Lumbar Spine MRI - Surgery????

I would like to know the layman's terms for an MRI report.  I am at the point of deciding on surgery or not.  I have looked up some information and to me, it doesn't look like I should take the chance on infusion surgery.  I just had a second MRI done today; the last was in March.  I will give you the summation of the report from March and I would greatly appreciate your opinion on how I should proceed.

"Moderate left paracentral herniation of nucleus pulposis at L5-S1 with dural sac compression and probable compression of the left S1 rott at its origin.  Moderate degenerative disc disease at Lr-S1.  Levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine".

Also they note that "There is moderate narrowing of the L5-S1 interspace with loss of signal on the T2 weighted images in keeping with partial disc desiccation.  Mildsubcortical sclerosis and edema is noted about about the L5-S1 interspace.  Moderate left parcentral herniation of increased pulposus is noted at L5-S1 with ventral dural sac compression and probable compression of the left S1 rott at its origin".

I've had 2 series of epidural shots; the first was acutally 2 to the left side of my lumber spine which really worked well but only lasted a month.  The second was just 1 shot between my left side and mid back - there was no relief at all....  

I cannot stand on my feet for more than 10 to 15 minutes to do dishes, put wash on, etc.  I have pain upon wakening and sometimes have to 'slide' out of bed.

I would greatly appreciate your opinion on my condition in terms I can understand and what you would suggest as far as surgery or getting shots every month?

Thank you.

[nicki33]

Oh my!! me and you have so much in common,,,, I am not at your point of decision yet, but in mid jan will have a similar decision to make.. I had an injury at work back in august and now have L5-S1 degenerating disc disease and osteoarthristis in the right facet joint, I feel like terrible and all daily activities are a chalenge and have consequences.my doc has also suggested if not better a surgeon,,, now my neck has a wiplash feeling, and also do not get much rest due to pain,spasm,disconfort, and pain pills aren't working. I feel like at this point of my life of 30's, I'm going to try anything to regain my normal life, but reality is live as best as you can,,,rest well, eat well, I' ve being trying mind over matter, some days are better than others.... Opinion inform yourself and ask alot of questions...Hope the new year is better...  Sorry it's not much but a little hope...

[neck & joints]

Hi Linda,

I had a lower back injury in 2001, L4 L5. I could not walk for a few months and my whole body would shake. I did all the drugs and shots and nothing helped. I continued to fight to make it work. Why because I lost my Cousin just a year before to suicide due to her back injury. When she came out of surgury the doctors told her it did not go well and there was nothing more they could do for her. She ended her life as soon as she got alone at home just a couple days later. I am tellng you this because I decided to take a different aproach. I went the routeof Chiroprators and massage therapist and physical therapy. It was a long painful road and just when I thought my back had stopped hurting overnight just last summer, then my neck slipped a disc into my spinal cord. I now have had surgury on my neck with fusion to C5-C7 two levels. For what ever reason, my lower back seems to have stopped hurting. I have degenerative Arthitis on every level of my spine, in my hips knees and ankles. I can say looking back from where I am now, I am so happy I did not do surgury on my lower back. Yoga helped a great deal too. I had no choice with neck, it was basicly broken and my bood pressure was getting so high I would have had a heart attack if I continued that way. I was in surgery within two weeks after it slipped. My other point being that if you are being given a choice, I say no surgery. My neck surgery has been a success but you know they are coming out with artificial disc soon that are already being studied in people now. If I had to choose between fusion and an artificial disc, I will go with the disc. Once you are fused there is no turning back.

Take Care and hang in there

[BrandyF]

Hi Linda!   I was in a very bad car accident back in 2003, I now have degenerative disc disease, I found out about 4 months ago that i had 8 disc herniations in my spine! My 1st severe problem was in my lumbar spine- I had 3 epidural lumbar blocks 1 wk apart, which did nothing!! I went back a couple of days later, they had my MRI results & sent me straight to the hospital 4 surgery!! My lumbar surgery was a success!! The pain was gone! I had my lumbar surgery on SEPT 19TH, then I had cervical surgery with fushion( metal cage & screws) on OCT 31ST! I now for the past 3 weeks have been having trouble in my lumbar spine again, think i'm looking at yet another surgery!! I'm waitng 4 my ins. co. to approve another mri, so they can find out what to do! My surgeries have went well, but I would not advise them unless it is ABSOLUTELY neccessary!!! thats 4 sure!! It seems like with mine every time I get something taken care of something that it triggers some other part to go wrong!! i think it's from the instability of my spine after the surgeries! I also now have SI JOINT pain/dysfunction that i'm getting ready to have radiofrequency procedure on!   Best of luck 2 ya, I will keep u in my prayers, Brandy

[kiki96]

I had a MRI done, i have lumbar L5 degeneration disc disease the doc is saying fushion  do you think i shoud have it done iam in so much pain. nothing eles work for me it been 10 years for me

[Mollyrae]

Hello Linda:

I'm sorry that you're going through such a rough time. To answer your question about what an MRI stands for, here is the best descrption I can give you.

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and is a machine you go into and is very simalar to an x-ray.While inside the machine,it makes noise and takes very detailed pictures of any part of your body.This is painless and takes anywhere from 1 minute to 2 hours.In the machine you have to stay completely still. It gives the Doctor or Surgeon a much better look at what's going on. In fact, the MRI can pin point the problem area so that they can decide whether or not Surgery is needed.

I have had a few MRI's and with that had surgery to fuse the problem area. I had L4,5 & S1 fused and was thankful they did. I was in considerable pain before hand and after the surgery with time to heal, I was feeling good. I won't say that all the pain was gone but a great deal of it was no more.

I wouldn't let others scare you with surgery horror stories...everyone is different and reacts to surgeries in different ways.

What you need to do is listen to the Doctors. Get second and third opinions if you must. In my opinion, you should go with the majority of the opinions.

MRI's in my opinion are a good way of letting you decide whether or not you need the surgery.

I hope this helps. Please take care and good luck in what ever you do.

My best,
Mollyrae