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What Does My CT Scan Report Of Back Indicate?
Question: Hi I had a CT Scan for my Back due to Lower Back pain from Past couple of weeks. Please advise what to do as I am in severe pain and doctor just gave me pain killers and told to exercise. The scan shows
L1/2
Shallow broad based posterior disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac without significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. No significant facet arthrosis is identified.
L2/3
No disc protrusion, spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. There is no significant facet arthrosis.
L3/4
There is a shallow broad based posterior annual disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac. No significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis is identified. There is no significant facet arthrosis.
L4/5
Shallow broad based posterior annular disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac without significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. No significant facet arthrosis is identified.
L5/S1
There is a shallow broad based posterior annular disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac and contacting the right descending S1 nerve root. This may represents a site of potential neural irritation. No significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis is identified. There is no significant facet arthrosis.
Impression
Multi level shallow broad based posterior annular disc bulges indenting the ventral thecal sac without significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. AT L5/S1 the disc contacts the right descending s1 nerve root with no convincing features of neural compression. Correlate with radiculopathic symptoms.
L1/2
Shallow broad based posterior disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac without significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. No significant facet arthrosis is identified.
L2/3
No disc protrusion, spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. There is no significant facet arthrosis.
L3/4
There is a shallow broad based posterior annual disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac. No significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis is identified. There is no significant facet arthrosis.
L4/5
Shallow broad based posterior annular disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac without significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. No significant facet arthrosis is identified.
L5/S1
There is a shallow broad based posterior annular disc bulge indenting the ventral thecal sac and contacting the right descending S1 nerve root. This may represents a site of potential neural irritation. No significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis is identified. There is no significant facet arthrosis.
Impression
Multi level shallow broad based posterior annular disc bulges indenting the ventral thecal sac without significant spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. AT L5/S1 the disc contacts the right descending s1 nerve root with no convincing features of neural compression. Correlate with radiculopathic symptoms.
How soon will I get my reply
Brief Answer:
Physical therapy should help improve symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
I examinated the CT scan views too.
Seems to me too that there is multilevel herniated disc disease of your lumbar spine at first stages.
Potential irritation at L5/S1 level should be correlated with symptoms, so there is need to describe the pain and its distribution, duration, worsening and relieving positions and factors.
However, there seems to be no need for decompressive surgery at the moment.
Besides painkillers, rest for few days, warm procedures on back and physical therapy with traction exercises should help improve your symptoms. (You should contact your doctor and request for physiotherapy/physical therapy, as it gives good relief). Follow your doctor's advice for now, as there is no need for surgical or other interventions at this time.
Epidural or periradicular injections of steroids also could help improve your symptoms.
MRI of lumbosacral spine gives more detailed information about neural structures condition.
These issues should be discussed with your treating Doctor.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Awaiting for more information...
Physical therapy should help improve symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
I examinated the CT scan views too.
Seems to me too that there is multilevel herniated disc disease of your lumbar spine at first stages.
Potential irritation at L5/S1 level should be correlated with symptoms, so there is need to describe the pain and its distribution, duration, worsening and relieving positions and factors.
However, there seems to be no need for decompressive surgery at the moment.
Besides painkillers, rest for few days, warm procedures on back and physical therapy with traction exercises should help improve your symptoms. (You should contact your doctor and request for physiotherapy/physical therapy, as it gives good relief). Follow your doctor's advice for now, as there is no need for surgical or other interventions at this time.
Epidural or periradicular injections of steroids also could help improve your symptoms.
MRI of lumbosacral spine gives more detailed information about neural structures condition.
These issues should be discussed with your treating Doctor.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Awaiting for more information...
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Hi Doctor Thanks for your reply. Could you please explain what multilevel herniated disc disease is. Is it a problem with all the discs in spine and does it not get any better for lifetime. I am planning to have another baby in December next year, will it interfere with my pregnancy. I am so really disappointed please help??
Is it life long that I would not be able to function like I used to before, please help??
Is it life long that I would not be able to function like I used to before, please help??
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for being on follow up.
Multilevel discs protruded are intervertebral discs in your lumbar spine that started to herniate, not all the column, more exactly at 4 levels.
As I mentioned before, this is only the first stage of herniated disc disease, and this regarding to imaging findings only.
What matters most in your case are your symptoms.
If there are symptoms ( pain, numbness, restrictions in walking, bending etc.) that interfere with your everyday life, treatment and precautions are needed in order to stop this condition progression.
Physical therapy is a good alternative to improve symptoms.
Precautions such loosing weight ( if you are overweight ), avoiding lifting weights, continuous exercises are needed.
Pregncy could worsen a little this condition, but with appropriate precautions should go well.
Hope I helped you.
Take care.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for being on follow up.
Multilevel discs protruded are intervertebral discs in your lumbar spine that started to herniate, not all the column, more exactly at 4 levels.
As I mentioned before, this is only the first stage of herniated disc disease, and this regarding to imaging findings only.
What matters most in your case are your symptoms.
If there are symptoms ( pain, numbness, restrictions in walking, bending etc.) that interfere with your everyday life, treatment and precautions are needed in order to stop this condition progression.
Physical therapy is a good alternative to improve symptoms.
Precautions such loosing weight ( if you are overweight ), avoiding lifting weights, continuous exercises are needed.
Pregncy could worsen a little this condition, but with appropriate precautions should go well.
Hope I helped you.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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