[tdreyer]

Had a fusion of L5-S1 11/31/12. Everything seemed to be going good, then I started getting alot of nerve pain down primarily my right leg, and to slighter extent my left

VA doc put me on Gabapentin for now, which seems to be helping, and sent me in for a MRI. Now the VA is sending me back to see the surgeon.

Was wondering if someone could take a look at my MRI results below and maybe help translate it to normal english :-)

Thanks

MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/CONTRAST Results:

The conus and cauda equina are normal. Bilateral pedicle screws are present at L5-S1

L1-2 Mild diffuse annular bulge

L2-3 Normal

L3-4 normal

L4-5 Mild diffuse annular bulge

L5-S1 Moderate loss of disc height with disorganization and extension of the T2 nuclear signal to the posterior annular fibers. Moderate inferior L5 Sshmorl's node. Moderate right foraminal stenosis. The intraforaminal right L5 nerve root is not well visualized on the sagittal images due to susceptibility artifact from the adjacent hardware. There is mild enhancement surrounding the transiting right S1 nerve root in the lateral recess

The abdominal aorta caliber is normal, The visualized retroperitoneal structures are normal

Impression:

L5-S1 surgical changes as described with mild epidural fibrosis of the right S1 nerve root suspected. Intraforaminal right L5 nerve root is obscured by artifact. There is moderate stenosis of the right L5-S1 neural foramen. The L5-S1 disc is moderately degenerated and associated with a annular tear