Can anyone help explain these MRI results?

[Stacia718]

Can someone explain what the following MRI results actually mean?

MRI of my Lumbar Spine w/out Contrast:
1. There is a transitional vertebra present.
2. L3-L4 There is desiccation of intervertebral disc.  At this level there is a diffues posterior bulging annulus with some effacement of the subarachnoid space ventrally.  There are also hypertrophic changes of teh facet joints and overall there is some mild stenosis of the central spinal canal.  The neural foramina are just within normal limits in sized.

MRI of my Thoracic Spine w/out Contrast:
1. T6-T7 There is a moderate-sized left paracentral disc protrustion with effacement of the left ventral subarachnoid space and some mild ventral impression upon the left ventral aspect of the thoracic spinal cord.  The neural foramina are withing normal limits.
2. T7-T8 There is a small left paracentral disc protrusion with some effacement of the left ventral subarachnoid space.
3. There is some milde scoliosis of the thoracic spine.

All this is on top of the fusion I had at C3-C4 and the bulging/herniated discs at C5-C6 & C6-C7.
Thanks!

[Tuckamore]

Hi Stacie,

Please provide the conclusion portion of this report. I'll try to help you with this once I see the conclusion.

Peace,
Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Hi Again Stacie,

Here are some explanations of the results of your MRI of the Lumbar spine. This is not an experts opinion or a physicians opinion. This is my personal opinion and should be considered as such. Your physician will offer a better and more accurate explanation.

MRI of  Lumbar Spine (the lower portion of the back)
1. "Transitional vertebra"  Transitional  vertebrae comes from the Latin word "transeo" meaning "to go across. The Latin word "vertebra" meaning "joint." Put the words together and you get "to go across the joint." This is congenital, meaning you were born with it. In some ppl this can cause discomfort and in others it doesn't seem to cause any issues.  

2. L3-L4 If you take out all the medical terms and medical decriptions of the location it simply means that you have bad disc and facet joint.  Desiccation means atrophy or drying out of the intervertebral disc, resulting in loss of height.
Bulging annulus, around the outside of the disc is a thick material called the annulus, it goes around the outside of the disc. This apparently has begun to wear out or flatten and bulge out. Imagine a squashing of a marshmallow.

Effacement is the shortening, or thinning, of a tissue or in your case the subarachnoid space ventrally meaning to the front (anterior) of the structure.

Hypertrophic mean enlargement or overgrowth. In terms if the facet joints this post likely means enlargement of the facet joints due to disease or age.  

Mild stenosis of the central spinal canal means that the area is stenotic or narrowing. This condition effects about 5 in every 1,000 ppl and can case pain also. The narrowing is most likely due to the bulging described earlier but it can be from other conditions.

All this really means is that you have obvious reasons for pain. How they will treat this will depend on your symptoms and your physicians or surgeons opinions of the significance of these findings as compared to your symptoms.

The results of the MRI of your Thoracic Spine also reveals some disc issues at T6-7 and T7-T8 along with some mild scoliosis (bending).

Again can you please share the conclusions of the MRIs? That will help shed some light on what the radiologist thought who is the professional expert.

Best of luck and take care.
Tuck

[Stacia718]

Hey Tuck,

Thanks for the response.  Actually what I posted it was the radiologist listed in the "Impression" section of the report and in this case mirrors what he wrote in the "Findings" section.  I am used to seeing them do a summary/conclusion section as you are asking for that tends to state things a "tad" clearer however, all I got this time was a repeat of the findings. Only other thing I forgot to add to the lumbar section is that I have a rudimentary interverterbral disc at S1-S2 and because of the transitional vertebra the numbering section for L1 etc lumbarizes what would be referred to as S1 segment.  Sorry I couldn't provide more...saw my doc today..she said things not looking so great with my back especially with the symptoms I have also...fun fun...  :)
Off to the pain management doc this coming Monday so that will be interesting...

[sandee1818]

Remember that when you do see the PM doctor to make certain you get across to him/her the exact pain you have and the TRUE pain level. Alot of people will downplay their pain and this is not helpful. I wish you the best of luck:)
Keep us posted!