Help reading my MRI
 

IMPRESSION:
1. At L5/S1: Near complete loss of disc height with severe bilateral facet
arthropathy results in the moderate to severe bilateral foraminal stenosis and mild central canal stenosis. There is contact of the bilateral exiting L5
nerve roots and possible compression of the exiting right L5 nerve root.

2. Multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, most significant at
L4/5 as manifest by a circumferential disk bulge with markedly severe
bilateral facet arthropathy and moderate redundancy ligamentum flavum which results in mild to moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis.

The previously noted severe central canal stenosis now demonstrates moderate to severe central canal stenosis; as the previously noted central protrusion has partially resolved.

3. New 4 mm right central/paracentral disc protrusion with T2 hyperintense zones at L1/2 which partially effaces the right subarticular recess and contacts the traversing right L2 nerve root

We're you injured? It sounds as if the "central protrusion" that's causing a lot of your problems is healing. Are you on medication?

Or if not an accident, do you have arthritis in your back?

What treatment are you currently getting. The report refers to earlier results, so I gather this is an ongoing issue and not something new.

Hang in there. Sometimes it's a long road to recovery but generally well worth the trip.

Roads

NS recommends fusion from T12 - S1! Should I do this?
 

Findings:
Vertebral bodies: There is normal vertebral body height, alignment and marrow signal in the lumbar
spine. No paraspinous mass or fluid collection demonstrated.
Intervertebral disks: Prominent disk space narrowing and desiccation at L1-2, L2-3 and L3-4 noted.
Lesser amount similar changes L4-5 and L5-S1 present.
Conus:The conus medullaris is normally positioned. No significant anterior or posterior
extradural impression on thecal space identified. No paraspinous mass or fluid collection evident.

Axial imaging at T12-L1 -- facet arthropathy no canal stenosis or disk extrusion.

Axial imaging at L1-2 -- posterior disk/osteophyte complex with right paracentral disk protrusion
which effaces the right lateral recess. Central canal is mildly stenotic at 8 mm in AP dimension
with right >left lateral recess effacement. Caudal neuroforaminal narrowing bilaterally appears to
produce bilateral L1 nerve root entrapment.

Axial imaging at L2-3 -- central canal stenosis to 8 mm paired moderate facet arthropathy with
ligamentum flavum hypertrophy present. Bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing present, right >left.
Bilateral L. nerve root entrapment suspected, more pronounced on the right than left. Posterior
disk/osteophyte complex appears to be associated with a broad based disk bulge.

Axial imaging at L3-4 -- severe canal stenosis present on the previous study appears to worsened.
Complete or near complete effacement of CSF from a round the nerve roots. Central canal measures 5
-- 6 mm in size. Moderately severe facet arthropathy and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy associated
with a broad based disk bulge with central disk extrusion. Small amount of cranial migration of
disk material. Thecal space has a trefoil appearance. Caudal neuroforaminal narrowing bilaterally
with bilateral L3 nerve root entrapment present.

Axial imaging at L4-5 -- central canal stenosis to 5 mm appears unchanged. A component of
epidural lipomatosis associated with broad-based disk osteophyte complex which effaces the CSF in
the anterior thecal space. No extruded disk fragment. Bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing appears
to produce bilateral L4 nerve root entrapment. Changes are stable from 2011.

Axial imaging at L5-S1 -- diffuse disk bulge. Borderline canal size. No extruded disk fragment,
canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.

Impression:
1. Multilevel central canal stenosis as detailed above. Multilevel neuroforaminal narrowing with
multilevel nerve root entrapment as detailed above.

2. Central canal stenosis appears to worsened slightly at L3-4 from prior. Significant central
canal stenosis at L3-4 and L4-5 again noted. Lesser amount of canal stenosis at L1-2 and L2-3.