Originally Posted by xarmyangelx

Hi, I am a 33 year old female and have been having back pain for a while now. I just got a new MRI done of my thorasic spine and I got my report today. Can someone help me understand it? My neurologist is saying there is nothing they can do but to keep just taking pain medicine, which I do not want to have to rely on for the rest of my life. Here is what the report states:

There are multilevel degenerative disc disease, most notably at T5-6, T6-7, and T7-8 with intervertebral disc desiccation and decreased height.

At T5-6 there is right posterior central disc extrusion, with narrowing of the right ventral thecal sac and contacting but not deforming the right ventral spinal cord.

At T6-7 there is central posterior disc protrusion, with contact and deformity of the right ventral spinal cord as well as slightly increased spinal cord T2 signal of the gray matter which is likely compressive myelopathy.

At T7-8 there is central posterior disc protrusion which effaces the ventral thecal sac and contacting and deforming the spinal cord this level, with corresponding increased T2 signal of the gray matter, likely representing compressive myelopathy

Impression:
Multilevel degenerative disease of the thoracic spine, most notably at T6-7 and T7-8 with associated focal posterior disc protrusion, mild spinal cord deformity and abnormal cord signal most likely secondary to compressive myelopathic changes.

Pleaae explain what all this means? I want to get a second opinion on how to treat my back pain, but I use the VA and the only other insurance I have is medicare and I cannot afford to pay out of pocket right now.