dont understand MRI
 

Please help me to understand. I have had low back pain for approx 5 months now. It was caused by trying to move a bandsaw at work I felt a sharp pain in my lower back and pain shooting down my left leg. I was told I had a disc prolapse and sciatica in left side. Was treated with naprosyn and pain relief which does not seem to be helping. Dr said I didnt need surgery. After 4 months he decided to send me for an MRI, results were as follows

Sequences
1 Sagittal T2 Weighted sequence
2 Sagittal T1 weighted sequence
3 Axiel T2 weighted sequence from L3 to the sacrum
4 Axiel T1 weighted sequence from L3 to the sacrum

Findings
There is a focal left paracentral disc protrusion at L3/4
The spinal canal is narrow particularly at L4/5 and there is a small far lateral left disc protrusion at L4/5
The signal intensity of the L5/S1 disc is normal.
My Dr has now referred me to an orthopedics surgeon who I see at the end of May
What does all this mean

I see that you've copied the results from your scan, but not mentioned your doctor's interpretation of those results. Does that mean you've not been back to see him/her since getting the scan done?

You should always have your doctor explain the MRI findings to you. Its all too easy to read into your results something that's not there, or miss something important because you just don't understnad the complexity of the scan, but seeing you asked.....here's one site that explains things fairly easily.

http://www.chirogeek.com/003_CT-Axial_Tutorial.htm

I hope that helps.

FANTASTIC SITE. THANKS :wink:

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...welcomecat.gif

Hi kathkat! I see you've been pointed in the right direction.

A warm welcome to NeuroTalk! There are so many nice people here who are friendly and caring. :)

Thanks, Koala! That's a great site.

Mri
 

Hi Kathkat,

When I had my MRI for a brain injury, my neurologist point out 6 tiny shadows he called hemorrhages. I just trusted him and went on from there. I had no interest in trying to learn how exactly to read an MRI - seemed a bit unnecessarily complicated. However, when I was prescribed medications, I did a lot of research on the internet. Now I'm a bit skeptical analyzing the vast amounts of data. My main reason is that the ones who shout the loudest about this or that side-effect, are usually the tiniest percentage, and not the norm.

I went a bit off topic there, but my point is to find a good Doctor and trust them.

Don

Hi Don
Thanks for your advice you do need to trust your Doctor My own Dr says to have an epidural steroid injection but the work Dr has referred me to a orthopedic surgeon he was the one who read the MRI report said he didnt need to see the actual cd. Ill just wait and see what eventuates

Thank you for the warm welcome

Kathy

Hi Koala
Yes I have seen Dr since MRI he said I had a small protrusion he didnt lookat the MRI cd said the witten report was enough then said he would book me for an epidural steroid injection and get an appointment for me to see an orthopedic surgeon. He was not very forthcoming with info so I guess Ill just wait and see what happens I will go and look at the site you have pointed me to.

Thanks for your advice
Kathkat

WHY am I in so much Pain???
 

I wish I could show someone my MRI that knew how to read them and tell me why I am in so much pain because what I read doesn't seem all that bad. I have to see a neurosurgeon may 12th to discuss surgery but I am afraid after all this they are going to look at my findings and say I am NOT a candidate for any help and my window where I have Medicaid is closing fast, so I have got to do something NOW. Is there anyone I can send the findings to and let you give me your opinion of why I hurt so much and they didn't do a thorasic and I am having numbness in my hands and arms. As far as I can tell they should have done that also to cover my entire back. They only ordered a cervical and lumbar, there is a hue area NOT looked at, am I right? If you are out there, email me here I guess and give me your email and I will send you pictures of the finding letters I have scanned.

Thanks,

Tony