Lumbar MRI interpretation?
 

I have seen several interpretations of MRI's on here so I going to give this a shot.
I have had low back pain for several years. I have had a couple of MRI's done of my low back as well as X-Rays. Years ago, an X-Ray showed I had cracked my coxes(sp) and an MRI showed slight movement of the Lumbar spine.

I just received the results of a Lumbar MRI and this is what it says:
Indication: Acute Low Back Pain

Sequences: Sagittal T1, sagittal T2, axial T1, axial T2, and sagittal STIR

Findings:
Preserved lumbar lordosis, with mild disc desiccation at L3-4 and L4-5, with subtle loss of disc height. Marrow signal is unremarkable with no evidence of a compression fracture or metastatic disease.

The intraspinal cord, conus medullaris and proximal cauda equina are unremarkable.
The conus is at the expected position.

L1-2 level: Mild broad-based disc bulging, partial flattening of the anterior thecal sac, mild facet arthropathy, with patent neuroformaina.

L2-3 level: Mild hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum, mild facet arthropathy, with patent neuroforamina.

L3-4 level: Mild broad-based disc bulging, partial flattening of the anterior thecal sac, mild hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum, mild facet arthropathy, with enferior neuroforaminal narrowing.

L4-5 level: Moderate broad-based disc bulging, indentation of the anterior thecal sac, mild hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum, mild facet arthropathy, with inferior neuroforaminal narrowing.

L5-S1 level: Mild disc bulging, mild indentation of the anterior thecal sac, mild hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum, mild facet arthropathy, with inferior neuroforaminal narrowing.

Impression:
No Acute Osseous Process
MILD TO MODERATE, MULTILEVEL LUMBAR DEGENERATIVE CHANGES, FROM l1-s1, WITH MILD DISCOPATHY (MILD DESICCATION AT L3-L5), FACET ARTHROPATHY, ANDD NEUROFORAMINAL NARROWING, PREDOMINANT AT L4-5

wow that sounds like your lower spine is degenerating. That is to say degenerative disc disease. If that is what you have it can be extremely painful and debilitating if left untreated. I had a friend diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and within a year he was in pretty bad shape.

Thank you for the response. I was beginning to wonder if anyone was reading these boards. =)

I had a nasty fall back in 2006. I kinda of stumbled back a couple feet and landed hard on a cement floor. The X-Rays showed a cracked tailbone (WC waited 6 to send me for X-Rays) I continued to work with pain all these years (had 3 boys to support as well as myself) . The pain only got worse as time went by. It finally became more than I could handle and I can only sit for short periods of time, stand for short periods of time, have trouble walking without pain (and move very slow) and sometimes it takes me a few minutes to straighten up when I try to stand. (I have cervical injury as well).

I was wondering if someone could tell me what this MRI means.

My primary is a chiropractor and he read this but did not mention anything. I am not due to see the QME until December. That is a long time and prior to this MRI, they (WC) cut out all pain meds so I am cramming down Robaxin (750mg), Naproxen (1000mg) and Xtra Strength Tylenol (1000mg) every 4 to 6 hrs. Gonna kill my stomach and whatever but need to at least take the bite out of the pain.

With WC involved proof that this DDD and other issues mentioned a mild to moderate... it will be hard to prove
what the cause is/was after all this time has passed.
WC will argue that age ?? is a factor.. or possible past or injuries /activities since then..

Do /did you have a wc atty on your side?

Does your chiro do any soft tissue work, or any upper cervical adjusting?
any low level laser, IF stim...??
If not seek out someone with more gadgets / more skills..

DDD can be painful , but may not be the only cause of pain, soft tissue problems can hurt just as badly..

You do have some bulges but no mention of touching nerve or spinal cord...

to learn more do a search for the terminology that you do not understand..

Yes, I have/had an attorney when the injury happened. The fall was at work with witnesses. The fight is currently over the percentage and apportionment. I have to see the QME again because he left out some areas of injury (The lumbar and right shoulder). I will be going for a reeval in December. The fall also caused cervical damage, which I have already had the MRI interpreted by the North American Spine Institute. Per the doctor and the QME, there will be a need to redo my fusion as well as replace some disc to save other discs. The low back has gotten so bad I can barely walk at times.

I guess, I am just wondering what this all means.

I no longer work (Medical Retirement as of Sept 1st) as I had a desk job and cannot sit more than a few minutes before having to move around, but cannot really stand long without pain and numbness in my legs. I saw an IME for my job retirement and he said I was substantially incapacitated from being able to perform my job. I did not get a copy of the report but will be requesting it.

Thanks for your response. Any further information is appreciated.

Forgot to mention: My chiro does all that and I have a home stim unit.