Help to interpret MRI Results.

[lotsamommy]

I am 27 and was in a car accident Sept 06. I was on the passenger side of the van and we were hit on my side at high speeds.

After complaining of pain since massage therapy and physio treatment has terminated, they have *finally* done an MRI. Here are the results (which I don't understand at all).  My Dr says that these results could have been caused by the accident. Does that seem likely?

At L-5-S1, there is a mild loss of disc space height and hydration. There is a disc bulge with a tiny to small boad-based right lateral disc protrusion abutting the right S-1 nerve root. There is no spinal stenosis. The neural foramina are patent. The facent joints are normal. The alignment of the lumbar spine is normal. The vertebral body heights are well maintained. The conus is normal and terminates at the L1 2 disc space level. 9mm hemangioma is noted at the L1 vertebral body level.

The sagittal STIR sequence demonstrates no edema in the vertebral bodies or paravertebral soft tissues.

Any help with interpretation would be helpful.  

[aliceinwonderland320]

Your pain is totally normal!  Basically, what your MRI says is that your back was normal before the accident, because your facet joints and spinal alignment do not suggest a pre existing degenerative back problem.  Edema is swelling.  I have a hemangioma at L2, and have learned that these are groupings of blood vessels that are usually something we are born with.  I was also in a car accident, in May of 06, funny enough the date u listed first is my birthday and we are the same age.  I have lived in constant pain since then,and  have had several MRI's done and have learned a lot over the time between.  If you have not already done so, get a lawyer!!! Your injury sounds to me as if it could be rather serious if you are not careful in day to day life.  Some states give you two years to file a suit against the responsible driver, others give you less.  So check into this first!  If you need future care, you should not have to pay, and the law limits the time you have to get your case filed.  I too have problems with L5 S1, which is the lowest disc before your sacrum near where your buttox is located. Your L5 S1 is touching the nerve root in your spinal cord, which can cause severe pain traveling through the hips or buttox and down one leg, possibly your right leg, like mine.  I have bulging discs that are pinching off the nerve roots as well.  It can also cause your foot to go numb or just a few toes.  Your discs work like shock absorbers, and your L5 S1 disc sits between those two bony vertebrae.  As time goes by (and has gone by for us both), due to the injury to the disc, your disc has lost its natural water content to some degree.  This is bad.  Eventually it can lead to back surgery to stabilize the bones that surround the disc.  Protrusion means that your disc is pushing into the nerve.  It can mean that the inside of your disc is drying out and because of the injury is pushing its center, called the nucleus, outward and hitting your nerve.  Because of this reason and a resulting herniated disc, I have spent many months out of work.  I live in pain every day and my  L5 disc is now sliding around because the disc has dried out.  If your disc dries out enough, it will be unable to absorb the shock of walking around and you will have problems.  Your MRI and mine both say that there is a loss of disc height, which is due to the drying out of the disc itself, which causes the disc to get shorter and the vertebrae or bones to get closer.  If this process continues, your pain will worsen and you may need surgery.  Take your MRI to Either a neurologist or an orthopedic doctor.  These doctors usually will be able to tell you if you need further help or even surgery.  You and I both are young and our backs have to last a lifetime.  Car accidents can take you by total surpriseand truly wreck your life.  I was at a red light and got rear ended by one car that hit another into my car while I had my cell phone pinned to my shoulder and was twisting down to the passenger side floor to grab my cd case.  It was totally unexpected.  Since we are so young, it sucks, because these types of back conditions do not heal like other wounds or a broken bone might.  I also have similar problems with the disc L4-L5, right above the L5S1 and with Thoracic 2-3, which is in the mid back.  You are showing early signs of degenerative disc disease, which is what I have, and at some point in your life, It could really become a problem.  You are already in pain.  There is no need to suffer.  So, see a neuro or an orthopaedic, NOT A CHIROPRACTOR (sometimes they can make things worse), and find out if there is anything else you should do.  I'm not sure where you live, but go to the best doctor your insurance or lawyer will let you see.  I hope this helps.  Hope you are doing alright with your pain management!
Tiffany  ( Chicago area)

[lotsamommy]

Just to be clear, the car accident was September 2006, not Sept 6 :)