Need Help understanding MRI results

[Sandra]

Need someone to tell me what these MRI results mean in plain english.

Loss of disc hydration at L2-L3.
L2-L3: 4.5 mm broad based posterior disc protrusion results in bilateral neural foraminal encroachment and abuts existing L2 nerve roots. No stenosis

L3-L4: 3.5 mm broad based left foraminal disc protrusion along with facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy results in left neural foraminal encroachment and abuts the left exiting L3 nerve root. No stenosis.

L4-L5: There is facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy.

L5-S1: There is facet hypertrophy. No stenosis.

Thank you.

[Deb]

Hi Sandra,
I've suffered pain myself and studied the subject for months now.
Am no expert but believe you have two bulging discs (protrusions) which are pressing on some nerves and probably causing pain.
ligamentum flavum hypertrophy means swollen posterior ligament which is a flat ligament, like a belt, that runs vertically down the back of your spinal column and helps prevent us from getting bulging discs, if we are lucky. The swollen ligament and bulging discs both combine to reduce the normal space (neural foraminal encroachment) for the nerves that run down your back and cause pain by pressing on them. regards, Deb

[Sandra]

Thanks Deb for your reply. Have been having lower back pain for over a year now with shooting pains into the buttocks as well as pain into the hips and legs. Sometimes the pain is so unbearable I can not function properly. There is pain when sitting pain when standing too long and pain with bending. Waiting to have epidural shots. I hope they help so I can at least function during the day. My doctor told me it's nothing but he isn't feeling the pain that i'm in, then I think he wouldn't say that it was nothing. Again thanks.

[ADR seeker]

Originally Posted by Sandra

Need someone to tell me what these MRI results mean in plain english.

Loss of disc hydration at L2-L3.
L2-L3: 4.5 mm broad based posterior disc protrusion results in bilateral neural foraminal encroachment and abuts existing L2 nerve roots. No stenosis

You have a disk bulging into the foraminal space and touching the nerve roots.

L3-L4: 3.5 mm broad based left foraminal disc protrusion along with facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy results in left neural foraminal encroachment and abuts the left exiting L3 nerve root. No stenosis.

The facet joint has unwanted bone growth and the main ligament is swollen of has grown in that specific area and is encroaching on the nerve root

L4-L5: There is facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy.

Same above with no nerve root or cord compression

L5-S1: There is facet hypertrophy. No stenosis.

less space in the facet joint due to bone growth.

Thank you.

You may need a partial diskectomy and some bone removed. Your surgeon may BS you.

[cherylstewart67]

i posted a thread about facet replacement. has any one here actually had it?