MRI results

[W902]

Hi, I have had low and mid-back pain for several years now and finally went in and had an MRI done. Lately I have had more pain and some leg tingling. These are my results. How should I interpret them? My doctors says that because there is no "stenosis" that I should excercise and take ibuprofen to help with pain. Any information or help would be appreciated - thanks!
-Scott

TECHNIQUE: Sagittal T1 and sagittal FSE T2 weighted images with axial
FSE T2 and axial T1 weighted images.

COMPARISON: None

FINDINGS:
Age related disc degeneration is seen at multiple levels, with disc
space narrowing .

T11-T12: Left sided disc protrusion/osteophyte. No stenosis.

T12-L1: Central left-sided extruded herniated disc. No stenosis.

L1-L2: There is no herniation or stenosis.

L2-L3: There is no herniation or stenosis.

L3-L4: Disc bulge/osteophyte. There is no stenosis.

L4-L5: Disc bulge/osteophyte. There is no stenosis.

L5-S1: Central disc protrusion/osteophyte. Facet hypertrophy.
There is no stenosis.

Conus is unremarkable.
Vertebral bodies appear overall unremarkable, allowing for probable
hemangioma.
Impression
IMPRESSION:
I do not see a right-sided nerve root compression.

T11-T12: Left sided disc protrusion/osteophyte.

T12-L1: Central left-sided extruded herniated disc. No stenosis.

L3-L4 and L4-L5: Disc bulge/osteophyte.

L5-S1: Central disc protrusion/osteophyte. Facet hypertrophy.

[Adam Tanase, D.C.]

"Exercise and ibuprofen" is pretty vague. I would recommend visiting a physical therapist or Doctor of Chiropractic in your area. If you need exercise, let the PT/DC show you specific exercises to help the situation... Otherwise you might unknowingly make the situation worse by working out incorrectly.

[W902]

Thank you for your response Dr. Tanase. I belong to an HMO and that seems to be a fairly typical response unless you push and advocate for yourself. Are the protrusions or "extruded herniated disc" comments things I need to be concerned with and bring up or are they fairly typical impressions? I do still have mid back pain, but it is controllable with the excercises that the PT gave me. I also see my chiro every week and right after I am adjusted I feel great. But the next morning I wake up with the same pains again.