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What Does My MRI Scan Of Lumbar Spine Indicate?
Question: SIR, THIS IS REG MY LOW BACK PAIN, AND PAIN IN KNEES AND THIGHS WHICH I ASKED YOU EARLIER. I TOOK AN MRI OF LUMBAR SPINE WITH WHOLE SPINE SCREENING. SCAN IMPRESSION- 1) MILD SISC BULGE AT L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5 LEVELS MILDLY INDENTING THECAL SAC WITH MILD ABUTMENT OF BILATERAL EXISTING L4 NERVE ROOTS. 2) LUMBAR CANAL STENOSIS AT L3-L4 AND L4-L5 LEVELS. 3) FOCAL VERTEBRAL BODY HEMANGIOMAS NOTED IN D12,L2 ,L4 AND S1 VERTEBRAE. 4) NO SIGNIFICANT ABNORMALITY IN DORSAL SPINE. 5) CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS 6) LUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS 7) MILD DISC BULGE AT C5-C-6 LEVEL MILDLY INDENTING THE THECAL SAC. NO DEFINITE IMPRESSION ON NERVE ROOTS. IS THIS IMPRESSION OF SCAN ABNORMAL. IS IT A CAUSE OF CONCERN. WHAT DO I DO NOW. IS SURGERY REQD. I DRIVE A MOTOR BIKE FOR NEARLY 50 KMS A DAY. CAN I DRIVE BIKE HENCEFORTH. IS REST REQD. OR DO I HAVE TO GO FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY LIKE TRACTION. OR ANY EXERCISE REQD. SHOULD I CONSULT A ORTHO OR NEURO. IAM WORRIED AND PERTURBED. KINDLY SUGGEST ME REMEMDIES AND TREATMENT FOR THIS .
Brief Answer:
Mild disc protrusion only.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Your MRI scan report is suggestive of only mild spondylottic changes in the lumbar and cervical spine. There is no nerve root compression and only a mild thecal indentation. No surgery is needed right now.
It occurs due to repetitive overload or stress to the disc & it increases the risk of disc herniation & spinal canal stenosis.
For this condition you have to do stretching & strengthening exercises in which you have to stretch tight muscle & strengthen weakened ones which will alleviate stress on facet joint and disc.
- Maintain optimum body weight, if you are obese
- Avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back. It is better to avoid driving for long distances as it will increase the back pain.
- Change your daily activities so that you avoid movements that can cause further pain, especially bending forward and lifting as it will worsen the disc protrusion. if you want to bend forwards, do it with your hips and knees flexed.
- Use a lumbosacral back support to stabilize your spinal muscles
- Intermittent pelvic traction might be helpful to cause a regression of the protruded disc
- After the initial pain has subsided, remedial exercises to strengthen the spine are very important to restore normal spinal movements and muscle strength. The main aim of exercise is to encourage mobility, reduce muscle spasm, prevent further deterioration in the muscles and speed recovery.
- Use analgesics like advil or aleve and muscle relaxants to relieve pain and muscle spasm, as needed. Vitamin B12 supplements & Pregabalin may be helpful in controlling the neuropathic pain.
You can consult an orthopedician for proper examination and prescriptions.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Mild disc protrusion only.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Your MRI scan report is suggestive of only mild spondylottic changes in the lumbar and cervical spine. There is no nerve root compression and only a mild thecal indentation. No surgery is needed right now.
It occurs due to repetitive overload or stress to the disc & it increases the risk of disc herniation & spinal canal stenosis.
For this condition you have to do stretching & strengthening exercises in which you have to stretch tight muscle & strengthen weakened ones which will alleviate stress on facet joint and disc.
- Maintain optimum body weight, if you are obese
- Avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back. It is better to avoid driving for long distances as it will increase the back pain.
- Change your daily activities so that you avoid movements that can cause further pain, especially bending forward and lifting as it will worsen the disc protrusion. if you want to bend forwards, do it with your hips and knees flexed.
- Use a lumbosacral back support to stabilize your spinal muscles
- Intermittent pelvic traction might be helpful to cause a regression of the protruded disc
- After the initial pain has subsided, remedial exercises to strengthen the spine are very important to restore normal spinal movements and muscle strength. The main aim of exercise is to encourage mobility, reduce muscle spasm, prevent further deterioration in the muscles and speed recovery.
- Use analgesics like advil or aleve and muscle relaxants to relieve pain and muscle spasm, as needed. Vitamin B12 supplements & Pregabalin may be helpful in controlling the neuropathic pain.
You can consult an orthopedician for proper examination and prescriptions.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
IS MILD DISC PROTRUSION CAUSE SO MUCH PAIN IN LOW BACK, KNEES AND THIGHS AND EVEN FOOT. THE PROBLEM HERE IS I CANNOT TAKE PAIN KILLERS AS I HAVE MILD ULCER, REFLUX AND GASTRITIS PROBLEM.THERE IS NUMBNESS IN RT HAND NEAR THE ELBOW. IAM NOT ABLE TO WRITE PROPERLY. THERE IS SHAKINESS AND SHIVER IN MY HAND WRITING.IS IT DUE TO SPONDYLOSIS IN THE NECK. WILL EXERCISE AND TRACTION HELP ME SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WHAT TO DO SO THAT THIS PROBLEM IE THE BACK, KNEE PAIN AND NUMBNESS IN THE HAND DOES NOT DETIORATE FURTHER TO SOME THING WORSE. IN SHORT HOW TO AVOID SURGERY IN THE FUTURE AND REDUCE PAIN.
Brief Answer:
Exercise will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The mild disc protrusion is not likely to cause such an intense pain but the pain can be aggravated by an associated muscle spasm. You can do a hot fomentation in the affected area, get muscle relaxants prescribed and apply a local analgesic gel for temporary relief.
The numbness can be treated by taking methylcobalamin supplements and medicines like Pregabalin. This you can get prescribed from your orthopedician after a proper examination.
To retard the further progression of the problem, regular back and neck strengthening exercises and physiotherapy are the only options left for you. Avoid driving a two wheeler. Improvise your posture while working on computer.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Exercise will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The mild disc protrusion is not likely to cause such an intense pain but the pain can be aggravated by an associated muscle spasm. You can do a hot fomentation in the affected area, get muscle relaxants prescribed and apply a local analgesic gel for temporary relief.
The numbness can be treated by taking methylcobalamin supplements and medicines like Pregabalin. This you can get prescribed from your orthopedician after a proper examination.
To retard the further progression of the problem, regular back and neck strengthening exercises and physiotherapy are the only options left for you. Avoid driving a two wheeler. Improvise your posture while working on computer.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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