help with undestanding mri
 

L2-L3: Mild intervertebral disc height loss, left foraminal/extraforaminal
disc bulge and osteophytosis which effaces left L2 nerve root, moderate
disc protrusion, no significant spinal stenosis, severe left lateral recess
L3-L4: Mild intervertebral disc height loss, central disc protrusion
superimposed upon broad-based disc bulge, moderate bilateral facet
L4-L5: Postsurgical changes status post right hemilaminotomy. There is
redemonstration of central and right central disc extrusion which continues
to efface proximal right L5 nerve root and results in severe right lateral
L5-S1: Severe bilateral facet arthropathy, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy,
no significant spinal stenosis, severe left lateral recess stenosis,
moderate right lateral recess stenosis, mild right neural foraminal
stenosis and mild left neural foraminal stenosisto the right L4-L5 hemilaminotomy scar and within the ventral epidural
space at the level of L4-L5. However, the L4 nerve rootlet on the right.

Symptoms...
 

...please. I can't imagine that you are not having some pain but just reading your results made me wince.:eek:

help reading mri
 

:confused::mad : I get stuck when bend over for few minutes when stand back hurts :eek:

Hi gin
 

Hi, and I can help a little. Severe left lateral recess refers to the foramen, or the spinal canal. That is the space in which nerves run. Any time your MRI STATES SEVERE, it is time to get a second opinion, and ask the doctors what their impressions are. When the words "Mild" are used, generally the condition doesn't warrent surgical intervention. If the disk Buldge or herniation pinch into the spinal canal, that HURTS! . May I ask you what your doctor has said so far? Stenosis also happens just with the aging process. It is when the nerve root, is being touched, or restricted that you begin to want to seek some help. Have you had any injections or PT so far? I will also look up any of the other information on there for you too. I google each seperate verterbre, and just write out what the words mean.
It is important to understand all of it. That way when you go back to the doctor, there won't be anything that you don't understand. Second opinion is really important. You want two doctors to concur with what the treatment options are. Surgery is always a last resort as you already know. I am sorry you are having these issues. I hope you can find a resolution that works and relieves your pain. ginnie

hlep with reading mri
 

Thr doctor hasn't said anything. I've had back surgary 3 times for pain down the left leg . i' m worry if my back this bad at 46 what will be like at 50

Hi Gin
 

Sorry you are having the back issues. You better question your doctor, you won't rest well until you know what is going on. I know the worry you feel, I am the same way. I had two surgeries on my neck, and I know because of the pain that I have some degenerative changes. I am 61, and this started for me at 54 years old. I had that domino effect where the vertebrate above and below the original surgery site failed.
If you have already had three trips to the OR, you need to try to avoid any more.
Have you gotten another opinion? Have you tried something called Ketamine infusions? This is a procedure that threads the med. through the areas that are having trouble. I had great relief from that for a matter of months. It is done with that scope and a pain specialist. If you can look into that, it may be a better option than steroid injections. I am not a big fan of those. Too many side effects and pain from them.
What exactly did your surgeries do? I didn't see anything in your MRI about former hardware etc. Sure wish I could help you. Seek that other opinion before you do anything OK? Be good to yourself. ginnie

help reading mri
 

Lumbago Excis Lumbar Disk,one Level 11/1/05 Excis Lumbar Disk,one Level 3/27/07 Excis Lumbar Disk,one Level 4/16/08 are the surgies

Hi Gin
 

Could you state the entire treatment without any abbreviations? I haven't heard of this before and I tried looking it up without much success. I am guessing they removed the disk and replaced it on those levels?
You don't have any hardware on the vertebre? I really want to see exactly what has been done to you. If you haven't had success with surgery, I worry that future surgery won't work either with the same treatment plan. Have you gotten another opinion different from the one who did your surgery X 3? None of what happens with the spine is fun. I hope there is some kind of solution for you. ginnie

mri
 

[
they remove them form what I was told. it work for a while no pain than it starting hurting again

Why...
 

...have you avoided fusion? The reason I ask is you have both bone issues (facets, foramina,osteophytes)and degenerative disks. Addressing only one factor is bound to affect the other.

I understand...
 

...wanting to be conservative with treatments but with triple level involvement it's like a house of cards you can't take it piece meal. You seem pretty sanguine when you talk about the pain so it may not be the problem but being unable to straighten up :eek:

It's worrisome that there are post surgical changes that show continued deterioration. You ask about the future and in the short run it looks as though you'll be dealing with this. I too started out at about your age. You can get to the point where not every moment is spent worrying about the pain or going to the doctor.

This community is a fantastic resource! So much understanding and support with a whole lot of knowledge thrown in. :grouphug: I did want to add that if you are curious about some of the details of your lower back check out Wikipedia. The text and pictures will help.

Hang in there.:)

mri
 

The doctor told me that he was thinking of fusion but because I have lung problems when I sleep I don't get a lot of oxygen and I have sleep anpea also
doctor very worry about how long i'm under

[would it be good to do

Hi gin
 

Fusion can and does work. However, in your case where you have already had three surgeries, I would seek another opinion before deciding upon surgery. You may have something called the domino effect, and you don't want fusion with hardware if the vertebrate above and below are going to fail. These structures have to be strong enough to hold the hardware, or you go right back to square one. This happened with me, that is the reason why I mention this. Fusion solves structural problems, but not always pain. If you have nerve damage, that really is an issue, as healing from that kind of damage doesn't get good marks.
What did they replace your disks with? What did they insert into that space?
I am here to talk to any time. I sure wish you all the best as you go forward with this. ginnie:hug:

Please Help Me Understand my MRI
 

:confused:

At L3-4 there is a broad absed posterior disc bulge that extended to both deural foraminal resulting in mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, slightly worse on the right.

At L4-5 there is a broad based posterior disc bulge, slightly asymmetric towards the right with significant facet arthropathy and facet joint synovitis contributing to mild left and mild to moderate right neural foraminal narrowing.

At L5-S1 there is a broad based posterior disc bulge without central canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing.

IMPRESSION:
1. Edema like signal within the posterior elements at L4-5 with associated fluid signal within the facet joints bilaterally at this level suggesting synovitis. This can be a source of Pain.

2. Disc bulges at the L3-4 and L4-5 levels contributing to mild right sided neural forminal narrowing at L304 and mild left sided neural forminal narrowing at L4-5. There is mild to moderate neural forminal narrowing on the right at L4-5. No central canal stenosis.

TO :confused:
Simple typos is why that line read that way. It hurts to sit and type. Sorry and thanks for your help. The line is typed correctly below. Thanks in advanced for anything you can do.

At L3-4 there is a broad based posterior disc bulge that extended to both neural foraminal resulting in mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, slightly worse on the right.

Hi hippichik
 

At L3-4 you have a herniation. This is MILD, key word here. You may be OK just with PT. Sometimes a mild narrowing can be resolved. Try acupuncture. don't do any chiropractic unless you get clearance from your neurologist OK? You don't want to make it worse.
The neural forminal is the space in which the nerves run. If this were severe in the language I would be more concerned. What does the doctor recommend?
Ginnie

help reading mri
 

the reason it was fusioned is breathing problems and that surgery takes longer being as I under they worry about oxygen levels

Anesthesia options?
 

As I recall there are options to general anesthesia although with the procedure being done on the spine it may eliminate them. They are based on epidurals. There is probably someone here who can address the issue if you post.