Originally Posted by (Broken Wings)

DISCS ARE SOFT TISSUES IN BETWEEN THE VERTEBRAE, WHICH IS BONE. THE DISC ACTS AS SHOCK ABSORBERS.


*NORMAL* L2-L3: There is no significant loss in disc height. No obvious disc bulge or herniation. No evidence of central or neuroforminal stenosis.

*NORMAL* L2-L3: There is no significant loss in disc height. No obvious disc bulge or herniation. No evidence of central or neuroforaminal stenosis.


L3-L4: There is a slight --

*NOT NORMAL, BUT SLIGHT. HOW OLD ARE YOU? DEGENERATION IS AN AGING PROCESS WE ALL WILL GO THROUGH. CAN BE ACCELERATED BY HARD WORK, INJURIES, LABOR, GENETIC, SMOKING, MANY THINGS *

-- degenerative-type loss of disc signal (without loss of disc height *NO DAMAGE THERE YET *).

Minimal annular bulge (*SMALL KNOT ON A TIRE*) touches but does not significantly efface the ventral aspect of the thecal sac. (*NOT NORMAL BUT NOT TOO BAD*)

Neural foramina (*OPENINGS FOR YOUR NERVES TO PASS THROUGH YOUR SPINAL COLUMN AND OUT TO THE APPROPRIATE DERMATOMAL PATTERNS -- OR EXTREMITIES *) are patent (*MEANING OPEN/NORMAL ; MEANING, NOT NARROWED OR STENOSIS* *** "are patent" -- THAT'S A GOOD FINDING FOR YOU)

L4-L5: There is a is slight degenerative type loss of disc signal without loss of disc height. (SAME THING)

There is a minimal annular disc bulge which touches but does not significantly efface the ventral aspect of the thecal sac. (SAME THING)

Mild facet hypertropahy and thickening of the ligamentum flavum (*ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DEGENERATING PROCESS OF THE LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM - LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM IS A LIGAMENT IN THE SPINAL COLUM) is noted.

No significant narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramen. (AGAIN, THAT'S A GOOD FINDING)

L5-S1: There is degenerative loss of disc height -- * (A LITTLE MORE OF THE AGING PROCESS ADVANCING HERE)

-- and signal associated with a small posterior -- (SIZE AND THE BACK SIDE OF THE DISC) -- disc bulge and probable posterior osteophytes (KNOT ON A TIRE AGING AGAIN.

This minimall effaces the ventral aspect of the thecal sac but does not create significant central stenosis. (AGAIN, THAT'S A GOOD FINDING FOR YOU)

No abvious impingement on the nerve roots. (AGAIN, THAT'S A GOOD THING)

Neural foramina are patent. (OPEN)

There is degenerative enplate changes involving inferior L5 and superior S1. (LOCATION ON THE VERTEBRAE WITH AGING CHANGES GOING ON)


C4-5: Mild posterior disc bulge without evidence of significant central or neural foraminal stenosis. (RADIOLOGIST GRADE BULGES AS "MILD" "MODERATE" OR "SEVERE."

C5-6: Brought -based -- (*BROAD-BASED MEANS A BROAD PORTION OF THAT DISC IS BULGED) -- disc bulge with mild central canal stenosis. (*CAN BE A COMPETENT PAIN PRODUCER - BULGES ARE USUALLY NOT SURGICAL UNLESS THEY'RE CAUSING INCONTIENCE OR...WELL, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS COULD INDICATE SURGERY)

No evidence of significant neural formaminal stenosis. (GOOD FINDINGS FOR YOU)

C6-7: Mild posterior disc protrusion (OLD TERM IS HERNIATION - LIKE A JELLY DOUGHNUT WITH THE JELLY COMING OUT - ON A MICROSCOPIC BASIS) -- with mild central canal stenosis. (ABOVE)

No evidence of significant neural foraminal stenosis. (GOOD FINDING FOR YOU)

C7-TI: unremarkable. (MEANS NORMAL AT THAT LEVEL)


Thoracic spine is normal.