View Single Post
Old 10-25-2011, 07:16 AM
Leesa's Avatar
Leesa Leesa is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,424
15 yr Member
Leesa Leesa is offline
Senior Member
Leesa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,424
15 yr Member
Default

Hi - Maybe I can help a little.

At L3-4, you have a disc bulge, but the spinal canal is NOT narrowed because of it. You have neural foraminal narrowing -- the neural foramen is the hole that the nerves pass thru to the spinal cord. That is narrowing.

At L4-5 you have a disc bulge, and the central spinal canal is mildly narrowed. Facet hypertrophy is an overgrowth of bone from the facets -- the facets are the "winglike" structures on each side of the spine. You can see them when you hunch over -- they kind of stick out.

At L5-S1 you have only a disc bulge.

You have "degenerative disc disease" which is a drying out of the discs, which tends to flatten them and then they bulge & herniate. EVERYONE gets this, which happens as we age, but not everyone has pain with it. Some of us get DDD earlier than others too.

Hope I helped a little! Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee
__________________
recovering alcoholic, sober since 7-29-93;severe depression; 2 open spinal surgeries; severe sciatica since 1986; epidurals; trigger points; myelograms; Rhizotomy; Racz procedure; spinal cord stimulator implant (and later removal); morphine pump trial (didn't work);now inoperable; lumpectomy; radiation; breast cancer survivor; heart attack; fibromyalgia; on disability.



Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live..
.................................................. ...............Orestes
Leesa is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote