Hi, I am a 44 year old female in the Nashville, TN area. I had a laminectomy on my L4/5 in September 2005 that didn't work. I ended up having L4 to S1 fused with screws and rods in February 2006. I "thought" the discs were replaced with artificial discs but now I am not to sure.

I also had to have surgery on my neck in October 2006. C4 to C7 were replaced with bone graft and fused.

I am still having alot of pain in my neck so an MRI was done. I am having nerve pain in my leg again so he decided to scan my back as well.

On the MRI for my back:

At the L4-L5 level, with artifact from pedicle screws and rods evident. There appears to be a left laminotomy defect at L4. Central interbody prosthesis is suggested.

Endplate degenerative signal changes noted at multiple levels most prondounced at L4-L5. Schmorl's nodes at multiple levels most prominent at L1-L2 evident.

Anyone know what this is?

My neck MRI is totally another post because there are ALOT of things going on there that have me concerned as well but I want to figure out what is causing the new nerve pain in my butt and leg.

Thanks!

Jami

If there is one thing I have learned for sure, an MRI does not show the extent of the disc that is damaged. It can miss fragments thats have broken off and press on your nerves. Only upon opening you up will they be able to see how messed up you are. My MRI just showed an extrusion, but no mention of large fragments, etc. Of course I am sure that expertise of the MRI reader has something to do with this also.

Schmorl's node is: herniation's of the interverbral disc through the end plate. If you want to know more Google it in, and you can see it in detail.
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Billie