Aa
Help understanding report
Hi, this is my first post.. First, you all seem so amazing with advice and inspiration...For the last year i have been having low back pain.. I was in a bad car accident about a 3 yrs ago, but i don't think it was from that..Other than that i have done nothing differently.. I had a MRI and this is what is saysa
at the bottom
Impression:
L4-5 Broad Disc Bulge and mild Spinal Canal Stenosis.
L5-S1 Disc Protrusion and Bilateral Proximal Foraminal Mild to moderate Narrowings.
Above that it says
At L5-! There is a Broad disc protrusion. Part of the disc material appears to migrate posterior to S1 vertebral body..There is a mild impression upon the anterior thecal sac. There is a mild bilateral facet arthropathy. The findings result in bilateral mild to moderate proximal neural foraminal narrowings.
Degenerative changes of the left sacroiliac joints are noted.
above that ( sorry kind of going from bottom to top)
At L4-L5 there is a broad disc bulge, mild facet arthropathy with some thickening of ligamentum flavum and the findings result in mild spinal canal stenosis. There is no significant foraminal narrowing..
I have had 2 injections in my back that has helped but for only a couple months.. The pain medicine makes me very constipated and not clear headed.. The pain just gets worst...
Can anyone help me understand what all this means.. The doctors just want to give me medication, and thearpy, which i think the thearpy is working some..thanks in advance for any replys..
thank you
at the bottom
Impression:
L4-5 Broad Disc Bulge and mild Spinal Canal Stenosis.
L5-S1 Disc Protrusion and Bilateral Proximal Foraminal Mild to moderate Narrowings.
Above that it says
At L5-! There is a Broad disc protrusion. Part of the disc material appears to migrate posterior to S1 vertebral body..There is a mild impression upon the anterior thecal sac. There is a mild bilateral facet arthropathy. The findings result in bilateral mild to moderate proximal neural foraminal narrowings.
Degenerative changes of the left sacroiliac joints are noted.
above that ( sorry kind of going from bottom to top)
At L4-L5 there is a broad disc bulge, mild facet arthropathy with some thickening of ligamentum flavum and the findings result in mild spinal canal stenosis. There is no significant foraminal narrowing..
I have had 2 injections in my back that has helped but for only a couple months.. The pain medicine makes me very constipated and not clear headed.. The pain just gets worst...
Can anyone help me understand what all this means.. The doctors just want to give me medication, and thearpy, which i think the thearpy is working some..thanks in advance for any replys..
thank you
First a Terminology Lesson
Disc Bulge: General pushing out of a spinal disc, extending the disc from its normal position. Considered a normal occurrence with age.
Broad Disc Bulge: The term “broad based” simply refers to the size of the actual bulge or herniation. When the size of the herniation is 25% to 50% of the total disc circumference, the disc is called broad based.
Disc Protrusion: is a herniated disc in which the disc tissue has protruded beyond the disc space but is contained within intact annulus. In other words it hasn’t ruptured.
Spinal Canal Stenosis: The spinal canal is the space inside the lower spine that carries nerves to your legs. It narrow, over time bone and tissue around it can narrow it further. This narrowing is called stenosis. Some things that can cause it are disc bulges and herniations, bone spurs/arthritis and ligament thickening.
Facet joints: Joints of the spine that connect all of the vertebrae and allow coordinated movement of the vertebral column.
Facet arthritis: Degeneration of facet joint cartilage and hypertrophy of the bone forming the joint.
Neural foramen: the space through which nerve roots exit the spinal canal to form peripheral nerves and in which the nerve root ganglia lie.
Thecal sac: encases the spinal cord and contains fluid to protect and feed the nerves. It is composed of dura mater and arachnoid mater.
Ligamentum flavum: is a strong ligament that connects the laminae of the vertebrae. It can sometimes become stiff and thick over time.
http://www.med.nyu.edu/hjd/hjdspine/education/glossary/definitionlist.html
At L4-L5 there is a broad disc bulge, mild facet arthropathy with some thickening of ligamentum flavum and the findings result in mild spinal canal stenosis. There is no significant foraminal narrowing.
You have a disc bulge at this level, some mild arthritis of the facet joints and the ligamentum flavum has thickened a little resulting in mild spinal canal narrowing.
The report also states that you don’t have any significant foraminal narrowing. Nothing real bad at this level.
At L5-S1 There is a Broad disc protrusion. Part of the disc material appears to migrate to the posterior of the S1 vertebral body. There is a mild impression upon the thecal sac. There is a mild bilateral facet arthropathy. The findings result in bilateral mild to moderate proximal neural foraminal narrowing.
Ok here you have disc protrusion, and its just touching the thecal sac at this level. The protrusion is also causing mild to moderate bilateral (both sides) neural foraminal narrowing. This is probably causing the majority of your pain. Simply put, your disc bulge is pressing on your nerve roots at this level, that’s what’s causing your pain. Do a search on S1 radiculopathy on the internet; see if your symptoms match.
I know this is all very difficult to deal with what with the pain, dealing with the Doctors and the medications. They don’t really explain anything, so it’s kind of hard to understand what’s going on sometimes. The important thing is to understand that you have to do everything you can to get better without having surgery. If that means taking pills and going to therapy, you have to do it. Spine surgery isn’t quite like anything else, sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t, it could make you worse or lead to additional procedures, you really never know. The best thing to do is just avoid it all together, if you can.
It’s a good sign that the injections and P.T. have helped, because they don’t do anything for a lot of people. I know the medications are hard to deal with, but it’s does take the edge off the pain and there are things that you can do that’ll help. Lots of fiber, if you don’t like it, you can get fiber pills, just take a couple each day.
The Doctors giving you the meds to cut down on your pain and also so you can go to P.T. and work on strengthening and stretching the muscles down there. It will help, and it will get you out of pain, but it’s a lot of work. I can tell you from personal experience that it’s 100 times better than having surgery.
Take Care
Disc Bulge: General pushing out of a spinal disc, extending the disc from its normal position. Considered a normal occurrence with age.
Broad Disc Bulge: The term “broad based” simply refers to the size of the actual bulge or herniation. When the size of the herniation is 25% to 50% of the total disc circumference, the disc is called broad based.
Disc Protrusion: is a herniated disc in which the disc tissue has protruded beyond the disc space but is contained within intact annulus. In other words it hasn’t ruptured.
Spinal Canal Stenosis: The spinal canal is the space inside the lower spine that carries nerves to your legs. It narrow, over time bone and tissue around it can narrow it further. This narrowing is called stenosis. Some things that can cause it are disc bulges and herniations, bone spurs/arthritis and ligament thickening.
Facet joints: Joints of the spine that connect all of the vertebrae and allow coordinated movement of the vertebral column.
Facet arthritis: Degeneration of facet joint cartilage and hypertrophy of the bone forming the joint.
Neural foramen: the space through which nerve roots exit the spinal canal to form peripheral nerves and in which the nerve root ganglia lie.
Thecal sac: encases the spinal cord and contains fluid to protect and feed the nerves. It is composed of dura mater and arachnoid mater.
Ligamentum flavum: is a strong ligament that connects the laminae of the vertebrae. It can sometimes become stiff and thick over time.
http://www.med.nyu.edu/hjd/hjdspine/education/glossary/definitionlist.html
At L4-L5 there is a broad disc bulge, mild facet arthropathy with some thickening of ligamentum flavum and the findings result in mild spinal canal stenosis. There is no significant foraminal narrowing.
You have a disc bulge at this level, some mild arthritis of the facet joints and the ligamentum flavum has thickened a little resulting in mild spinal canal narrowing.
The report also states that you don’t have any significant foraminal narrowing. Nothing real bad at this level.
At L5-S1 There is a Broad disc protrusion. Part of the disc material appears to migrate to the posterior of the S1 vertebral body. There is a mild impression upon the thecal sac. There is a mild bilateral facet arthropathy. The findings result in bilateral mild to moderate proximal neural foraminal narrowing.
Ok here you have disc protrusion, and its just touching the thecal sac at this level. The protrusion is also causing mild to moderate bilateral (both sides) neural foraminal narrowing. This is probably causing the majority of your pain. Simply put, your disc bulge is pressing on your nerve roots at this level, that’s what’s causing your pain. Do a search on S1 radiculopathy on the internet; see if your symptoms match.
I know this is all very difficult to deal with what with the pain, dealing with the Doctors and the medications. They don’t really explain anything, so it’s kind of hard to understand what’s going on sometimes. The important thing is to understand that you have to do everything you can to get better without having surgery. If that means taking pills and going to therapy, you have to do it. Spine surgery isn’t quite like anything else, sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t, it could make you worse or lead to additional procedures, you really never know. The best thing to do is just avoid it all together, if you can.
It’s a good sign that the injections and P.T. have helped, because they don’t do anything for a lot of people. I know the medications are hard to deal with, but it’s does take the edge off the pain and there are things that you can do that’ll help. Lots of fiber, if you don’t like it, you can get fiber pills, just take a couple each day.
The Doctors giving you the meds to cut down on your pain and also so you can go to P.T. and work on strengthening and stretching the muscles down there. It will help, and it will get you out of pain, but it’s a lot of work. I can tell you from personal experience that it’s 100 times better than having surgery.
Take Care
WOW! I can't thank you enough...I have read everywhere and this is the best read for my understanding.. I appreciate it more then you know.. I know i will have to try the pain meds again, because on the days it is real bad i can't do anything..any advice on which are better for this kind of pain, also i am so scared of getting addicted..but i know i can't keep just taking tylenol...thanks again so much! aimee
I am 42 years old.. I take skexlan s/p? flexiril and tylenol... I have a tens unit that helps too...thanks aimee
You're like me, your still young.
Where's your pain meds, I don't see anything for pain and don't tell me that's what the Tylenol's for. That stuff does nothing and it's not good for your liver either. Make sure you don't take over 4000mgs a day, somewhere around 2000 - 2500 is probably a little safer.
You probably go to one of those Doctors that instead of giving you something that'll actually help for pain, prescribes something like skelaxin, that just tears your stomach up. You don't need 2 muscles relaxants, flexeril's good enough.
I hope your not in pain all the time, does this combination work?
Where's your pain meds, I don't see anything for pain and don't tell me that's what the Tylenol's for. That stuff does nothing and it's not good for your liver either. Make sure you don't take over 4000mgs a day, somewhere around 2000 - 2500 is probably a little safer.
You probably go to one of those Doctors that instead of giving you something that'll actually help for pain, prescribes something like skelaxin, that just tears your stomach up. You don't need 2 muscles relaxants, flexeril's good enough.
I hope your not in pain all the time, does this combination work?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Back & Neck Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
