I was in a car accident and just got my MRI...I need help understanding!
 

a few things I don't understand:
there's Schmorl's node formation identified along the superior endplate of T12
at L4-5 there's diffuse annular disc bulge identified with slight indentation of the ventral aspect of thecal sac without significant canal stenosis. the neural foramina appear patent.
at L5-S1 there's disc bulge diffusely without canal stenosis. there is a small amount of volume averaging artifact through epidural vein centrally within the ventral aspect of the canal.

THEN:

at C3-4 there's disc bulge diffusely without canal stenosis. Mild left foraminal narrowing is identified.
at C4-5 there is a disc bulge diffusely with borderline canal stenosis. There is mild left foraminal narrowing.
at C5-6 there is disc bulge diffusely with borderline canal stenosis and foraminal narrowing towards the left, moderate in severtity.
at C6-7 there is a disc bulge diffudely without canal stenosis. The neural foramina appear patent.

under impression it says Disc Bulge at C4-5 and C5-6 which indents the ventral aspect of the thecal sac with foraminal narrowing toward the left. there is borderline canal stenosis at the C4-5 and C506. and what does scoliotic curvature of the cervical spine mean?


I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place! but I was recently in a car accident and my back is killing meeeeee! it's been actually really bad for quite a few years now and i've always had to be careful and just didn't have insurance for an MRI and Chiropractor so now that I was in this accident I was referred to get all of this and I'm not sure what it means. How serious is it? My Dr called this morning to tell me the findings and he had said he didn't know the accident had that much of an impact on me! I'm a worry wart and I'm googling all of the findings and stuff and haven't come up with any explainations so I thought I'd try a message board and see if I could get help! I'm only 22 and I had bloodwork a few months ago before the accident that had lots of inflammation and light arthritis. I've had numbness in my legs for a few years so I think some of the findings are from previous accidents and not the recent one. My Dr. took X-rays and my pelvis was like separated a bit as well. I'm not sure if any of the bloodwork or x-ray info is shown on the MRI. So if someone could explain to me just what they mean or if there are any pictures or sites you might know of where I can look at what they mean that would be great!! I'm wondering how serious it is for me to chill out and take it easy because I've been so bored laying down with a hurt back!! Is it normal for someone to have the findings that I have? okay thanks!!

some of these might help you to figure it out, but if you had lots of pain before & arthritis is showing in tests then you might need to focus on treatment for that before it gets worse.

http://www.omealyspineandposture.com...ctic_small.jpg
http://www.chiromatrix.com/Chiroprac...r/nerve_chart/


Google Images - Schmorl's node
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=...=&aqi=&start=0

to see other images just change the search box wording

Hi ~ I'll try to help a little. Here goes: :eek:

A schmorls node is when the nucleus of the disc protrudes into a spongy part of the bone. I can't remember what the thecal sac is. The "canal stenosis" means that you don't have significant narrowing of the spinal canal. The neural foramina is the opening that gives passage to the spinal nerves. Yours appear fine.

Now that you know most of the terms, you can see that you have disc bulges, some with stenosis, and some without. The scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, whether it's cervical or lumbar. It's not a normal curvature but yours doesn't sound severe.

One thing ~ DO NOT SEE A CHIROPRACTOR!!! Anytime you have a spinal problem like this, just one wrong move, and you could end up paralyzed. I was told by 2 different neurosurgeons that unless I wanted to end up in a wheelchair, stay away from chiropractors! Manipulation isn't good for spinal patients! :eek: Just a word of cautiion.

Hope this helped a little. Best of luck. I don't doubt you have some pain. God bless. Peace, Lee

Hi Leesa

I do want to mention that for some people chiropractic has actually been very beneficial

my husband had spinal injury and in fact had much relief from an expert chiropractor. Obviously one needs to see someone who knows how to treat people with spinal injury