MRI Results

[blonderae]

Can someone please explain this to me in lame mans terms?

For the purposes of the examination the last well formed intervertebral disk is designated as the L5-S1 disk.
Theres is normal lumbar lordosis. There vertebral bodies demonstrate normal height without evidence of compression fracture.  The distal cord and conus modulars are normal in appearance.  The caudal equine nerve roots are normal in appearance.  The conus modulars terminates at L1.
At L1-L2, there are Modic endplate degenerative changes with minimal circumferential disc bulging without spinal canal or neural foramina stenosis.
At L2-3, there is circumferential disc bulging effacing the lateral recesses with no significant neural foramina stenosis and overall mild spinal canal stenosis.  Modi endplate changes are also noted.
At L3-4, there is circumferential disc bulging and facet hypertrophy resulting in mild spinal canal stenosis.
At L4-5, there is a central disc protrusion/extrusion measuring 1 cm cc x 1 cm TR x 4 mm AP superimposed in circumferential disc bulging resulting in effacement of the lateral recesses, mild spinal canal stenosis, without significant neural foramina stenosis.
At L5-S1, there is bilateral facet hypertrophy resulting in mild spinal canal stenosis.
There are no abnormal paraspinous masses.
Slightly prominent bone merrier edema is not in the L4 and L5 vertebral bodies that is most likely related to prominent reactive edema du to degenerative changes, however , consider follow up imaging with x-rays and / or MRI with contrast. .
I am in a lot of pain, especially in the morning, What would the treatment be for something like this?  Am I just going to have to live with chronic pain?

[yardman999]

Hi,
You don't give your age, but if you are between 20-40, have you had a blood test for the HLA27 gene ? I had very similar symptoms to you.A blood test confirmed Ankylosing Spondylitis.Some mornings my lower back pain was so bad I couldn't get out of bed.I had to roll out of bed, onto the floor then drag myself up.The pain was horrendous.I was 23 ehen my problems started.I was put on anti TNF injections which helped to control it, but I still needed huge amounts of Morphine to cope with the pain.You really must find out what's causing your problems as if you do havs AS, without proper treatment it will get worse.

[philnoir]

Facet hypertrophy indicates spondylosis -- an arthritic condition of the spinal joints. You also show signs of degenerative disc disease.

This can be a painful condition, but the pain of arthritic facet joints can be treated with a non-surgical procedure called a medial branch neurotomy.

I suggest follow up with an interventional pain and spine physician.