[amanbilcor]

Hello,
I have a 17 year old son with back pain. The doctor sent him for an mri, and these are the results. Please help us understand it...

There is straightening of the lumbar lordosis. Lumbar vertebral bodies are maintained in the height and singal for age with persistent red marrow and scattered areas of fatty marrow noted within the lumbar vertebral bodies. Limited evaluation of the prevertebral soft tissues is grossly unremarkable except for a 1cm cyst in the right lobe of the liver.

L5/S1 level demonstrates left eccentric disc bulge abutting the exiting left L5 nerve root with mild to moderate left foraminal stenosis.

L5/5 level demonstrates mild facet hypertrophic changes and mild disc bulge with minimal left foraminal stenosis due to left eccentric disc bulge.

Impression:
Minimal disc disease with left eccentric disc bulge L5/S1 level minimally abutting the left L5 nerve root with mild to moderate left foraminal stenosis. Mild disc bulge L4/5 level. Right hepatic cyst.

Thank you for any help

[nikkinac]

I am no doctor so do not quote me. I have damage in L4-L5-si1. It is very painful-depending on where the nuclei is. Your son might experience stabbing or pinching pain in his lumbar as well as weakness/numbness/pins and needles from back-legs/feet. His age is a major factor though. I am 23 and my ortho and neurosurgeon don't think surgery is the best option, because I am too young. I have also gone through conservative treatment (physical therapy, chiropractor, tens unit, 2 pain specialist and had a total of 8 shots, and pain medication). I do not know if they would consider surgery for him because of his age. If he was in his 30's or 40's, they probably would go ahead. They might consider PDD procedure and/or biacuplasty (after the shots that did not work-depends on the person). Maybe the IDET, I don't know, but his age does hinder him(makes doctors nervous).

[Leesa]

Hi ~ Your son is much too young to have this kind of problem!

He has a disc bulge at L5-S1 (at the very bottom) that's poking the nerve root down there, and THAT HURTS. There's a little stenosis (narrowing) of the opening of the spinal canal, but it's not serious.

The facets (those bony wing-shaped things that stick out on our spine) are showing some changes but nothing serious.

They mention a 1mm cyst on the right lobe of the liver. You can ask your doctor about that.

Did your son injure himself ~ was it a fall or something? Usually, kids that age don't have spinal problems. Or did he lift something much too heavy for him? Just wondering. Actually, I'm just too nosey! LOL. I hope he feels ok. There are times that these bulges heal by themselves, although not frequent. It's done with plenty of rest, but exercise too.

I've got 23 years of this stuff behind me, so I've had to learn alot. I sure hope he doesn't have any more problems. God bless. Peace, Lee

[Eddie2099]

I too hope that the situation with your son is resolved soon as well and I can relate since I am also going through a similar experience right now and I am going to be 28 in two months, will be keeping your son and family in my prayers.

[RMS01]

I've been there. I'm a few decades older than your son, and I got a full page of details noting about 20 different things. And they were all irrelevant or normal.

I know that it looks scary. We think that a reasonable person would say "It's all ok except this one minor bulge around L4/L5" But they can't say that because of liability issues.

The radiologist must note everything. If he doesn't, his employer's legal counsel will worry about possible exposure to liability.