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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Foraminal Narrowing On MRI Report Mean?

hi, male, 48 years old, 5 10 /195 pounds. The following was listed in an MRI report: Left paracentral disc protrusion and extrusion at L4-5 measuring 0.7cm in depth, 1.9cm in transverse measurement and a length of 1.7cm. There is disc extrusion with superior migration of disc material overlying the interior endplate of L4. There is accompanying displacement of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Left paracentral and lateral narrowing is present impinging the descending left S1 nerve root. There is bilateral inferior foraminal narrowing, left worse than right. So what does that mean? Good, bad or not that bad?
posted on Sun, 21 Sep 2014
Twitter Wed, 31 Dec 2014 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 31 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on
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Neurologist,  's  Response
your MRE spine shows disc prolapse L4-L5 region compressing S1 root. THIS may be an incidental finding at age 48. but if you have symptom such as bachache, radiating pain to lower limb back side, any weaknesss in lower limb or sensory loss, then you can consult neurosurgeon for surgery. but if you have only pain then go for medical treatment only not surgical. severity of MRI finding depend on your clinical symptom as motor weakness on sensory loss in limb. at this age without symptom only MRI finding is non specific
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What Does Foraminal Narrowing On MRI Report Mean?

your MRE spine shows disc prolapse L4-L5 region compressing S1 root. THIS may be an incidental finding at age 48. but if you have symptom such as bachache, radiating pain to lower limb back side, any weaknesss in lower limb or sensory loss, then you can consult neurosurgeon for surgery. but if you have only pain then go for medical treatment only not surgical. severity of MRI finding depend on your clinical symptom as motor weakness on sensory loss in limb. at this age without symptom only MRI finding is non specific