Explaining Spondylosis and Help Reading an MRI Posted: 03-11-06 20:44pm
I have severe lumabr back pain and my mri
results are in. My doctor took some time
off and I dont have another doctor. I
want to know if some 1 can tell me what
the MRI reults mean. I would like to do
the limited daily things I do now, I can
increase pain meds dose to try to live
free of pain. I dont want to hurt myself
more if there is an injury to my lower
back. Maybe these results say something is
wrong or not? If you could please read and
evaluate... I need to know what to do for
the next week or 2 before I can see my
doctor. TYVM..
Indications: bilateral radiculopathy with
numbness.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar
spine was performed with multiple
sequences through the lumbar spine in
multiple planes.
There are moderate hypertrophic
degenerative changes of the facet joints
throughout the lumbar spine. The vertebral
bodies are normal. There is straightening
of lordosis. There is no
spondylolisthesis. Intervertebral disc
heights are will maintained. There is no
paraspinal mass. The conus medullaris is
normal.
At l4-5 a minimal broad anular bulge is
more prominent towards the left. It abuts
the exiting right l5 nerve. The left l5
nerve exits uncompromised. The bulge does
not displace or cause right l5 nerve
impingement. There is no significant
foraminal or spinal canal stenosis at this
level or elsewhere in the lumbar spine.
Impression
1. Moderate facet joint arthrosis in the
lumbar spine.
2. Straightening of lordosis may be
secondary to muscle spasm or back pain.
3. Anular bulge at l5-s1 abuts but does
not displace right l5 nerve.
4. No evidence of left-side nerve root
compromise.
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Back Pain Answer A613 Posted: 04-01-06 07:40am
According to your MRI report it seems that
you are suffering from a degenerative
spinal disease called spondylosis.
Spondylosis affects the intervertebral
joints, as well as the discs and ligaments
of the vertebral column. Spondylotic
changes can manifest as protrusions of the
vertebral discs or degeneration. During
spondylosis, the vertebral bones can fuse
(osteofits), the ligaments may begin to
harden (ossification), or sufferers may
experience stiffness in the vertebral
joints. Other signs and symptoms can
include stenosis of the intervertebral
foramina and vertebral canal or spinal
deformations such as lordosis, scoliosis,
kifosis and spondilolistesis. All these
changes disturb the static nature of the
vertebral spine and can provoke muscle
spasms. Muscle spasms cause back pain.
Pain can be also caused by pressure on the
roots of the spinal nerves
(radiculopatia). According to the MRI
report it seems that you aren't
experiencing great spondylotic changes;
back pain can be caused by spasms of the
vertebral muscles.
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