Hey everyone,

I would like some help in understanding these MRI results. For some history I had a laminectomy/discectomy back in Nov 2010 as I had a moderate herniation at the L5-S1 pushing on the S1 nerve root. Everything went great until about a month ago when I had a sudden return of pain and the pain was probably about 10x worse than any pain I had pre-op. Got a new MRI and need help understanding it all. Also the mention of bulges at L1 up through L4 is new and was not mentioned on my MRI that I had a year ago.


Findings: The conus ends at L1. The size and signal intensity of the distal spinal cord is normal. The vertebral bodies are well aligned. Disc space narrowing and desiccation is present at the L5-S1. A right L5 laminectomy has been performed. Adjacent soft tissue/muscular and subcutaneous enhancement is present. No discrete fluid collection is seen.

L1-L2: Minimal posterior bulging disc.

L2-L3: Mild posterior bulging disc.

L3-L4: Mild posterior bulging disc.

L4-L5: Mild posterior bulging disc. Mild ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Mild bilateral joint facet degeneration.

L5-S1: Decreased size/resection of the posterior herniated disc. Posterior disc bulging/herniation with lateralization to the right. The disc touches the right S1 nerve root. Left ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Early bilateral joint facet degeneration.

Impression: Postoperative changes at the L5-S1. Posterior bulging/herniated disc at this level lateralizing to the right tourching the right S1 nerve roots. Overall size of the herniation is improved.