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.