Can anyone help decipher my MRI results
Posted , 4 users are following.
Ive been having some mild pain and neurological issues in my back and leg for a while, i recently got an MRI and below is what was said. How bad is this? Im only 38 so wouldnt have thought i would have any spinal problems until i was alot older, but i was obviously wrong,
I have my appointment with the specialist on 08/2/17 to talk about the results so if anyone could give me some advice on what questions to ask based on the results that would be appreciated, Thanks David.
Report: Normal thoracic cord, conus and cauda quina. At C5-6 there is cervical spondylosis with an osteophytic disc bar. No axial images have been obtained at this level. There is minor loss of height of T4 and T5 with no acute bone oedema. There is disc degeneration from T4 – 5 to T7-8 with endplate changes and minor disc bulges but no cord or nerve root impingement. Further disc degeneration with endplate change only noted from T10 – 11 to L1-2. There is degeneration of the L5/S1 disc with a circumferential disc bulge. There is bilateral facet joint degeneration at L4-5 and L5/S1 more pronounced on the left at the latter. Normal central canal and neural foramina throughout with no focal nerve root impingement at any level. There are bilateral pars defects (Spondylolysis) at the L5/S1 level with no displacement/spondylolisthesis.
Conclusion
There is multilevel thoracolumbar disc and facet joint degeneration as described with no evidence of cord or nerve root impingement at any level. Bilateral par defects without slip are noted at L5/S1
0 likes, 13 replies
jessica_78456 Jameses
Posted
I can totally relate basically what there trying to say is u have degenerative disc diease which will only get worse with age.also athuritis . I am 40 I've suffered a bad back. Most people think this is an old age thing. This can happen at any age . Basically there saying yr spinal cord is not been compromised or any nerves. Are discs have many tiny nerves which can cause pain. I was told there was no nerve compression by my rheumatologist. What a lie . After seeing a neurosurgeon in his opinion there is nerve compression especially to the siatic nerve. What boils my pee, also is consultant s famous last word s this is quite normal . No it's not bloody normal maybe common but not normal. Depending on yr pain and quality of life . If it's manageable may be none in vasive treatment s may be the way forward. I've had one emergency operation. Waiting on a spinal fusion now. Good luck
CHICO_MARX jessica_78456
Posted
I'm fused L3 through S1...not a fun experience but one which I overcame in very short order. Guess I'm a rehab freak...I take it very seriously and push it to the max. Then I had a knee replaced.... COMPLETELY different story. At 10+ months, I'm still not over it. This one takes 12-18 months for recovery. Fusion? Pain goes by fast and the PT is short and relatively painless...unlike a knee replacement where they all wear dungeon master cowls and roll out The Rack.
jessica_78456 CHICO_MARX
Posted
helen04147 jessica_78456
Posted
CHICO_MARX jessica_78456
Posted
Mine was complex because docs like to limit fusions to three vertebrae except in unusual circumstances. In my case, he did four because it would have left an unstable L3 sitting on top of the steel. So I had L3 through S1 done with rods, screws and spacers. Should have been out in a few days but I developed fluid in my sacrum so they had to go back in and drain it. Total of 12 days in the hospital. Normally only a 3-4 day stay max.
Walked out with the back brace on. Felt fine. Started rehab the following week...lots of leg and back exercises. Kicked butt 3 days a week...got up to 230# leg presses inside a month. Broke all their records.
I have no idea if I'm typical or not but, for me, it was no big deal after I got out of the hospital. My biggest problem is with the TSA at the airport...
Jameses jessica_78456
Posted
Hi Jessica thanks for replying, I'm a pretty sure I have nerve compression, the symptoms I have especially down my legs are those of a nerve compression, I have electric feelings, burning, tingling, prickly feeling and heat , I have these in other areas also but the legs and especially the right leg. When I see the pain specialist on the 8/2/17 I will talk to him about my results, as you said I think non invasive action is going to be the recommendation from the start but I will probably ask if I can get referred to a neurologist for the nerve related symptoms. Luckily at the moment my pain is mild, it's more the neurological feelings I would like to get sorted at this moment in time.
CHICO_MARX Jameses
Posted
Geez...wish I had your results. I'n no doc but mine are waaaay worse, If you're over 50, ya gotta expect to see "disc degeneration" but you have zero nerve root impairment or stenosis. That's good. At your age it would be uncommon but certainly not unheard of to see degeneration. I'm having surgery for severe stenosis next month...but then again, I'm 69. Pain down your leg is usually caused by the lumbar and not thoracic area of your back. I'd look at L2 through L5.
However, MRIs don't always tell the whole story. Five years ago, I had severe sciatica. MRI was inconclusive. Only after the neurosurgeon went in, did he find a bone spur "crushing" (his word) my sciatic nerve root at L4.
Hope you'll be seeing a neuroSURGEON soon...
jessica_78456 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Defo sometimes going in they see more, I ve server stenosis too. Iam only 40 mine was diagnosed in 2011, yet I've suffered with my back from 15 yr old.we believe it's hereditary in my case .
Jameses CHICO_MARX
Posted
Hi thanks for coming back to me, I'm sure my pain in my legs is down to lumber area it's just finding out what is causing it, there is ant a lot of what I would call actually pain but more neurological symptoms, prickly feeling, burning, tingling, etc etc however my report says no nerve compression but I think there must be. Doctor gave me amitriptylne before to numb these sensations but I want to deal with it rather than mask it if possible. I notice on my report it says the L5/S1 has Spondylolistheis, do you know if there is any treatment for this like physio or will it just get worse? I think this is probably where my leg problems are stemming from.
CHICO_MARX Jameses
Posted
A spinal disorder in which a bone (vertebra) slips forward onto the bone below it.
Spondylolisthesis risk factors include sports that put stress on the bones in the lower back, such as gymnastics and football. Genetics may put some people at increased risk.
If the vertebra slips too far, it may press on nerves and cause severe back pain or nerve crowding that produces leg pain or numbness.
Initial treatment may include rest and medication. Severe spondylolisthesis may require surgery.
Jameses
Posted
Hi,
In my report it says I have minor disc bulges from T4 to T8, could this be the reason why I'm getting the funny pressure, tingling sensations in my back around this area? My pain if any is mild, at present I have no pain just weird tingling and pressure feeling in my back, it's just left of the centre just under the bottom of the shoulder blade and I feel it more when using my back or bending over.
do you think the sensations are the bulges or the DDD?
Kind regards
David
jessica_78456 Jameses
Posted
More than likely but if its manageable then just take pain meds when u need to don't over do it , or apply any unessecary strain.
Jameses jessica_78456
Posted
Thanks, it's quite hard not using your back with a 2yo
which is also probably one of the reason why the sensations are not getting any better. I've also only just realised that if I press on the part of my back where the sensations are and wiggle it or make a roundwards motion i can bring on pain, maybe this is pushing on the bulge, needless to say I've stopped doing that.
Thanks for replying, it's nice just chatting to people going through the same.