Hi everyone. I am new to the forum but am thrilled that I happened upon it. I have had some issues with my back for a while now and recently had an MRI done. I was wondering if anyone here could help me understand the results a little better. I would also be interested in hearing about what others have done to help ease the symptoms. Thanks in advance for any help! Here are my results:

Lumbar
1. Straightening of the normal lumbar lordotic curvature.
2. Disc degeneration and mild disc bulge, L1-L2.

Thoracic
1. Disc degeneration and central disc herniation, T6-T7.

Cervical
1. Central disc herniation and mild central spinal canal stenosis at C5-C6.
2. Central disc herniation/spur, bilateral neural foraminal encroachment, and moderate central spinal canal stenosis at C6-C7.

I would really appreciate any help in understanding these results. Thanks!

Hope

From your MRI, and all of them I have had, I can tell you this. Anytime it says MILD, more than likely, they do nothing. WHY? It is because, sometimes it only gets worse, once they do surgery. My first surgery was for a bulging disc, The only reason they did surgery is because mine fell into the cord, instead of to the right or left. I had pain for a long time before he would do surgery.

I have had 7 surgeries now. Six by a different surgeon. Once they start to fuse, it can weaken the one above it, or the one below it. I am fused from L/2 thru to S/1. I have had screws put in, only to have them taken back out, then my own bone put in, only to have it crumble, and next a stimulator put in. It never worked good. Then finally last September he put in artificial bone put in. I am cured at last. Praise the Lord! I have experienced a lot of pain threw the yrs. I have had stenosis too! Mine covered my nerves and had to be removed. They can tell if it needs to be done.

The cervical, I don't know much about, but I do know they don't operate there unless you are ina lot of pain. I hope this info helps you a little.
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fancylady

The results from my MRI showed that I had Disc degeneration and a mild disc bulge, thus resulting in the L4-S1 fusion being required to fix this area and rid me of pain (inserting two metal rods and bolting them to my spine), I use to get pins and needles down my right leg and numbness all the time as the bulge pushed ever so slightly on the nerve. The surgery was successful and I no longer have any back pain,numbness or pins and needles down my right leg

I have had only one operation

Hope this helps!

Cheers
Mike

My first fision was the same as yours. Mine last two yrs. I was allergic to medal, so they put my bone in from my pelvis & grafted that in. If it would of held up that would have been the end of it. Last year it had gave away and I was in so much pain. I lost all feeling down my left thigh and could hardly walk. I even had surgery on that. Mine all took 16 years. Good luck and I hope you don't ever have anymore trouble.
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Fancylady

Hey FancyLady , gutted to hear that your surgery wasn’t a success the first time . I to had bone scraped form my hip and smeared all around the bone where the fusion took place, my surgeon says it fusing together nicely and will be as strong as ever. Things can always go wrong through, I just take one pain free day at a time and enjoy it and God willing it will last till I die. I hope you are better now and that your not in pain.

Nice to meet you

Michael