My MRI results report... Help!

[zjfields]

I"m hoping that someone can help me understand what my report from my MRI means. I cant seem to get a Doc to explain it in laymen terms. If you can understand this info please tell me what it means for me and if Im ever going to be normal again.

Disc extrusion at L5-S1 which extends 1.6 cm in craniocaudal dimension (times) 0.7 cm in AP dimension (times) 1.4 cm in transverse dimension which combines with a broad-based disc bulge at this level. Extruded disc material contacts and displaces the transiting right S1 nerve root. The broad-based combines with facet hypertrophy to cause moderate right neural foraminal stenosis , severe right lateral recess stenosis, moderate central canal stenosis. there is also mild to moderate left neural foraminal  stenosis. Elsewhere within the lumbar spine there is mild facet hypertrophy. Congenitally short pedicels are present throughout the lumbar spine resulting in mild diffuse narrowing of the central canal. At L4-L5 facet hypertrothy combines with congenitally short pedicles and a broad-based disc bulge to cause mild additional central canal stenosis. Whew! now I might have arthritis! my hands hurt from writing that! OK so please if anyone can help me with this I would really appreciate it. Thank you in advance!
                                   Zach Fields
P.S. I am in a whole lot of pain so can you tell me if that is normal for whats wrong with me?

[Jrsygrl109]

It sounds like you have both recess stenosis (a narrowing which pinches the nerves as it comes out between the vertebra) and canal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal itself).  I've been there and done that - my first spinal surgery was for bi-lateral(left and right) recess stenosis and spinal stenosis.  This is how it usually goes - they will refer you to pain management to get shots in your lower back - usually a seriens of three - these did not help me - as a matter of fact by the second shot I was in sooo much pain the sent me in for surgery.  My spinal surgeon did a fusion of my l4/5 and I can honestly say that is the only spinal surgery that actually worked - I got 90% relief and the 10% residual pain was from other areas in my spine that had mild to moderate stenosis.  If only myother surgeries worked as well but they did not!  Best of luck to you.

[zjfields]

Thanks again for taking the time to write me back. Its nice to have someone to talk to that knows what im going through. No one else that im around understands the kind of pain im going through. Im so sorry to hear about your condition. It makes me sound like a baby! I should feel very lucky that its just my back thats messed up. I promise i will pray for you and a fast recovery from your surgery. Just know that you have someone else out there who is praying for you and cares for you. I will mention to my spine doc about a long lasting med. I just hope they dont think im seeking or something like that. Good luck with your surgery.

                         Zach

[jenniferk86]

Yes, I would agree, You probably need a long acting pain med, like a fentanyl patch until you can get a more long term solution.  I don't think the pain being on the left is rare, I have been told by a lot of people that sometimes referred pain is the most common type of pain, looks like you need a new doctor if possible.... I Dont remember off the top of my head if spinal stenosis is an operable condition or not, but even if it is, you really need to be relieved in you pain and it seems as though you mri is proving you are rightfully due the pain.

My story is I have chiari 1 malformation, a rare disorder, herniated disc in c5-6 , arthritis in lower facet joints, hypothyroid and bursitis in my hips and now getting more weird things happening that I am praying is due to my chiari which I am praying will go away once I get the surgery in August 9th.. 3 weeks... major brain surgery... so long recovery... Definitely look up spinal stenosis though you obviously have that in many more than one place, and it can cause a lot of nerve pinching and pain even if it is located in just one spot....

Please get a pain management specialist and or talk to your spine specialist about managing your pain with a long acting pain medicine and keeping the percocets as a breakthrough pain medicine... I am currently on 10 mg 325 percs also.. and it is not quite enough either... so i know the feeling.. be an advocate for yourself, but do not sound desperate, let the doctor chose the med, just request a long acting relief, and do be careful not to go down the long path of addiction that the opoids and pain meds can lead you if you are not careful to take as directed.

[zjfields]

My doc is Spanish so her English isnt great that might have been part of the problem. Yes I have pain meds percocet 10-325 1 every 6 hours as needed for pain. Only problem is I need more than that cause im in so much pain. Im waiting for my spine doc to call me back and schedual a spinal shot. Lame. Its weird cause my hernia is on the right side of my disc but 90% of teh pain is on my left side. the Doc told me thats really rare. Ive tried to look it up on the net but I couldnt find anything on it. Any way thanks for responding to my post. Whats your story?