Hi to all. I have been on this site for some time as I had ACDF C5-6 C6-7 12/9/2010 then a car accident 9/2/2011 (rear ended). My lower back has been an issue since the car accident. Finally asked for an MRI. I have been going to PT and at times seems helpful for both neck and back. Let me know what you think about the Lumber MRI. When I spoke to the PA he did not feel that there were major issues, just to keep an eye on the situation. He did say that there was some fluid lose at the tear which concerns me. He does feel it is recent and probably from the accident. I also notice many white spots which he said were cysts or hematomias . Again not a concern. Should have asked if they were caused by the accident and if they can be a future concern. Oh well, next time.

The lumbar lordosis is preserved and there is a slight convexity of the lower lumber spine to the left. There is diffuse mild dehydration. There is a transitional lumbosacral junction. Based on the termination of the conus which would be at L1-2 level, the last well formed disc space is considered

L5-S1 with sacralizaton of the L5 vertebral body. There is no collapse or subluxation.

L1-2 is normal

L2-3 there is bulging with flattening of the ventral thecal sac. There is no central or foraminal compromise.

L3-4 there is bulging and facet hypertrophy with flattening of the ventral thecal sac. There is no significant central or foraminal compromise.

L4-5 there is facet and ligamentous hypertrophy. There is bulging with superimposed annual tear along the left posterolateral aspect of the disc space. There is flattening of the ventral thecal sac and slight left lateral recess/foraminal compromise.

L5-6 is unremarkable

The consus medullaris is normal in position and signal intensity. There is no intradural or paraspinal mass. There are Tarlov cysts at the S1-2 level. Transitional lumbosacral junction as described. Mild degeneration changes without significant central or foraminal compromise.

Over 100 people looked at my question and no one had a personal thought about my situation. Anyone have any thoughts......I would appreciate something

Many of those views are by indexing "bots" for the various search engines.
I don't know anything about flattening of the ventral thecal sac or what symptoms/pain it might casue

Look....that is because you are asking a question on MRI report interpretation to an audience that consist of about 99.99% people that have had no training in reading MRI's.

You also need to understand that MRI's are not done to provide a diagnosis in the absence of clinical findings, rather they are ordered to confirm or deny a clinical "pathology" suspected based off of the history, subjective complaints and clinical findings. So to ask what the MRI reveals without providing complaints and clinical findings is realing putting the cart before the horse!

That said, knowing absolutely nothing about your complaints or examination findings, your MRI may or may not be clinically significant for compression at L5-S1 and may or may not be clinically significant for issue concerning your Tarlov cysts. Your clinician is best suited to answer those questions and if you are not happy with his report of findings, get a second opinion!

I agree with Dubious. We're just folks with health problems here -- we're not able or qualified to interpret MRI results. If the PA isn't concerned then it's probably fine but why don't you talk to your doctor about it? That's what I'd do!

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I would ask to be referred to an excellent PT who knows the muscles and nerves very well. I had one at a teaching hospital and it was he who made the notes as he manipulated my body with the MRI and XRAYS in hand.

He knew how to trace where it hurt and how to release it for a few moments and report that information to the surgeon who referred me. Between the two of them, they isolated my problems.

When surgery was done, it was done in the right places.

Be sure to give the PT feedback. (ouch! or that, right there...)

Good Luck