New to forum- MRI Questions

[mary.mary]

Hello,

I am new to this Forum, I just had an MRI done and have the results, I am not familiar with ANY of this stuff, medical lingo etc...

If there is anyone who might be able to help me out with it I would be extremely THANKFUL!!

Findings: There is a transitional vertebra at the lumbosacral junction. The numbering system used on today's study should be confirmed prior to intervention. The convention utilized on today's study is that L1 is at the level of the conus and there is a lumbarized S1 segment.

T11-12: There is a minor central disc bulge. There is minimal effacement of the subarachnoid fluid space.

L3-4: The spinal canal does have a congenitally narrow Ap diameter. Hypertrophic facet arthritis of moderate to severe severity is present and there is hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum with resultant central spinal stenosis of mild severity. Ther neural foramina are patent.

L4-5: Central spinal stenosis of moderate to severe severity is present due to diffuse bulging of the disc as well as hypertrophic facet arthritis. Disc does bulge into the inferior aspects of both neural foramina. Facet arthritis of moderate to severe severity is present bilaterally.

L5-S1: A large central disc extrusion is present with associated annular tear. There is marked deformity of the anterior aspect of the thecal sac. In addition, there is diffuse bulging of the disc, as well as hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum with resultant central spinal stenosis of moderate to severe severity. the neural foramina are patent.

Impression: MULTILEVEL SPONDYLOSIS WITH L5-S1 BEING THE MOST SEVERLY AFFECTED.

I am a 24 yr old mother of 1(13 month old girl) who had a skiing accident in November, I have EXTREME pain (shooting sharp pain)down my left leg with numbness and tingling. It sometimes affects my right leg to my calf. I have INTENSE pressure in my low back. I have been in physio since December with no help.

Hoping I might be able to get some help and advice.

Thanks!!
Mary

[mary.mary]

OOPS!! I forgot to mention that I also have absent reflexes in my feet..I think that was what he said...I am SORRY if non of this makes sense......I am really new at all of this stuff!!

[mmglobal]

Mary, I'm so sorry that you are having such problems. I'll bet that much of your trouble predates the November injury because of the level of degeneration... that doesn't happen in just a few months.

Unfortunately, your options will be quite limited by the severity of the problems. Treatment options will vary greatly depending on where you go. Do your homework and make sure you discover all your options before you do something permanent, like a big multi-level fusion.

Good luck,

Mark

[mary.mary]

What are the different options out there? I am truly uneducated when it comes to all of this stuff. I am happy to have found this site, and I am hoping that I might be able to get some advice and direction.

Is surgery going to be my ONLY option? What is meant by a fusion? I don't even understand what ANY of the information on my report means etc etc. How could I have had all these problems before and not even realize it and not be in ANY pain, then I have my accident in November and BAM!! the pain starts and I have all these problems.

I am SORRY if I am asking too many questions or whatever, but I am REALLY confused, in pain & scared.

I HONESTLY don't know where to go or what to do, I am SO EMOTIONAL at this point, I am a TRAIN WRECK!!

[dshobbies]

Hi Mary,

Welcome to the forum. We're here to support, help educate, cry and laugh with you. We've been in your shoes. I know you're in pain and scared but calm down and take one step at a time. The first thing is definitely understanding your MRI.

Your discs, that cushy, crab-meat like material between your vertabrae are named for the vertabrae they lay (lie) between. The lowest, S1 is sacral 1, the only sacral, then lumbar, thorasic and cervical. Cranial is the top but I've never heard of anything going wrong with those??? You have a lumbarized S1 segment. Not sure but this might mean you have 6 lumbar levels instead of the normal 5. Not a big deal, so do I but also not sure????

So disc #S1/L5 is that cushy disc between sacral 1 and lumbar 5. A bulging disc (or herniated) means that the disc wall has weakened and the disc material is literally bulging out of it's usual space. A tear means that wall has a tear in it and the disc material can actually leak out. Picture this like a car's tire. If the side wall weakens, the rubber can bulge out like a small balloon. If it has a small hole, the air slowly leaks out.

Facets are those 2 bony structures sticking out from the round vertabrae. They may also limit the remedies available to you. Multi-level Spondylosis is degenerative disc disease (DDD) which simply means your discs are sick, weak and degenerating. It's also catching. If a disc is degenerated, the one on top and/or bottom of it has to carry an extra load and can also degenerate.

The terms moderate to severe are generally not good and require intervention. Your pain is also a pretty good indication that something needs to be done... but what.

When you go back to the doctor who ordered the MRI, make sure (s)he explains everything to your satisfaction. Remember, you are paying for his services and have a right to this information. Don't allow him to pull the 'there, there, trust me, I'll take care of everything' routine. This is your spine and you have the final say in what happens and when but before you can do that, you have to know what's what. Ask him what he recommends as a remedy. If he's not a surgeon, he'll probably recommend one.

Then you need other opinions. Different doctors, different opinions. If a surgeon doesn't perform a certain surgery, he is not likely to recommend it and his opinion might be biased in favor of those things he can do himself.

So your choice of doctors is of primary importance, both in the remedy selected and his level of expertise. Where do you live Mary? Perhaps someone on this forum knows of a great doctor in your area. Are you able to travel to consult with a doctor? What is your insurance which presents its own problems?

You also might want to consult a pain management specialist to help ease your pain while taking care of that baby. It can't be easy lugging her around.

So first, consult with your doctor about the results of your MRI. Ask as many questions as necessary. Consult with a pain management doctor. Get 2nd and 3rd opinions. Ask questions.

Please keep us posted as you manuever through this maze and we'll help as we can. And my advise to everyone is your situation, calm down and breathe!

Dale

[Kathy]

Mary,
Welcome and so sorry you have to be here. It is so scary to get thrown into this spine world, knowing nothing and feeling so overwhelmed (a good cry every now and then helps me... sometimes more now than then) I was 25 years old with a 2 and 1/2 year old and a 2 week old baby when we were hit by an 18 wheeler. I did all the usual therapy, shots, etc. It took me 3 years to finally find out what was wrong with me, so you are way ahead of the game since you already know what is wrong. Don't let a dr. push you around, I did and wasted time, money and in one case, made my situation worse. Ask questions, ask us, ask the surgeon, just ask and keep asking until you get it. We have all been there and are more than happy to help you out, just ask us. I am by no means an expert on MRI findings (I don't even understand all of mine); but it does sound like your problem is one that will not get better on it's own or with conservative treatment; which means you need surgery. Don't let that scare you, you will get through this. Where do you live? You need to first go meet with at least 3 different surgeons, different dr's and get lots of different opinions (which can make it more confusing; but you need to be educated going into this). Unfortunately, the dr's may seem all caring and all knowing; but they don't live with your pain and ultimately don't have to live with a bad outcome, so don't be overly trusting (I learned this the hard way). You are the only one looking at for you and you are your best advocate. You are probably freaking out right now; but you can do this, you are a mom, which means you have survived way worse than this (childbirth anyone?) Feel free to ask me any questions or to send me a private message and maybe we can chat by phone. Hang in there and be glad you found us, it's a great resource.
Best Wishes,
Kathy