What does all this mean?

[luvdemhorsez]

I have been fighting with unbearable pain for about 8 or 9 years due to my back & the past 2 years with my neck. The doctor told me she ordered the MRI to be done on my neck & back but to find out it was ONLY of my back. Here are the results: Findings

The alignment of the lumbar spine is unremarkable. There is disc disiccation at all levels. There are anterior tears at L4-5 an L5-S1. There is a S1 perineural nerve root sleeve cyst measuring 1.2cm. There is a right T11-12 neural foramen perineural nerve root sleeve cyst measuring 1cm. There is a right L2-3 neural foramen perineural nerve root sleeve cyst measuring 9mm. There is a suspected S2 perineural nerve root cyst measuring 7mm. The conus is at L1.
At L1-2 the disc is unremarkable. There is a mild facet arthropathy. There is no neural foraminal narrowing. There is no spinal canal narrowing. There is a left-sided neural foramen perineural nerve root sleeve cyst measuring 7mm.

At L2-3 there is a minimal disc bulge. There is a mild facet arthropathy. There is a left-sided neural foramen perineural nerve root sleeve cyst measuring 7mm.

At L3-4 the disc is unremarkable. There is mild facet arthropathy. There is no narrowing.

At L4-5 there is a circumferential disc bulge with central disc extrusion extends inferiorly. There is ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. There is bilateral lateral recess.

I am undergoing injections into my right hip at this time for the arthritis. I can not get my new family doctor to continue my pain medications. I need information to help me make a choice of what to do next.  

[shinty]

i always just basically skip to the "findings' section of the mri--it's usually in plain english and summarizes the problem. It's omitted from your post, it's usually located at the bottom of the report.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

The MRI describes mild degenerative changes at multiple levels of the lower spine with intervertebral disc bulge at L2/ L3 and L4/ L5 and cysts surrounding the nerve root at T11/ T12, L1/ L2, L2/ L3 and S1. Since the cysts could cause potential neural compression, possibly responsible for the symptoms; there are two modalities of management 1. Surgical removal of the cysts or 2. Continued pain management. I would suggest consulting a neurologist for a detailed evaluation at this time for suggestion of an appropriate management plan.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!