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What Does My Spinal MRI Scan Report Indicate?
Question: I had a complete spinal MRI series done today. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. When j left the room, the tech had my pics in his screen and I asked him if I could see them (which I know is generally a no-no). He noted with some XXXXXXX a relatively large white ovoid image in the MRI pics of my lumbar spine right, as he put it, above the "crack" and another, further up my spine. No pulling punches, what might these be? I have terrible back pain that radiates from the thoracolumbar area all the way around my core to my front and makes me cough - it throbs, pulsates with severe pain all the way through the episode. The pain is quite severe even though I am on. Norco. 10/325 q8 for fibro and arthritis (osteoporosis), Zanaflex 4 mg q8, and Gabapentin 600 mg q8. I have had office based injections of cortisone under ultrasound with little result. What's going on?
Brief Answer:
Could be large disc herniation
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Thanks for the query.
The large ovoid masses could possibly be disc bulges or prolapses.
The cortisone shots usually do not work more than once or twice.
The radiating pain to your front could be due to the effect of nerve compression in the spinal canal.
It would be helpful not to bend forward or lift weights. Apply hot packs to the painful regions. You may require physiotherapy options like IFT, SWD in addition to your medication to relieve you of the pain and spasm.
Kindly upload the MRI films for my review to be able to provide you with a more clear picture of what's going on with your spine.
I hope I have answered your query.
I will be available to answer your follow up queries.
Thanks and Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Could be large disc herniation
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Thanks for the query.
The large ovoid masses could possibly be disc bulges or prolapses.
The cortisone shots usually do not work more than once or twice.
The radiating pain to your front could be due to the effect of nerve compression in the spinal canal.
It would be helpful not to bend forward or lift weights. Apply hot packs to the painful regions. You may require physiotherapy options like IFT, SWD in addition to your medication to relieve you of the pain and spasm.
Kindly upload the MRI films for my review to be able to provide you with a more clear picture of what's going on with your spine.
I hope I have answered your query.
I will be available to answer your follow up queries.
Thanks and Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I will send the MRI results as soon as they are ready. Is there any chance this is bone cancer? What about the pain in my lowest left side rib that is very tender to the touch and hurts with movement? Palpitation by pain dr revealed no mass. Could this be bone cancer? Did you see follow up question above the pain in left rib? What is SWD? IFT? If the disc is bulging this extensively or even prolapsed, would surgery be recommended? Discectomy? Other?
Brief Answer:
Less chance of cancer. Discectomy may be required in large disc prolapse
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Thanks for the reply.
I wouldn't be able to say anything about cancer unless I see the MRI scans. It is not common to expect cancer at your age in the spine though.
If the disc prolapse is large and compressing on the nerve root or spinal cord then surgery like Laminectomy and/or Discectomymay be required to decompress the nerve.
It is Interferential therapy and SWD is Short Wave Diathermy. These are methods that induce heating of the tissues that give relief to muscular spasm caused by compressed nerves.
I hope I have answered your queries.
Thanks and regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Less chance of cancer. Discectomy may be required in large disc prolapse
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Thanks for the reply.
I wouldn't be able to say anything about cancer unless I see the MRI scans. It is not common to expect cancer at your age in the spine though.
If the disc prolapse is large and compressing on the nerve root or spinal cord then surgery like Laminectomy and/or Discectomymay be required to decompress the nerve.
It is Interferential therapy and SWD is Short Wave Diathermy. These are methods that induce heating of the tissues that give relief to muscular spasm caused by compressed nerves.
I hope I have answered your queries.
Thanks and regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank-you so very much, Dr. XXXXXXX You have assuaged my concerns about cancer and I can now follow-up with my pain doctor. If I can get my MRI CD tomorrow, I shall and upload for you. You have been most helpful and I truly appreciate it. If my CD is unavailable, then this will be my last communication but if I can retrieve it, I shall upload it and use up my last question. I have to say that I am quite impressed with this site: the quality of the doctors and the alacrity in getting a response are quite comforting!
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Please do follow up with your health process.
Thank you.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Please do follow up with your health process.
Thank you.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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