HELP READING MRI RESULTS

[jwar666]

I AM HAVING TROUBLE READING MRI RESULT. IVE BEEN FEELING THIS SHARP PAIN NEAR MY TAIL BONE AREA... PLEASE HELP.


2MM AP DIMENSION POSTERIOR ANNULAR DISC BULGES AT T11-12 ADN T12-L1 WITHOUT NEURAL ENCROACHMENT.

L1-2 MILD DISC DESSICATION. 2MM IN AP DIMENSION ANNULAR DISC BULG WITH MILD IMPRESSION ON THE THECAL SAC. NO SIGNIFIANT CENTRAL OR FORAMINAL STENOSIS.

L4-5 MLD DISC DESSICATION. 2MM IN AP DIMENSION ANNULAR DISC BULGE WITH MILD IMPRESSION ON THE  THECAL SAC. NO SIGNIFIANT CENTRAL OR FORAMINAL STENOSIS.

L5-S1 MILD DISC DESSICATION. 2MM IN AP DIMENSION ANNULAR DISC BULGE WITH MILD IMPRESSION ON THE THECAL SAC. NO SIGNIFICANT CENTRAL OR FORAMINAL STENOSIS. MILD BILATERAL FACET JOINT ARTHROSIS WITH MILD SCLEROSIS BOTH L5 PARS BUT NO DISCRETE PARS STRESS FRACTURE.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Jwar,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us at MedHelp and took the time to post. I am sorry you are having pain.

It can be difficult to read an MRI if you have no experience with medical terms and basically it's medical terminology for the structure of your spine. I'll try to explain some of the terms and what the imaging reveals.

L I-2 names the location, Lumbar vertebra 1 and 2 and so on to S1 which means sacral vertebra. So the radiologist is naming the location of the disc that is between each vertebra space or in medical terms, intervertebral discs.The Disc is complex and connects two vertebra together.

The sacral vertebra are the last in the column to have intervertebral discs . The area thought to be your former tail or the last set of vertebra is called the Coccygeal vertebrae where there are no intervertebral discs. It is not mentioned on your MRI.

So once the radiologist names the location he explains his interpretation of the imaging. in L1-2 he used the term Dessication which means the disc is dried out or lacking in the the amount of usual fluid that allows it to move freely without discomfort and acts as a shock absorber. The radiologist terms yours as mild dessication, or mild loss of fluid. As this happens a disc will usually bulge outward.

2mm (fairly small) is the size of the bulge and posterior (back)  is the location of the bulge and annular is what is bulging, the thick fibrous material that makes up the outer portion of the disc called the annulus thus the term annular.  

I'll back up a little and mention that this impression begins with the T 11-12 which is the Thoracic vertebra. This is the upper to mid-back area and is still just another named location of the spinal column.

Stenosis means narrowing. As a disc bulges into the spinal canal it can cause stenosis which can in turn encroach (pinch or compress) upon spinal nerves and be extremely painful and cause radicular ( or radiating) pain. Your imaging does not note any stenosis, which is great news for you.

Also noted is mild bilateral (both sides) facet joint arthrosis (arthritis) at the L5-S1 (location). The facet joints occur in pairs at the back of each vertebra. They form a connection to the vertebra above and below each vertebra which again allows the spinal column to move in unison. The are tiny joints similar to knees and elbows. Your MRI reveals you have a bit of arthritis in that pair of facet joints, not uncommon.  

Basically the MRI reveals you have reason for pain in various part of your spinal structure. The lowest portion, L5-S1 disc issues along with the facet joint arthritis in that area may account for the pain you are experiencing. Nothing looks like a surgical repair is required, but I am far from an expert. Hopefully other treatment options will be offered to you.

However these are only personal interpretations of your MRI and are not a substitute for a professional opinion. Your physician will be able to address your questions and concerns much more accurately than I am able to do. I hope this gives you some bases of understanding to aid you in asking better questions.

Please let us know how you are doing. I hope you will share with us the results of your next appointment. I wish you the very best and look forward to hearing from you again.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[brandy681]

I think that means you have MILD pain, mild buldge. Talk to your doctor further if you need helps.

[namnam46]

HI jwar666,

First, let me Welcome you to the Pain Management Forum!! It's the PERFECT place to be when you are suffering from CP (Chronic Pain).

I'm so VERY sorry for what you are going thru with your pain. There's nothing worse than having to put up with such debilitating pain. You now have a place where you can come and vent or ask questions or help other people with their pain questions.

I will be the first to tell you that I can't help with what your MRI says. I've had MRI's but just don't fully understand them. I do know the obvious that "mild" is MUCH better than "moderate" or "severe".  So in that respect you are fortunate. That DOESN'T mean that you don't have EXTREME pain. Back pain is unbelievably debilitating. There are many of us on here that suffer from back pain and there are MANY times that it is TOTALLY unbearable!!

There will be others on here later that can give you some insight to what you MRI means.

However, what did your Dr. tell you when he gave you the results? If you can tell us that it would help some of us be able to explain more to you.

Again, I'm so glad you found us and please keep us posted on how things go. We hope that you will take part and help some of the others on here with there questions that you might have some expertise in.  :)  .....Sherry