I suffered a seizure while driving in 2011 and had an accident. When asked where I was hurt I told them my shoulder, lower back, and head. At the time I'm sure they were most focused on the shoulder because it was definitely dislocated and the humerus was broken. I.was in and out of consciousness and suffered a concussion as well. After being transported by helicopter to trauma institute, I underwent surgery for an ORIF of the left proximal humerus fracture after a closed reduction the previous day. There was no records of anything done for my back. Last week, I injured that shoulder and also told them that I still had pain in my back so an MRI was ordered. I dont understand the terminology and hope someone can help.

L3-L4 Minimal non compressive disc bulge with mild facet arthropathy and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. No central canal, neuroforaminal or recess stenosis.

L4-L5 Small non compressive disc bulge. There is moderate bilateral facet arthropathy and mild ligamentum hypertrophy. At least 3 cystic lesions are seen within the right facet joint as well as posterior to the joint ranging in size from 3 to 6 mm, likely synovial cysts.

Could someone please help explain this to me. I have pain from the middle of my back and down with some radiating into my right leg. We are waiting on medical records so I can see another orthopedic specialist about my shoulder and make an appointment with a back specialist.

Thanks in advance.

I'll see if I can help:

L3-4 - you have a disc bulge with facet arthropathy & ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. What this means is of course the disc is bulging out from where it's supposed to be. The facet arthropathy is means that there are diseased joints in the facets -- probably (and I say PROBABLY) osteoarthritis, but ask your doc about that. The ligamentum flavum hypertrophy - well, the ligamentum flavum is a series of ligaments of yellow elastic tissue conntecting the laminae of adjacent vertebrae from axis to sacrum, and with hypertrophy it's increasing in bulk - kind of an "overgrowth.

L4-5 - you have a small disc bulge with moderate bilateral facet arthropathy (see above) and Mild ligamentum flavum (see above) . At least 3 cystic lesions seen within the right facet joint as well as posterior to the joint, likely a synovial cyst. From what I've read, these cysts CAN be related to arthritis, but you'd have to ask your doctor about this.

I hope this helps a little. If I've completely confused you, let me know. I hope they can find something to help with your pain. Please keep us informed, ok? We'll be here. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

Thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention that I'm 38 and never had any back trouble before my accident. Are these results something that should concern me and cause worry? How are things like this normally treated? Thanks for any light you can shed on my situation.

Remember, I'm not a doctor, but from what I can see I doubt that any surgeon would do surgery on you at this point. You would do better with physical therapy. I would bet that physical therapy would relieve a lot of your discomfort. I would ask my doctor to refer me to physical therapy for awhile, and see what happens. If you get some results, then keep going for awhile, like as long as your insurance will pay for it. I would think that it would relieve the pain in your leg too.

You COULD take your MRI to a Neurosurgeon for an opinion and see what he says. That's what you SHOULD do. If he suggests surgery, you MUST get 2-3 other opinions before opting for surgery.

Some things you need to know before opting for spinal surgery. First, surgery is NOT for pain. Surgery is for mechanical problems. If a doctor tells you he can take away all your pain, he's lying, because after spinal surgery, you're left with the same pain or worse. You will still need pain medications. Also, after spinal surgery there is what is called the "domino effect." The levels above & below the surgery site will fail, because they have to take on more of the load. This happened to me after I had L4-5 operated on. After surgery, L3-4 failed. And I had to have surgery on THAT level. And of course after THAT surgery, the level above that failed. I decided no more surgery. By that time I'd gotten a computer and was able to do research on spinal surgeries, etc.

Latest studies have shown that people who have spinal surgery have the same results as people who have physical therapy!!! So what does that tell you?? It seems to me that surgeons are pushing surgery when they shouldn't. Too many fusions are being done, and too many people are having trouble with them, but that's only MY opinion.

But please see a Neurosurgeon for an opinion. I hope you don't need surgery. I was never the same afterwards -- in fact I'm disabled. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

Lee,

I totally understand where you are coming from on the surgery. That is the absolute last option for me. I know that since my shoulder surgery, it has never even been close to the same and has caused chronic pain but that surgery was unavoidable. The damage was just to extensive. I also know that one of our past employees had back surgery that basically ruined his life. He had 7 or 8 additional surgeries after the first one that left him in worse physical condition than he was before surgery. I just wanted to know in terms that I could understand about my mri so I would know what to expect when I do go to see a specialist. I know for fact that I already going to have to undergo another minor surgery on my shoulder but thankfully this time it will be done as a scope and not another open incision so hopefully this will help with some of the issues with my shoulder. I sincerely hope that something, anything can be done to help with my back outside of surgery. Unlike you, I am not under Social Securities definition disabled even though I have not been able to work since my accident. My degree in Mortuary Science doesn't cross over to allow me many opportunities outside of this field and my inability to lift anything very heavy or stand or even sit for very long periods of time limit other lines of work. Before my accident, I was also an aspiring amateur status golfer in the process of getting my professional status for teaching which I can't do anymore because of my injuries. I just hope and pray that something can be done to allow me to work at some level again. It is simply devastating to know that at only 38, I have already exhausted all of my savings trying to maintain a life and provide for my family without knowing what the future may hold. It is just very stressful and quite depressing. I appreciate your help in understanding what was described in my last test.

I know exactly how you're feeling. My spine started deteriorating at 38 and I was able to work another 6 or 7 years before it just became impossible to do anymore. Standing and sitting was just impossible, and that's what I did all day since I was an optician. I just HATED having to give it up. And not only that, but I was getting divorced too -- so everything seemed to fall apart at the same time. lol I'd been married for 26 years, but it was just time to get OUT. He was controlling and emotionally abusive to the point that I'd even been in a mental hospital! So I'd had enough.

Trouble is, not working kind of put a real strain on things, to say the least. But I made it thru that. And I totally understand your exhausting all your savings. Been there, done that. lol

My gosh, you were in Mortuary Science? Good for you! It's awful you had to give that up. I'm so sorry. And golf too? You're breaking my heart!!! I used to shoot trap (kind of like skeet shooting) but standing there on your posts, plus the recoil of the gun isn't very good for me anymore, cause for one thing I've lost weight since I used to shoot. I don't have enough padding anymore. I miss it. I had a great time shooting, but the men hated getting beat by a woman cause I was good at it. LOL See, I used to be a cop years ago. I was the first woman cop in our city. Probably just their "token" woman cause of "Equal opportunity" employment pushes at the time. LOL

Anyway - I don't know how I got off on this. I sure did digress, didn't I
I'm just so sorry you lost so much by this accident. It's not fair.

Again, God bless. Take care of yourself, huh? And keep me posted. Hugs, Lee