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What Does This MRI Report Indicate?
Question: Can you explain "focal dehydration and degenerative change in the disc at L5 S1. This is associated with a central and left sided disc protrusion." Can you tell how long the disc has been dehydrated and what does it mean when it says "associated with" the protrusion? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Degenerative changes cause the protrusion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The dehydration of the disc is present at the time of examination. It cannot be commented how long the dehydration has been there. Due to the degenerative changes in the disc, the disc starts herniation. If the herniation progresses, it can cause a compression on the nerve roots.
In your case these are just mild degenerative changes of the disc. Regular back strengthening exercises can retard the further progression of the problem.
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 XXXX
Degenerative changes cause the protrusion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The dehydration of the disc is present at the time of examination. It cannot be commented how long the dehydration has been there. Due to the degenerative changes in the disc, the disc starts herniation. If the herniation progresses, it can cause a compression on the nerve roots.
In your case these are just mild degenerative changes of the disc. Regular back strengthening exercises can retard the further progression of the problem.
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 XXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. Tayal, thank you for your answer.
A little more detail if I may.
That MRI was taken on 5th May 2006.
In late December 2005 I was assaulted by a person. This person was standing on some steps above me, and he struck me in the face, I was holding onto another person at the time (unprovoked attack) and to protect myself I turned into the other person, holding onto their arm, and I bent my head down to protect myself (All documented).
My attacker put one hand on my back, trying to push me to the ground. I was almost bent in two while he was striking me on the back with the other hand.
Three weeks later I ended up in a physio's office with severe low back pain (it actually felt like it was coming from my left buttock) that went down my left leg. (I can send you both reports if you wish).
I had pins and needles and numbness in my left foot.
This persisted for approximately 6 weeks and appeared to have resolved with medication and physio.
In April it flared up again and I was referred for that MRI. That was the result.
GP advised it was a "slipped" disc. It flared up periodically and I had to be careful in day to day matters.
In 2010 I suffered an acute disc prolapse, same disc. I underwent microdiscectomy.
In 2011 I suffered another prolapse, this time with the onset of Cauda Equine Syndrome - I had emergency surgery to remove the disc.
I had no previous history of back pain.
Thoughts?
A little more detail if I may.
That MRI was taken on 5th May 2006.
In late December 2005 I was assaulted by a person. This person was standing on some steps above me, and he struck me in the face, I was holding onto another person at the time (unprovoked attack) and to protect myself I turned into the other person, holding onto their arm, and I bent my head down to protect myself (All documented).
My attacker put one hand on my back, trying to push me to the ground. I was almost bent in two while he was striking me on the back with the other hand.
Three weeks later I ended up in a physio's office with severe low back pain (it actually felt like it was coming from my left buttock) that went down my left leg. (I can send you both reports if you wish).
I had pins and needles and numbness in my left foot.
This persisted for approximately 6 weeks and appeared to have resolved with medication and physio.
In April it flared up again and I was referred for that MRI. That was the result.
GP advised it was a "slipped" disc. It flared up periodically and I had to be careful in day to day matters.
In 2010 I suffered an acute disc prolapse, same disc. I underwent microdiscectomy.
In 2011 I suffered another prolapse, this time with the onset of Cauda Equine Syndrome - I had emergency surgery to remove the disc.
I had no previous history of back pain.
Thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Could be triggered by the trauma.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have gone through the details. The disc prolapse that you had could be triggered by the attack and a direct hit on the area. The trauma can aggravate the degenerative process and can cause a scarring in the area.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Could be triggered by the trauma.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have gone through the details. The disc prolapse that you had could be triggered by the attack and a direct hit on the area. The trauma can aggravate the degenerative process and can cause a scarring in the area.
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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