Before I get into my MRI I wanted to know if an MRI would be able to see nerves on it and moreso a pinched nerve? ... I have been having pain into my left leg a little into my right for now going on 4 months... there is tingling, odd sensations, sometimes shooting pain in the front of my left knee cap.. and parathesia all over my left leg into the sole of my left foot.. and a little bit into my right leg..there is also muscle twitching...which is all symptoms of a nerve being compressed... Here are the findings.. these MRIs were done March 4th and 9th of 2010
(Part One.)
EXAMINATION: MRI THORACIC SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST
HISTORY: Back Pain, Rule out nerve root compression.
TECHNIQUE: T1 and T2 sagittal and stacked T2 axial sequence of the thoracic spine were performed.
FINDINGS: There is a degree of thoracic scoliosis. Alignment of the thoracic spine is normal. Vertebral body height and marrow signal appear normal throughout. The thoracic spinal canal is normal in size. The tip of the conus medullaris is at the L1-2 level. No abnormality of cord size or signal is seen. No mass or abnormal fluid collection is seen within the thoracic spinal canal.
There is mild degenerative loss of hydration signal of the disc from T7-8 through T11-12. No significant disc bulge or protrusion is seen at any level. No abnormality is seen in the visualized paraspinal tissues.
IMPRESSION:
Scoliosis. Mild chronic disc degeneration from T7-8 through T11-12. No evidence of disc herniation or thoracic spinal stenosis.
(Part 2)
EXAMINATION: MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST
HISTORY: 37 - Year old female complains of low back pain into bilateral legs times one month.
COMPARISON: None.
TECHNIQUE: FSE T2 sagittal, T1 sagittal, FSE T2 axial angled, T1 axial stacked.
FINDINGS: There are presumably five lumbar vertebral bodies. Vertebral bodies are normal in height, signal intensity and alignment. Disc desiccation is present at the L3-4 and L5-S1 levels. Moderate disc space narrowing is seen at the L5-S1 level. The conus medullaris is unremarkable in appearance, terminating at the T12-L1 level. The congenital size of the spinal canal is within normal limits. Limited evaluation of the female pelvis on sagittal views demonstrates a 2.5 x 2.1 cm left adnexal cystic structure most compatible with a left ovarian cyst.
Axial images of the lumbar spine demonstrate the following:
T-12-L1,L1-2,L2-3,L3-4: No significant disc bulging, neural foraminal narrowing, or central stenosis.
L4-5: There is a 2-mm broad-based disc bulging present. In conjunction with facet joint hypertrophy, there is a mild proximal left neural foraminal narrowing. There is no evidence of canal stenosis. Mild facet joint and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy are noted.
L5-S1: There is a 2-mm central disc protrusion with annular tear. The neural foramen and central canal are patent.
The visualized sacrum is unremarkable n appearance. No paraspinal masses are seen.
IMPRESSION:
!. 2 -mm central disc protrusion with annular tear at L5-S1 levels
ok there it is...but nowhere do I read that there is ANY nerve compression?? so why now going on 4 months am I still having all this nerve parathesia and muscle twitching. please if any professionals can answer this and let me know whether I am wrong or right I would appreciate it.