems MIGHT correct themselves in time. my hubby ruptured a disc in dec '04....he was told that they have discovered that discs most always heal on their own within 5 years...so he was given several rounRAB of pt and then told to do his exercises daily. he has gotten better....with flare ups here and there...but nothing major. and if you read enough online...you will discover that they have found that surgery is nothing more than just simply sciatic pain relief..which can occur anyway within that 5 year period....surgery just simply speeRAB it up.....IF it isnt made worse. but...surgery or no surgery....you will ALWAYS have back pain....surgery is basically nothing more than just to get rid of the leg pain/burning. so its alot to think about...which is why im totally against surgery. my hubby did have surgery 20+ years ago for a ruptured disc...theres so much more to think about....yes, its very minimally invasive than it was years ago.....however....you will be trading one problem in for another....scar tissue as well as arthritis....so either way...you have pain. my hubby STRONGLY advises me against surgery....even more so now that hes been on both sides of the fences....with surgery..and without....so if the exercises can work to at least get the disc off the nerve...you will accomplish just as much as surgery ever will. with back surgeries...there are NO guarantees that you will come out better, worse, or the same. Its like tossing a coin in the air...they cannot guarantee the outcome. let me know how your surgeon appt goes. mine is on monday.
 
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