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What is diffuse discogenic sclerosis
I have had lower back pain for quite sometime. I had an mri done a couple of days ago, and my follow up appointment isn't until next week. i had the mri report mailed to me and need some help putting it into english! so here's what it says: mild changes of L1-L2 through L5-S1 anterior spondylosis are seen as well as minimal diffuse discogenic sclerosis. L4-L5 slight L4 retrolisthesis and minimal disc bulging without central stenosis. L5-S1 3mm L5 retolisthesis and a minimal disc bulge wthout central stenosis. Can anyone tell me what this means? Thanks!
For what it's worth, my MRI report shows a small annular tear with focal disc bulge which mildly narrows the exit foramen at the L4-L5 level with milld degenerative changes. For the last 12 weeks I've been walking around like a little old man and I'm only 33. I wouldn't say there's not much wrong with your back. Everyone experiences back pain differently. All of my other discs look great. My doctor almost makes it sound as if my back is near normal; yet I'm a miserable sob!
Generally, the 1st course of action would be anti-inflammatory medications and Physical Therapy. Therapy can help by strengthening surrounding muscles and loosening tight muscles around the injured area. They might also try treatments like heat/cold therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and epidural injections. Some of this stuff actually helps, so make sure you give it a chance.
As far as the amount of deterioration for your age, there's nothing in the report that's really out of line for a 32 year old. Reading the report you might think you have a lot wrong but you don't, that's just the way all reports are written. When they start writing severe, instead of slight or mild, then you can start worrying. I know that's not much consolation when you're in a lot of pain, but I assure you, it could be much worse.
Your pain's probably related to the minor disc problems you have at L4-5 and L5-S1 and you can probably be rid of it with sometime in P.T.
Take Care
As far as the amount of deterioration for your age, there's nothing in the report that's really out of line for a 32 year old. Reading the report you might think you have a lot wrong but you don't, that's just the way all reports are written. When they start writing severe, instead of slight or mild, then you can start worrying. I know that's not much consolation when you're in a lot of pain, but I assure you, it could be much worse.
Your pain's probably related to the minor disc problems you have at L4-5 and L5-S1 and you can probably be rid of it with sometime in P.T.
Take Care
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L5-S1 Minimal Diffuse Discogenic Sclerosis - Abnormalities of the area in which the disc meets the vertebra, such as increased bone density and calcification of the vertebral endplates. As we age our discs compress and lose water, they can harden or calcify, in turn the endplates of the vertebra the disc is up against go through a similar change. A lot of this is just age related degeneration, but it can cause pain.The report says it’s minimal, not significant.
L4-L5 slight L4 retrolisthesis - Backward slippage of one vertebra onto the vertebra immediately below. L4 has slipped slightly backward in relation to the vertebra below which is L5.
Minimal disc bulging without central stenosis - Small disc bulge that is not causing any spinal canal narrowing.
L5-S1 3mm L5 retrolisthesis- L5 has slipped 3mm back in relation to S1. (3 mm = 0.118 inches or real close to 1/8") It isn’t very much.
A minimal disc bulge without central stenosis- Another small disc bulge that isn’t causing any spinal canal narrowing.
I'm guessing from this report that your pain is primarily in your low back and not down the leg?