MRI - Need help with reading findings (always in pain)

[jaydeefly]

Thoracic Spine - Fibrofatty marrow as a generalized finding.  area of low signal on the T1 and T2 data set involving the T9 vertebral body, most likely an area of sclerosis.  T3-T4: Right-sided HNP 4mm in AP dimension mildly effacing the right hemicord.  The remaining thoracic discs appear unremarkable without evidence of compressive discopathy or central canal stenosis or foraminal stenosis.

Lumbar Spine - Transitional vertebra in interpreted as L5 with a vestigial disc at L5-S1. If any surgical intervention is contemplated, careful correlation with this exam, intraoperative fluoroscopy and plain films is recommended to ensure intervention at the correct disc leel.
Based upon this numbering system, the highest visualized disc, visualized on the sagittal T2 data set, is T10-T11.
Fibrofatty marrow is noted as a generalized finding.
L2-L3: Shallow biforaminal protrusions more prominent on the left.  Mild facet arthropathy with mild narrowing of the inferior portion of the foramina left greater than the right. No evidence of nerve root compression.
L3-L4: Disc desiccation.  shallow bulging disc with annular rents foraminal and extraforaminal bilaterally.  Mild facet arthropathy with mild narowing of the inferior portion of the foramina bilaterally.  Minimal flattening of he ventral thecal sac by the bulging disc.
L4-L5: Shallow bulging disc. Facet arthropathy with mild biforaminal narrowing.
L5-S1: Vestigal disc is noted. No evidence of central canal stenosis or foraminal stenosis.

Cervical Spine: Fibrofatty marrow is noted.
C3-C4: shallow rightward disc-osteophyte complex barely effacing the thecal sac, not neurocompressive.
C4-C5: no evidence of compressive disc disease. Noncompressive disc displacement.
C5-C6: minimal disc displacement rightward, barely effacing the thecal sac, not neurocompressive.
C6-C7: shallow bulging disc that mildly effaces the thecal sac, not neurocompressive.
All cervical discs except C7-T1 are desiccated.
Minimal disc displacements/bulges at C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7 level, effacing the thecal sac without evidence of cord compression.

Any feedback is welcomed!

[jaydeefly]

thanks for your feedback.  I've seen a few doctors who looked at my MRI results and said that not much was found and they don't understand why i have the pain that i am having.  i read the results and it looks to me that alot was found and i was hoping that surgery or the correct medicine would help me.

[Spaceystac]

I am not a doctor, I just do a lot of research on this stuff.

T-spine
The fibro fatty marrow being noted as an area of sclerosis, that means hardening of tissue so It is most likely from general  degeneration and wear and tear of the vertebra, sometimes old age causes it...i think.
   A HNP is a herniated nucleus pulposus, or herniated disk. So that is hard to do at T3-T4, The T-spine in a less likely area of the spine to herniate.

L-spine

transitional vertebra,
n a congenital vertebral defect in which the vertebra develops features of the adjoining region or structure—for example, lumbosacral or cervicothoracic—resulting in major postural effects on the vertebral column.

Transitional vertebra
at the junction of two regions, e.g. lumbar and sacral, which take on the characteristics of the arch and articular processes of the next section.

So, its basically a defect part of your L5 S1 and is the Vestigal disk, an extra disk.

There is degenerative disk disease, and degenerative joint disease. These are encroaching on the space where your nerves exit your spine and go to your body parts, causing alot of your pain.  

C-spine

More degenerative arthritis's noted, through most of the cervical spine and disk displacement.



Over all, It shows why you are in pain. These are not good findings, but you will be ok!  They are not life threatening as of now, and that not usual to die from herniated disks. There is no cure for these things, but they can do surgery to ease some of your pain, but you will most likely deal with some pain the rest of your life. Try to learn coping skills, and hopefully you can take medications to help you deal with it.  

Im not sure if I covered everything, so if you have anymore questions feel free to ask and I will try my best!     Hope all is all right!          Stacey