Based on your MRI, you could have issues with your right L5 and both S1 nerve root distributions from disk disease. I say could, because many normal patients could have disk disease which is not symptomatic.

Facet arthropathy and hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum pretty much go hand in hand. As degenerative changes in the facet joints develop, the ligament typically hypertrophies, probably to help stabilize the area. These 2 processes combined can narrow the central spinal canal from its posterior aspect. They can also narrow the neuroforamen. Your report does not indicate if this happens or not.

I typically say if there is disk disease (bulge, protrusion, or extrusion) and facet/ligamentous changes. I then mention how these alter the central canal, neuroforamen, and/or nerve roots.

Your MRI is several years old and this may have changed. How or why does your neurologist think your symptoms are not related to your back?

[QUOTE=kwinkler;748277]Based on your MRI, you could have issues with your right L5 and both S1 nerve root distributions from disk disease. I say could, because many normal patients could have disk disease which is not symptomatic.

Facet arthropathy and hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum pretty much go hand in hand. As degenerative changes in the facet joints develop, the ligament typically hypertrophies, probably to help stabilize the area. These 2 processes combined can narrow the central spinal canal from its posterior aspect. They can also narrow the neuroforamen. Your report does not indicate if this happens or not.


I think it is because there is more than one nerve involved in my PN the sural, peroneal, and tibal on the left side and the peroneal and sural on the right.

The question about the hypertrophy of the synovia of the respective articular facet sounds like it is not the facet but the synovia of the facet. Am I wrong about this? It is how it's worded. The use of the word respective to me, means pretaining to the facets in question not the actual facet joint itself.

My back issues started when I was about 26 years old, I am 41 now. Back then I was told it was pulled muscles or a strain ect. But the issues that I continue to have are the same now as back then except it is more constant now. I now have aching not just in the middle of the lower back but off to the sides. I think the bone is called the girdle (the wing shaped bone of the waist.) I have also developed aching within my hips now as well. I can tell when my disc herniates now, because it feels the same as when I had the mri done and it happens a couple times a year on average and it is a very painful thing to experience. When it happens I can't stand straight because the muscle spasms are so bad it curves my spine to the side and makes my left hip appear to be sitting higher than my right one. If I cough or sneeze when it is out, it sends sharp shooting pains everywhere in my back and into my hips.

Thanks Kwinkler you are a great help not just because your in the medical field. But because you are someone that will listen. Most doctors I have been to do not give you enough time for all the questions you have or explain it very well so you understand what your problems are and what all the stuff on the report means.

[QUOTE=lynn01;748282]With regard to facet disease, you would have to look at the images to see if it is the synovia or the bone itself. Once again, these usually go hand in hand. Not only will these cause local pain, but can cause referred pain depending on how they affect the nerve roots.

Don't be the 20%
 

I am not crazy about needles Right up front.

I had to have a spinal injection for some test or other where they inject dye into your spinal cord and then run x-rays to see what's workin'. The anaesthesiologisy hit the membrane and I hit the floor. Later he said, "Yeah, about 20% of my patients have that response". Be laying down. By the way this sort of pain relief only sometimes works. It's best for inflammatory conditions. I just felt like a rubber glove that had been inflated for about a month. There's a lot of BS out there.

lumbar puncture
 

I just had my 2nd MRI within a year and I have white matter on both. The last MRI showed more white matter. Does anyone know if there is any other test besides a lumber puncture?. I am scared to have one . My back is fused thru 5 vertebrae starting with T-11.

A LP should not be an issue, except for possible having to get through some scar tissue. Being a post-operative back, it would be one that would benefit from a radiologist using fluoroscopy to see the vertebrae as the needle goes in. Based on your "white matter" statement, MS is a clinical diagnosis, and the LP would only help if your symptoms don't clearly indicate MS.