Hi everyone, I'm new here! I hurt my back at work last July. I went to pick one of my clipboards off the ground, straightened back up, and WHAM my back seized up. About a half hour later the bad back spasms started--so painful I felt paralyzed. I almost passed out and cracked my head on the concrete.

I recently got an MRI of my lower back. I got the results in the mail today. I was wondering if anyone here would tell me in plain English what is said here. It seems to me that I have four bulging disks of varying severity, as well as some arthritis.



Here's what I got in the mail today:

"T10-11: A left paramedian disc protrusion is present, which contacts the anterior cord. No significant stenosis.

L3-L4: Small central disc protrusion is present, associated with annular fissuring. No nerve root displacement or stenosis. Mild facet arthrosis.

L4-L5: A central disc protrusion is present, which extends caudally to near the pedicle level. There is contact of the bilateral L5 nerve roots and moderate central canal stenosis. The AP dimension of the canal measures 7mm.

L5-S1: Broad based central disc protrusion is present, with contacting the S1 nerve roots without significant nerve root displacement. A foraminal and lateral left-sided disc protrusion/osteophyte complex is present, causing moderate foraminal encroachment. There is a 1cm high signal lesion on T2 involving the right pedicle of L5, measuring 1cm. Corresponding low signal is present T1.


Conclusion:

Central disc protrusion with caudal extension, L4-5, with moderate stenosis and potential for impingement of the bilateral L5 nerve roots.

Smaller broad-based protrusion centrally, L5-S1 without stenosis. Left foraminal disc protrusion/osteophyte complex at this level with mild to moderate foraminal encroachment.

Left paramedian protrusion, T10-11.

Focal small central protrusion without stenosis, and associated annular fissuring, L3-4.

Indeterminate marrow lesion involving the right pedicle of L5. Consider SPECT evaluation as neoplasm is not excluded."



I quoted this report verbatim.
The only disks in this area that they didn't say anything about were L1 through L3.

Thanks...