Help me translate my MRI results

[eque_price]

Hey all

I have an appt with my physio therapist and doctor next week to go over my MRI results but was hoping I might be able to get some help translating this in the mean time to appease my curiousity. Here goes...

'There is appr. 3-4 mm of retrolisthesis of the lumbar spine at L5-S1. The vertebrae heights are normal.

The conus medullaris is unremarkable in appearance.

There is moderate disc height loss at L5-S1. A large central to left lateral recess disc extrusion is present with appr. dimensions of 19 mm (ML) x 8.5 mm (CC) x 18.8 mm (CC). The disc extrusion contacts and probably compresses the traversing left S1 nerve root.

The Remainder of the lumber spine is within normal limits.

IMPRESSION

A large disc extrusion is identified at L5-S1. The disc extrusion contacts and probably compresses the traversing left S1 nerve root.'

I have a basic idea of what it says but would like your thoughts as well.

Thanks so much!

[medicgirl05]

I have almost this exact injury. I don't have dimensions of my extreusion though it is central and broad.

A disc extrusion is when the nucleus pulposus(central material) extrudes out of the annulas(a ligament I think). S1 nerve root compression can result in neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling,or weakness on one or both sides accompanied with sciatica along the dermatome. Extreme cases may cause cauda equina which afftects bowel and bladder control and is a medical emergency.

Treatment is usually physical therapy and anti-inflammatories followed with more invasive procedures such as epidural steroid injections and finally surgery.

Good luck to you. I'm curious what symptoms you are experiencing?

[eque_price]

I have almost this exact injury. I don't have dimensions of my extreusion though it is central and broad.

A disc extrusion is when the nucleus pulposus(central material) extrudes out of the annulas(a ligament I think). S1 nerve root compression can result in neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling,or weakness on one or both sides accompanied with sciatica along the dermatome. Extreme cases may cause cauda equina which afftects bowel and bladder control and is a medical emergency.

Treatment is usually physical therapy and anti-inflammatories followed with more invasive procedures such as epidural steroid injections and finally surgery.

Good luck to you. I'm curious what symptoms you are experiencing?

I have been off work for going on 5 months now with lower back soreness/pain, cold numbness/pins and needles intermittently going down the left leg. I have major difficulty bending over. I have lost full range of motion in my left leg but can still walk and get around with out a limp unless I have a flair up. I can't sit for any extended period of time. It easily flairs up. Apparently my symptoms according to a specialist I saw a few weeks ago are not severe enough for surgery although I am showing only minimal improvement with Physiotherapy, Chiropractor and Massage. I have improved enough to return to the gym to do a strict, short and light work out twice a week though... I wonder if I can eventually return to work with a herniation this large…

I saw your one post. How are your treatments going? I can not remember exactly what you said you where having done though.

[medicgirl05]

I returned to work 3 months ago but am occasionally still in severe pain. I tried chiropractor, acupuncture 2 steroid injections, and 2 moths of physical therapy with little improvement. I am having a micdrodiscectomy in 10 days to remove the herniation.

My symptoms are tingling and pain along with a dull feeling in my thigh and severe lower back pain. I have a hard time with bending.

[rat115]

My ex-husband had an injury similar to this. His came from twisting while lifting a soil density gage. He ended up with a diskectomy and was placed on a 20-30 lbs lift restriction. He, then, pulled a "brainless" and jumped off a platform that was 6 feet in the air. He re-extruded the L5-S1 disk and ended up with compression fx of the L3 & L4 vertebrae.

You will have to work hard to overcome the injury and strengthen your back to be able to return to work without further complication. Start with the exercises that you have been given and work with a therapist to build and strengthen.

Good luck!

[eque_price]

So I got a call from my nurse practitioner today and she said the same thing as my chiropractor did. I have a 19 mm extrusion at L5 S1. This to me seems huge! Esp since the other day i told a doctor in passing I had a 12 mm bulged disc and his jaw almost hit the ground. Imagine what he would think of 19! I can not even seem to google this size. She will be talking to the specialist I saw and the doctor and I am most likely going to be referred to a specialist in the city.

Needless to say I am even more worried now. Scared of what is to come.

[medicgirl05]

Well let us know what you find out. My surgery is November 12th. I was scared but I am just ready to be out of pain. Good luck!

[eque_price]

Thanks medicgirl! Good luck to you as well. I see you are into horses. So am I. Have not been able to ride though so my 2 are hay burners for the time being.

[chbare]

I do not have much to offer in the way of advice as it's generally good to avoid giving out anything that could be considered medical advice. However, back pain and the neurological issues associated with injuries and degenerative disease vary significantly from person to person. I had a "massive" herniation in my lumbar spine and also have spinal stenosis and spondylitis. However, in spite of an MRI that looks exceptionally ugly, I was able to recover with conservative, non-pharmacological therapy and go on to my current state where I have a good quality of life and manageable discomfort. However, someone with a much less dramatic MRI may experience significant pain and neurological impairment.

Good luck, but don't flatter yourself based on numbers. Everybody is different and people respond to different treatments in very different ways, especially when it comes to back pain.

[eque_price]

I do not have much to offer in the way of advice as it's generally good to avoid giving out anything that could be considered medical advice. However, back pain and the neurological issues associated with injuries and degenerative disease vary significantly from person to person. I had a "massive" herniation in my lumbar spine and also have spinal stenosis and spondylitis. However, in spite of an MRI that looks exceptionally ugly, I was able to recover with conservative, non-pharmacological therapy and go on to my current state where I have a good quality of life and manageable discomfort. However, someone with a much less dramatic MRI may experience significant pain and neurological impairment.

Good luck, but don't flatter yourself based on numbers. Everybody is different and people respond to different treatments in very different ways, especially when it comes to back pain.

How long did it take you to come back? Are you still doing what you where doing before?