[grammy2threezs]

I had a MRI done and got the results today. Can someone please tell me what this means.

1. Mild to moderate degenerative disc and endplate and
facet joint changes at L5- S1 with 1 cm. paracentral disc protrusion
with impingement of the left descending S1 nerve root at the level of
L5-S1. Small synovial cyst off the left facet joint also noted at
this level, which contributes to nerve root impingement at this
level.

[Kathi49]

Grammy,

What it is basically saying is that your facets are probably arthritic and you have some narrowing; probably stenosis. You have a bit of a disc bulge but it appears there is impingement at the L5/S1 level. Sooo...either facet joint nerve blocks or a selective nerve root injection would probably help with the pain. But there are also meds. For myself, I get the injections since they are diagnostic AND therapeutic. Overall, your nerves (medial branch as well as the L5/S1) are irritated/impinged. I don't think it is a surgery deal at all. But I know the pain can be very bad with the impingement going on as well as the facets.