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Lower Back Pain. MRI Done. Suggestions?
I am 26 years old female and have been suffering from lower back pain. I got my MRI done and am unable to undertand the report. I would appreciate if somebodu could tell me if there is anything that I need to worried about in my report.
PROCEDURE REASON: Displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without
myelopathy
* * * Physician Interpretation * * *
MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST
HISTORY: Disc disease and low back pain.
COMPARISON: Radiographs of the lumbar spine dated 5/9/2013
EXAMINATION: Routine lumbosacral spine MR protocol without gadolinium.
LUMBAR RESULT:
Counting reference: Lumbosacral junction. For the purposes of this
report, L5-S1 is considered the last lumbar type disc space and L4-5 is
considered the level of the iliac crest. T11 is the superior most
partially imaged vertebral body on sagittal imaging for reference
purposes.
Alignment: Alignment is anatomic.
Bone marrow signal/fracture: No evidence of pathologic marrow
infiltration. There is minimal indentation of the central aspect of the
superior endplate of L3 compatible with a shallow remote appearing
Schmorl's node. Posterior elements are normal in morphology and
alignment.
Conus: The conus is within normal limits of signal intensity and
morphology, terminating at L1-L2.
Paraspinal soft tissues: Incidentally noted is a retrocaval left renal
vein.
Lower thoracic spine: Visualized lower thoracic canal and foramina are
patent.
T12-S1: Canal and foramina are patent. There are mild facet
degenerative changes the lower lumbar spine.
Sacrum and iliac wings: The visualized sacrum and iliac wings are
within normal limits.
IMPRESSION:
PATENT CANAL AND FORAMINA.
MILD FACET DEGENERATIVE CHANGES LOWER LUMBAR SPINE.
PROCEDURE REASON: Displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without
myelopathy
* * * Physician Interpretation * * *
MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST
HISTORY: Disc disease and low back pain.
COMPARISON: Radiographs of the lumbar spine dated 5/9/2013
EXAMINATION: Routine lumbosacral spine MR protocol without gadolinium.
LUMBAR RESULT:
Counting reference: Lumbosacral junction. For the purposes of this
report, L5-S1 is considered the last lumbar type disc space and L4-5 is
considered the level of the iliac crest. T11 is the superior most
partially imaged vertebral body on sagittal imaging for reference
purposes.
Alignment: Alignment is anatomic.
Bone marrow signal/fracture: No evidence of pathologic marrow
infiltration. There is minimal indentation of the central aspect of the
superior endplate of L3 compatible with a shallow remote appearing
Schmorl's node. Posterior elements are normal in morphology and
alignment.
Conus: The conus is within normal limits of signal intensity and
morphology, terminating at L1-L2.
Paraspinal soft tissues: Incidentally noted is a retrocaval left renal
vein.
Lower thoracic spine: Visualized lower thoracic canal and foramina are
patent.
T12-S1: Canal and foramina are patent. There are mild facet
degenerative changes the lower lumbar spine.
Sacrum and iliac wings: The visualized sacrum and iliac wings are
within normal limits.
IMPRESSION:
PATENT CANAL AND FORAMINA.
MILD FACET DEGENERATIVE CHANGES LOWER LUMBAR SPINE.
Sat, 3 Aug 2013
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
All the MRI findings suggest that you have MILD degenerative changes in your lumbar spine. There is absolutely nothing to worry about these findings.
I suggest you to follow the below mentioned protocol to alleviate your backpain
* avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back
* avoid forward bending activities as it will worsen the disc protrusion
* Use a lumbosacral back support to augment your spinal muscles
* Intermittent pelvic traction to cause a regression of disc
* Maintain optimum body weight,if you are obese
* Physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscles. Physiotherapy has to be done only after the acute pain has subsided.
* Judicious use of analgesics and muscle relaxants.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
All the MRI findings suggest that you have MILD degenerative changes in your lumbar spine. There is absolutely nothing to worry about these findings.
I suggest you to follow the below mentioned protocol to alleviate your backpain
* avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back
* avoid forward bending activities as it will worsen the disc protrusion
* Use a lumbosacral back support to augment your spinal muscles
* Intermittent pelvic traction to cause a regression of disc
* Maintain optimum body weight,if you are obese
* Physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscles. Physiotherapy has to be done only after the acute pain has subsided.
* Judicious use of analgesics and muscle relaxants.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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