[captaind]

I have some severe pain most days, but a few are pretty good but more and more rare. I finally decided to seed medical attention for my back problems. I had put it off for a long time as I have no Insurance, and place my two children and wife first always. I was hoping my MRI results would show an easily correctable problem...I think those hopes are gone. I have seen two different doctors, but they both seem not to have any time to consult with someone about very expensive (I assume) procedures who is UNISURED. "NO, Theres nothing you can do, Heres your scripts, and see you next month." Neither doctor would even examine the films that I received from the MRI lab. They were only interested in the "report" and that only to file it away for the DEA it seems, not to actually read it and consult with the patient. Their just drug pushers.
I finally have an appointment with a neurologist next week who is professional and seems genuinely concerned. Its hard when everything is SELF PAY. My options are scarce.
Anyway, I would love some informed input from you knowledgeable folks about my MRI results. Whats the prognosis guys???????
Thanks ahead of time, this is a great site! Capt. Darian

(MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast)
FINDINGS: There is chronic appearing anterior wedging of the T12 vertebra.
T11-12 and T12-L1: Loss of disk height and hydration.
L1-2: Loss of disk height and hydration. There is chronic appearing anterior wedging of L1.
L2-3L Loss of disk hydration. Disk bulge, spondylosis and hypertrophy of facet and ligamentum flavum indent the thecal sac. The neural foramina are patent.
L3-4: Unremarkable.
L4-5L Posterolisthesis of L4 on L5 with loss of disk height and hydration. Disk bulge indents anterior thecal sac and in combination with facet arthropathy produces bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.
L5-S1: Facet arthropathy is noted bilaterally. The neural foramina are narrowed bilaterally.
The conus medullaris appears unremarkable. The paraspinal tissues appear unremarkable.

IMPRESSION:

T11-12 AND T12-L1: LOSS OF DISK HEIGHT AND HYDRATION.
L1-2: LOSS OF DISK HEIGHT AND HYDRATION. THERE IS CHRONIC APPEARING ANTERIOR WEDGING OF L1.
L2-3l LOSS OF DISK HYDRATION. DISK BULGE, SPONDYLOSIS AND HYPERTROPHY OF FACET AND LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM INDENT THE THECAL SAC. THE NEURAL FORAMINA ARE PATENT.
L4-5: POSTEROLISTHESIS OF L4 ON L5 WITH LOSS OF DISK HEIGHT AND HYDRATION. DISK BULGE INDENTS ANTERIOR THECAL SAC AND IN COMBINATION WITH FACET ARTHROPATHY PRODUCES BILATERAL NEURAL FORAMINAL STENOSIS.
L5-S1l FACET ARTHROPATHY IS NOTED BILATERALLY. THE NEURAL FORAMINA ARE NARROWED BILATERALLY.

[Jomar]

Hi Capt,
I'm not much help on MRIs or back problems..
basically I had a few questions pop into my head -

your age?
any idea of how these problems came about?
have you tried an expert chiropractor or osteopathic dr or
possibly even a expert/advanced spinal phys therapist specialist

I hope some that might know more about spinal MRIs & 'fixes" will pop in soon with some ideas for you.

[captaind]

My previous post contained mri repro.

I am only 32 years old. My family has a history of back problems. My father and 3 uncles all had back surgery by the age of 31. If they are any better off now, more than 20 years later, its hard to tell. They live in the Pacific NW by the way.
I have seen many chiropractors over the years. I hadn't thought about seeking an opinion from a chiropractor about my mri results, thank you. Actually, my last chiropractic visit, the phys. told me that I needed to see a neurologist or othopedic. I was suprised.
I dont really know what "caused" my problems. I haven't had any serious accidents. I worked hard my whole life. I went to a local clinic for a cracked/bruised rib a couple months ago and they did xrays. After seeing my film, the attending doc was no longer concerned about my ribs. He could not believe I was just living with my back issues. When I saw the film, I was worried because of the obvious spine twist and bends I saw. This was extremely worse than the last time I saw xrays of my back 2 years ago at the chiropractor. This convinced me to get the MRI and some other help. If it was that much worse in 2 years, where would I be in 5,or 10? I had osteomilitis when I was 10 years old in my hip and the socket is alot shallower due to that. I can actually pop my leg out of socket if not careful. This might have contributed to my disk problems as they are worn out on the same side as the hip. any ideas shared would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks alot,
Darian B

[Fancylady_2006]

I have have 7 back surgeries and never saw an MRI read like yours. I'm not a Dr. so I can't really tell you much. I would first like to know why a Dr. would order an MRI and not want to tell you what he found out!
If you don't have insurance it would cost a tremendous amount. Like a $100,000. Here is a site I went to read what a wedge was, GO TOO: http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...ticle1183.html

Wish I could be of more help.
Fancylady

[Jomar]

You probably have some hereditary factors going on there.
Did your father and uncles all have very similar problems that caused the need for their surgeries?

here are some images of wedging {you can click them to get to the page it's on for more info}
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...-8&sa=N&tab=wi

some images on loss of disk hydration-
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...=Search+Images

[captaind]

Thanks for your reply. I wish you had good news. Oddly enough, I was more concerned with the other things than the wedging. I am pretty disturbed after researching "chronic anterior wedging" of the vertebra. By all accounts, I require "immediate medical attention by a spine specialist". When I asked if there was anything I could do to fix my back I was told "no, see you next month". How unprofesional and irresponsible of that so called doctor. Believe me, I can FEEL the things described on that mri.
So i guess my results are as bad as I think. Most other people who have posted their results looking for help have reports that sound wonderful in comparrison to mine. I'm not taking anything away from them by any means but I just wish I didn't have so much to deal with. Its hard and it hurts.
I was wondering exactly what your operations were for and if any of the culprits on my mri report were familiar. Thanks alot and I hope your doing well.
Best regards,
darian

[Fancylady_2006]

Since my back problems started in 1991, I have had a buldging disc operated on because it fell into my spinal cord, cutting off fluid. Eight years later I was in severe pain and ended up needing 3 fusions. That was held together with screws. One year later I had the screws taken out & my own bone fused in, because they were causing trouble. Two yrs later I had 2 more fusions, due to severe pain. I am the kind of person that builds up with scar tissue bad, and had to have lots taken out with each surgery. I also have problems with spinal stenosis. Last year I had spinal steminator taken out and my back was crumbling away from my bone donations, so had artifical bone put in and more fusions. I am fused from L 2 thru S 1. I have had many spinal taps, MRI's, CT's, Myelgrams and Diskagrams. I still have some trouble. I don't think a person ever gets over it completely. Surgery is alway the last thing to try. It is ruff and very painful. It can take a year to heal completely.

You ask how others MRI's read. Well I will only print what had under the IMPRESSION.
1. Interval anterolisthesis of L3 with respect to L4 with bilateral forminal compromise when compared to a previous study.
2. Further compromise of the canal at L2-3 with facet arthropathy and redundancy of the ligamentum flavum associated with stable bilateral forminal
compromise.
3. Post-operative changes are present from L2 through S1.

This is why I couldn't tell you anything about yours. Good Luck!
Fancylady

[Jomar]

I've had an MRI but it was mainly to rule out any C spine problems that might have been causing my arm/neck/shoulder pain.

Mine showed mild c4/5/6 osteo/spurs and none of my symptoms were thought to be from the c spine.
One Dr called my problem " chronic cervico/thoracic spine strain with arm pain"

My dad has DDD but I haven't seen his MRIs.

Many of the members on some the other forums have had MRIs for various conditions in the past, and out of curiosity I've read and done some searches on the terminology.

[hooahguardgirl]

I also have similar problems, with a couple herniations added in. I am seeing a chiropractor, and it is helping. I will still always have limited range of motion, though. My chiropractor is positive that we can decrease pain and increase range of motion so that my quality of life is better. I am only 30, and yet i have had to give up playing at the park with kids, taking the dog for a walk, and playing volleyball. as well as so many other daily activities we all take for granted.

He has recently mentioned to me that he is a provider for "manipulation under anesthesia", and when used in conjunction with exercises and strengthening, can produce wonderful results.

I know your results look confusing, but its really not that bad as far as MRI's go. I have seen so much worse. All the neuro and ortho docs will do is recommend physical therapy and surgery. a good chiro, the right one, should be able to help you. i see you are in florida, i am in central florida, so if you are close, i can give you a few names. (i work in the medical/legal profession, so i have a couple connections)

[squirtatioua4u]

Hi, I'm no dr, I just speak from experience of figuring out and researching what my own mri's meant. You are experiencing what we all do as we age, disc deteriation. Its a normal part of the aging cycle. Also sum of the holes ur spinal nerve roots exit are narrowed thus your reason for having foraminal stenosis. Doesn't mention any root nerve compression. don't know what "wedging" means however in one or more areas, sounds like you may have a slippage of sum sort with a vertabrae. I have a grade 2 spondylolisthesis that I sought treatment for from a chiropractor. I participated in The Pettibon System which is a full spinal reguvenation program and I also did the decompression therapy. Its a good alternative to surgical procedures. I would adcise trying everything under the sun that u can before getting back surgery. There's prolotherapy (sp), chiro care, physical therapy, decompression therapy, acupuncture, spinal injections, pain management, and more that I can't remember to try first. Take care and I hope you find relief soon in whatever u decide!!