Hi everyone, this is my first post on this site. I've yet to find a site that has been helpful, so I hope this is the one. I was in a Motor Vehicle accident back in February and am still experiencing lots of pain. I go to physio three times a week and massage thereapy twice a week.... yet I'm still in pain. My Physio guys seem to think that my brain is sending me signals identifying pain, but that it's not really pain, it's just my brain's signals. I so totally beg to differ. Or I have a super active imagination. Anyway, I went for an MRI and I have no idea what it means. My doctor is a man of few words. So I thought I could get more info here. If you don't mind, I'll just tell you what it says and if anyone would like to shed some light on it for me, I would really appreciate it. My doctor has refered me to a Neurollogy Doctor for more examination. Here goes:

MRI Cervical spine
Cerebellar tonsillar position is normal. Spinal cord outines and signals at C1-1, C2-3, C4-5 levels appear unremarkable.
At the C5-6 level there is mild broad-based disc bulge with anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the sagittal plane with mild or borderline changes of central canal narrowing with slight accentuation to the right side. Conclusion: Mild broad-based disc bulge at C5-6 level with questionable or borderline changes of central canal narrowing with slight accentuation to the right side.

For MRI lumboscral spine:
Minimal or mild disc bulges are noted at T11-12, T12-L1 level. No significant changes of spinal stenosis seen. There is mild posterolateral disc bulge at the L1-2 level with slight accentuation to the left side. At the L2-3 level no significant changes of disc herniation or spinal stenosis seen. At the L3-4 level appearance suggests mild hypertrophic changes in the facet joints and hypertrophy of the posterior bony elements. No significant changes of disc herniation or spinal stenosis seen. At the L4-5 level hpertrophic changers were noted in the facet joints with central/paracentral disc hrniation bilaterally with advanced changes of central canal and bilateral foraminal narrowing. At the L5-S1 level mild broad-based disc buldge is noted with borderline changes of central canal and questionable or borderline changes of bilateral foraminal narrowing.
Conclusion: Large central/paracentral disc herniation at the L4-5 level with appearance also suggesting hypertrophic changes in the facet joints with advanced changes of central canal and bilateral foraminnal narrowing.........
THE END. lol

So what does that mean? Could be written in Spanish for all I know. I would really appreciate anyone's help.

Thanks you sooo much and have a great day!!!

[MRI Cervical spine
Cerebellar tonsillar position is normal. Spinal cord outines and signals at C1-1, C2-3, C4-5 levels appear unremarkable.

At the C5-6 level there is mild broad-based disc bulge with anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the sagittal plane with mild or borderline changes of central canal narrowing with slight accentuation to the right side.

Conclusion: Mild broad-based disc bulge at C5-6 level with questionable or borderline changes of central canal narrowing with slight accentuation to the right side.

For MRI lumboscral spine:
Minimal or mild disc bulges are noted at T11-12, T12-L1 level. No significant changes of spinal stenosis seen. There is mild posterolateral disc bulge at the L1-2 level with slight accentuation to the left side.
At the L2-3 level no significant changes of disc herniation or spinal stenosis seen. At the L3-4 level appearance suggests mild hypertrophic changes in the facet joints and hypertrophy of the posterior bony elements. No significant changes of disc herniation or spinal stenosis seen.
At the L4-5 level hpertrophic changers were noted in the facet joints with central/paracentral disc hrniation bilaterally with advanced changes of central canal and bilateral foraminal narrowing.
At the L5-S1 level mild broad-based disc buldge is noted with borderline changes of central canal and questionable or borderline changes of bilateral foraminal narrowing.

Conclusion: Large central/paracentral disc herniation at the L4-5 level with appearance also suggesting hypertrophic changes in the facet joints with advanced changes of central canal and bilateral foraminnal narrowing.........]

here are some spine anatomy images/links=
http://images.google.com/images?um=1...=spine+anatomy

this site can explain the terms used better than I can-
http://www.spineuniverse.com/

hope this helps a bit - I just happened to be up for a bit.

There is a member on NT....kingrex who is a radiologist and would be able to help answer your questions.

Send him a private message (PM) and ask him.

Thank you very much.... I'll look into those links right now.

I appreciate it very much.

Have a good day.

If all else fails ask for a copy of the radiologist's report, then write him directly. he is a doctor trained to read MRIs and while other physicians can often do a fair job with an MRI not all of them are equally adept. Usually they repeat what the radiologist put in his report, and fail to translate it for you, but you can go back to source for a translations, if you want.