MRI Results

[Carmen]

I had my MRI on 10.12.2009. Here are the findings:

The lumbar vertebra appear normal in height. The alignment of the vertebral bodies and posterior elements is preserved. There are spondylotic changes within the lumbar spine with marginal osteophytes seen rising from the vertebral body end plates to varying degrees at all levels. There is mild DDD at multiple levels, most pronounced however at the L5-S1 level. The marrow signal of bone is normal. The alignment of the posterior elements is preserved.

There is a loss of the normal T2-weighted signal, as well as height of the intravertebral disk at the L2-3 and the L5-S1 levels. The L1-2, L3-4 and L4-5 interverbal disk's appear normal in signal intensity as well as height. Mild DDD is also present within the lower thoracic spine. No definite disk herniation or disk bulge is seen within the lower thoracic spine. There is mild bulging of the intervertebral disks at the L2-3 level. No focal disk herniation is noted at this level. The disk bulge flattens the anterior aspect of the thecal sac. No focal disk herniation or disk buldge is noted at the L3-4 level. There is mild budging of the intervertebral disc at the L4-5 level. There is a broad based disk herniation which is central and left para central in location at the L5-S1 level. There is a central annular tear of the intervertebral disk at this level. The disk protrusion appears to cause some posterior displacement of the descending S1 nerve root on the left.

There are facet joint degenerative changes with associated hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum at the L3-4 and L4-5 levels. Facet joint arthropathy is also present at the L5-S1 level bilaterally. There is hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum at the L3 and L4-5 levels.

There is an acquired spinal canal stenosis predominantly in the lateral dimension at the L3-4 level. This is mild in degree. There is moderate to severe spinal canal stenosis at the L4-5 level No significant spinal canal stenosis is noted at the L5-S1 level.

There is acquired neural forminal encroachment on the left at the L4-5 and more significantly at the L5-S1 level. There is acquired neural foraminal on the right, most pronounced at the L4-5 level.

Incidental note is made of a simple appearing cortical cyst originating from the right Kidney. This measures approximately 1.5 cm in size.



Impression:

1. Central and left paracentral broad-based disk herniation at the L5-S1 level.
2. Bulging intervertebral disks at the L2-3 and L4-5 levels.
3. Acquired spinal canal stenosis at the L3-4 and the L4-5 levels.
4. Multilevel spondylosis and DDD
5. Multilevel facet joint arthritis with associated neural foraminal encroachment as discussed above.
6. No intradural abnormalities are seen.
7. Small simple appearing cortical cyst originating from the right kidney.

Well there it is in a nutshell. I see my surgeon next Tuesday and at that time we will formulate a plan on how to fix these issues, if possible.

I would be very interested in what the doctor has to say about fixing your problem. Carmen

[Dave]

That makes two of us Carmen. No plan as of yet.