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Increasing pain....MRI report, please help.

Hi. Could someone help me with the following MRI results. My appt with the orthopedic specialist is weeks away and I got my MRI report back and I am very anxious to know what it means. Any and all help would be appreciated! I need to ease my nerves. I had a fusion in my lower back 11 years ago and I have suffered from back pain of some sorts since then (my entire adult life) and at times don't even realize how much pain I am in. I guess after 11 years, the pain has become part of my life. I have noticed increased pain in my lower back and upper right-hand side of my back over the past year. I have lost 85 pounds over the the past 2 yrs and now am noticing a "hump" on my upper right-hand side in the bending position. Do you think any of my problems would require additional surgery, etc? Once again, thank you for any help.

Female, 36 years of age
Exam: MRI Lumbar without contrast (Unpaired)
CPT Code(s): 72148 – MAGNETIC RESONANCE (EG, PROTON) IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS, LUMBAR; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL
EXAMINATION: MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast, 10/22/08
COMPARISON: None.
HISTORY: Low back pain radiating into the left leg, chronic x11 years; Surgery 11 years ago.

TECHNIQUE: Sagittal and axial sequences were obtained.

FINDINGS:
There is dextrorotoscoliosis at the lumbar spine, perhaps greatest at the L3-4 region. AP alignment shows mild anterior subluxation of L5 on S1. Modic I-II changes are seen at L3-4; elsewhere, marrow appears within normal limits. Discs are desiccated below L3. Conus medullaris is visualized at about T12-L1.

L1-2: Mild facet overgrowth. Otherwise, negative.

L2-3: Greater amount of facet overgrowth. No foraminal stenosis or thecal sac distortion.

L3-4: Left hemilaminectomy at L3. There is marked right lateral subluxation of L3 on L4. The right facet is subluxed and there is ligamentum flavum thickening. The intervertebral disc bulge at both right posterolateral and left posterolateral aspects, with severe left foraminal stenosis and moderate to severe right foraminal stenosis. AP canal width is about 8 mm.

L4-5: Laminectomies are seen at L5 extending into S1. There are findings of posterior fusion bilaterally. Mild central protrusion of disc is seen. There is mild anterior contact of the thecal sac, left of midline. Mild to moderate foraminal stenosis is seen on the left, moderate to mark\ed on the right. Facets appear within normal limits. There is some transverse narrowing of the thecal sac secondary to ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, however, the AP measurement of the canal is 15 mm.

L5-S1: Thecal sac is patulous. There is posterior extension consistent with laminectomies. Moderate to marked narrowing is seen of the neural foramina.

Paraspinous muscle atrophy is seen, associated with laminectomy changes.

IMPRESSION:

1. Acquired spinal stenosis, L3-4, with AP canal with central canal of 8 mm. Moderate to severe bilateral foraminal stenosis.

2. Status post laminectomies with posterior fusion, L5 extending inferiorly and left hemilaminectomy at L3

3. Grade I spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1. Moderate to marked bilateral foraminal narrowing.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the input!
Helpful - 0
667177 tn?1225446343
I do know L-# is refering to a certain spot on your soine. they use these numbers in medical term so when the doc is reading the report he doesnt have to keep looking at the films to know what they are talking about. i found this picture...copy and paste,i hope it helps......http://www.spinetime.com/wizzf.html..... oh yeah stenosis means narrowing,  if i have a chance to read the whole thing ill write more. good luck
Helpful - 0
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