Help with MRI results...please
 

I usually don't post here because I never had the need to until now and hopefully this is nothing major. I usually post in the SOS or BP forums.

Anyway, I had an lumbar MRI last week and picked up the results today. I have no idea what this means and I don't see my NS until the 12th.

My symptoms are pain in my lower back and I'm having a hard time sitting for long (especially with the hours I'm putting in). I have pain down the back of my leg and "tingly feet".

I'll just skip to the "good" part. :)

At L4-5 there is a disc bulging with a small but broad central disc protrusion centered slightly to the right of midline. There is also mild to moderate facet hypertrophy but this is limited to the left side. The disc protrusion does contact the thecal sac but there is no apparent root impingement and no central spinal stenosis. Mild left neural foraminal narrowing is also noted.

At L5-S1 there are bilateral intraforaminal disc protrusions greater on the right side. There is also moderate facet hypertrophy bilaterally. There is intraforaminal protrusion of the L5 nerve root bilaterally as well as moderate right and mild to moderate left neural foraminal narrowing. Lateral marginal spurring greater on the right which also probably contributes to impingement of the right L5 nerve root bilaterally.

Impression: At L5-S1 there are bilateral intraforaminal disc protrusions right great than left which leads to impingement on the right then left L5 nerve roots. There is no nerve root impingement at other levels.

There are central disc protrusions at L4-L5.

Moderate facet arthropathy is noted bilaterally at L5-S1 and on the left at L4-5.

Whew!!! That's a mouthful and I hope I spelled everything right.

Any idea what all this means? Right now I need a long, hot shower and bed for me.

Not an M.D., but here goes:

First, L4-L45 refers to the disc between your 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae. Part of the disc at this level is bulging out backwards. It does not protrude far in a front-to-back direction, but is broad (left to right direction). The bulge is slightly greater to the right than to the left. You have some overgrowth of the bony structures adjacent to the spinal canal (facet joint hypertrophy) on the left. The bulge makes contact with the structure that holds nerve bundles at this level (thecal sac), but does not actually pressure the nerve bundles or narrow the channel in which they sit. The opening through which your L4 nerve root passes is narrowed a little bit ( left foraminal narrowing).

At the next lower level, L5-S1, there is also a disc bulge that narrows the channels for the L5 nerve roots on both sides. These openings are narrowed on both sides, right slightly worse than left. You have some bone spurs, worse on the right, that contribute to the narrowing, and also have some arthritic changes to the facet joints on both sides (bilateral facet joint arthropathy). These all combine to put pressure on your L5 nerve roots on both sides, with the right slightly worse than the left.

Bottom line is that you have some degenerative changes to your lower spine, with the L5-S1 area likely being the cause of your symptoms. I would consult a spine specialist, who will likely put you on a course of physical therapy and medications.

Good luck!

Jeff

Thanks Jeff for taking the time to explain some of this. I thought I was too young to have degenerative changes? :o Could this be why I'm having such a time sitting for long periods?

Same diagnosis
 

I have the almost the same MRI readings. Research Spinal Spondylosis, sounds like you are at Phase II. Another term for this is Degenerative Disk Disease.

I am unfortunately at Phase III at the L5-S1 area.

You can find some helpful tips and information on Spineuniverse.com

good luck