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What Does My Lab Test Report Indicate?
Question: Am 65 and wondering what sort of surgery may be offered so that I can research them properly your help would be much appreciated: Moderate osteodiscal changes at C4/5 broad based osteodiscal bar causing thecal flattening and moderate right C5 foraminal narrowing C5/6 moderate right postero-lateral osteodiscal bar causes some flattening and potentially impingement. Mild right C6 nerve root impingement. Further mild chronic osteodical changes in upper thoracic spine. Moderate chronic scoliosis lower lumber spine at L3/4 broad-based disc bulge & marked thoracic joint hypertrophy this appears to cause moderate canal narrowing potentially impinging on the cauda equine. This is compounded by posterior element degeneration especially ligamentum flavum hypertrophy . At L4/5 predominantly left sided disc protrusion. Chronic loss of intervertebral disc height and endplate degenerative changes as well as moderate facet joint hypertrophy. Probable impingement of the left L4 nerve root . At L5/S1 Further broad based disc bulge & moderate facet joint hypertrophy potentially approximating the adjacent nerve foot. Thank you XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
No obvious indication for surgery.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am afraid though that there is not a straight forward answer to your question. That report describes changes which are widespread along the spine from the neck to the lower back region. There is not one single site which shows clear marked changes which need surgery by all means, such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve root. The report speaks of mild to moderate changes, potentially impinging the nerve root at C6 and the cauda equina at L3-4. So not at all conclusive about where to intervene or even if any surgery is needed at all.
Such degenerative changes of the spine can be found in many patients with age. At times they may not show any symptoms, or mild symptoms improving with pain killers and physical therapy. For such moderate changes surgery is considered only when there are persistent symptoms which correspond to a specific site. So the symptoms and signs on physical exam need to be considered, to confirm which is the site which is suffering and could profit from surgery. Often it may be a cause of chronic arthritic pain which doesn't benefit from surgery.
Perhaps if you could provide some more details on your symptoms I might be more able to evaluate whether surgery is needed and where.
I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly with the requested information. I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am afraid though that there is not a straight forward answer to your question. That report describes changes which are widespread along the spine from the neck to the lower back region. There is not one single site which shows clear marked changes which need surgery by all means, such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve root. The report speaks of mild to moderate changes, potentially impinging the nerve root at C6 and the cauda equina at L3-4. So not at all conclusive about where to intervene or even if any surgery is needed at all.
Such degenerative changes of the spine can be found in many patients with age. At times they may not show any symptoms, or mild symptoms improving with pain killers and physical therapy. For such moderate changes surgery is considered only when there are persistent symptoms which correspond to a specific site. So the symptoms and signs on physical exam need to be considered, to confirm which is the site which is suffering and could profit from surgery. Often it may be a cause of chronic arthritic pain which doesn't benefit from surgery.
Perhaps if you could provide some more details on your symptoms I might be more able to evaluate whether surgery is needed and where.
I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly with the requested information. I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am afraid though that there is not a straight forward answer to your question. That report describes changes which are widespread along the spine from the neck to the lower back region. There is not one single site which shows clear marked changes which need surgery by all means, such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve root. The report speaks of mild to moderate changes, potentially impinging the nerve root at C6 and the cauda equina at L3-4. So not at all conclusive about where to intervene or even if any surgery is needed at all.
Such degenerative changes of the spine can be found in many patients with age. At times they may not show any symptoms, or mild symptoms improving with pain killers and physical therapy. For such moderate changes surgery is considered only when there are persistent symptoms which correspond to a specific site. So the symptoms and signs on physical exam need to be considered, to confirm which is the site which is suffering and could profit from surgery. Often it may be a cause of chronic arthritic pain which doesn't benefit from surgery.
Perhaps if you could provide some more details on your symptoms I might be more able to evaluate whether surgery is needed and where.
I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly with the requested information.
No obvious indication for surgery.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am afraid though that there is not a straight forward answer to your question. That report describes changes which are widespread along the spine from the neck to the lower back region. There is not one single site which shows clear marked changes which need surgery by all means, such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve root. The report speaks of mild to moderate changes, potentially impinging the nerve root at C6 and the cauda equina at L3-4. So not at all conclusive about where to intervene or even if any surgery is needed at all.
Such degenerative changes of the spine can be found in many patients with age. At times they may not show any symptoms, or mild symptoms improving with pain killers and physical therapy. For such moderate changes surgery is considered only when there are persistent symptoms which correspond to a specific site. So the symptoms and signs on physical exam need to be considered, to confirm which is the site which is suffering and could profit from surgery. Often it may be a cause of chronic arthritic pain which doesn't benefit from surgery.
Perhaps if you could provide some more details on your symptoms I might be more able to evaluate whether surgery is needed and where.
I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly with the requested information. I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am afraid though that there is not a straight forward answer to your question. That report describes changes which are widespread along the spine from the neck to the lower back region. There is not one single site which shows clear marked changes which need surgery by all means, such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve root. The report speaks of mild to moderate changes, potentially impinging the nerve root at C6 and the cauda equina at L3-4. So not at all conclusive about where to intervene or even if any surgery is needed at all.
Such degenerative changes of the spine can be found in many patients with age. At times they may not show any symptoms, or mild symptoms improving with pain killers and physical therapy. For such moderate changes surgery is considered only when there are persistent symptoms which correspond to a specific site. So the symptoms and signs on physical exam need to be considered, to confirm which is the site which is suffering and could profit from surgery. Often it may be a cause of chronic arthritic pain which doesn't benefit from surgery.
Perhaps if you could provide some more details on your symptoms I might be more able to evaluate whether surgery is needed and where.
I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly with the requested information. I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am afraid though that there is not a straight forward answer to your question. That report describes changes which are widespread along the spine from the neck to the lower back region. There is not one single site which shows clear marked changes which need surgery by all means, such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve root. The report speaks of mild to moderate changes, potentially impinging the nerve root at C6 and the cauda equina at L3-4. So not at all conclusive about where to intervene or even if any surgery is needed at all.
Such degenerative changes of the spine can be found in many patients with age. At times they may not show any symptoms, or mild symptoms improving with pain killers and physical therapy. For such moderate changes surgery is considered only when there are persistent symptoms which correspond to a specific site. So the symptoms and signs on physical exam need to be considered, to confirm which is the site which is suffering and could profit from surgery. Often it may be a cause of chronic arthritic pain which doesn't benefit from surgery.
Perhaps if you could provide some more details on your symptoms I might be more able to evaluate whether surgery is needed and where.
I remain at your disposal for other questions possibly with the requested information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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