Hi, I am a 33 year old female and have been having back pain for a while now. I just got a new MRI done of my thorasic spine and I got my report today. Can someone help me understand it? My neurologist is saying there is nothing they can do but to keep just taking pain medicine, which I do not want to have to rely on for the rest of my life. Here is what the report states:

There are multilevel degenerative disc disease, most notably at T5-6, T6-7, and T7-8 with intervertebral disc desiccation and decreased height.
At T5-6 there is right posterior central disc extrusion, with narrowing of the right ventral thecal sac and contacting but not deforming the right ventral spinal cord.
At T6-7 there is central posterior disc protrusion, with contact and deformity of the right ventral spinal cord as well as slightly increased spinal cord T2 signal of the gray matter which is likely compressive myelopathy.
At T7-8 there is central posterior disc protrusion which effaces the ventral thecal sac and contacting and deforming the spinal cord this level, with corresponding increased T2 signal of the gray matter, likely representing compressive myelopathy
Impression:
Multilevel degenerative disease of the thoracic spine, most notably at T6-7 and T7-8 with associated focal posterior disc protrusion, mild spinal cord deformity and abnormal cord signal most likely secondary to compressive myelopathic changes.

Pleaae explain what all this means? I want to get a second opinion on how to treat my back pain, but I use the VA and the only other insurance I have is medicare and I cannot afford to pay out of pocket right now.

Hi, I'm sorry I can't understand either of our MRI's, but over the past 6 months I've developed severe upper back pain. On my lower back issues there's not much help but pain pills, physical therapy/exercise, and for me weight loss. Back surgery is from what I understand a 50/50 success rate in pain reduction. And with any surgery there are risks involved. I'm also on medicare. It's great coverage, but I'm now on a fixed income. At some point I'll get an upper back MRI but don't expect many solutions bive also had ribcage pain under my armpits and my middle back; has this been a problem for you?

I bolded some main points to make it easier for you to look up more info..

Does anyone in your family have DDD ( degenerative disc disease) also?
Did you have any sort of injury in the past to that part of your spine?

I don't know what options are out there for DDD , that is something for the dr to discuss with you.

If not many options , and pain is increasing and you would like to avoid medications...ask about SCS (spinal cord stimulator).
Perhaps a TENS or IF stim would be helpful to lessen medication use.

Hi xarmyangelx

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I can't help with interpretation of the MRI but an option which you could think about is seeing a professional physiotherapist/physical therapist.

I have chronic lower back pain (not degenerative disc disease) and my physiotherapist has helped me a lot with that.

All the best.