L-4 L-5 Disc - MRI Question

[Jo*mar]

You can request the written report also, it is handy to have on hand, and it will tell you what the technician found.
I'm sure they have magnification and much clearer images, as well as all images to cross check for details, much better than what can be posted here or on a video.


PS Your name and DOB are showing on youtube, you might want to blank those out.

[obxtech]

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

You can request the written report also, it is handy to have on hand, and it will tell you what the technician found.
I'm sure they have magnification and much clearer images, as well as all images to cross check for details, much better than what can be posted here or on a video.


PS Your name and DOB are showing on youtube, you might want to blank those out.

Opps I removed the video and didnt think of it.
Thank you very much

[ginnie]

Hello and welcome to Neuro Talk. I also see two spots, one larger than the other. Most of us can help better if we hear what the report says. If we don't understand it often it can be researched, word by word. Let is know more if you can. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

[Dubious]

Originally Posted by ginnie

Hello and welcome to Neuro Talk. I also see two spots, one larger than the other. Most of us can help better if we hear what the report says. If we don't understand it often it can be researched, word by word. Let is know more if you can. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

The two dark spots on the vertebral bodies just under the endplates are likely nuclear invaginations or Schmorl's nodes (though they are a little dark for a T2 weighted image, judging by the TE and TR times). More of an incidental finding than anything of importance....but it is hard to know for sure as the one image is dark. You really really need to view the whole scan...or request the report! BTW, any doc (or you) who has seen you can request a copy of the report from the imaging facility. It was likely written the same day or the next....unless it was sent elswhere for the read... .

[obxtech]

What do ya all make of all this?

[ginnie]

I am not a professional, keep that in mind. It is my take that when an MRI
states "Mild" or even "moderate" narrowing of the canal, it is best not to look for a surgical solution. Leesa may have a different take.
From everything I have learned on NT. Those words are the ones to look for. If the MRI said SEVERE, then you got some issues. Ask your doctor what he wants you to do. If surgery is recommended, for sure seek second and even a third opinion. I so hope you don't have to go for any kind of surgery at all at this point. ginnie

[gatorhead]

Originally Posted by ginnie

I am not a professional, keep that in mind. It is my take that when an MRI
states "Mild" or even "moderate" narrowing of the canal, it is best not to look for a surgical solution. Leesa may have a different take.
From everything I have learned on NT. Those words are the ones to look for. If the MRI said SEVERE, then you got some issues. Ask your doctor what he wants you to do. If surgery is recommended, for sure seek second and even a third opinion. I so hope you don't have to go for any kind of surgery at all at this point. ginnie

It is subjective. Moderate can be severe to some, but in general I agree with you!

[Dubious]

Originally Posted by obxtech

What do ya all make of all this? Attachment 7239

Well, in short they are rather unexciting (which is good) with varying degrees of degenerative changes. Degenerative changes can be asymptomatic in 25-50% of the population dependant upon age group. About the only thing of minimal significance is the thickened ligamentum flavum, hypertrophied facets and disc bulge at L4-5 which combined is apparently causing some minor central stenosis. But at that level, the canal is very wide and almost all of the nerve roots have already exited the spine so it is likely a red herring!

What you didn't mention or I didn't see, was the type of trauma that is stated to have occured in the history section of the report. It mentions right hip and LBP secondary to trauma. If one was suspecting right hip pain originating from the lower back, then one would look for significant MRI findings on the right at L4-5 (L5 root) or perhaps L5-S1 (S1 root) but there really isn't anything of significance mentioned.

More correlation is needed as to the history of your injury and your examination findings. This is a case where your diagnosis is likely not found on or made by the MRI, rather the lower back is probably excluded by the lack of significant findings....

I think what's misunderstood about MRI's is that they should be ordered to confirm or deny a suspected (based on the history and exam findings) diagnosis and should rarely be relied upon to naively "make" the diagnosis.

[obxtech]

What happened is, I went to go out of an attic, The pull down stairs type. My right leg went in between the rung left leg forward flipped over and down about 6 to 8 foot to bottom.

[ginnie]

Just hearing what you did hurt! From the visual I got in your description of the way you hurt yourself, you twisted in a way the body is not meant to go. Have you tried a tens unit? They deliver an electirc mild jolt, that really takes away pain from these kinds of injury. It actually feels good. Maybe consider asking your doctor about this. PT clinics use them all the time, and there are at home models. ginnie