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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does This MRI Test Result For Intense Back Pain Indicate?

I fell on 1/16/17, on the ice and when I fell I landed on my back in a curve. I went to the Dr. because I was in so much pain, She just checked me over and sent me home. Three days later the pain was worse, I went back to the Dr. she just had me do a few exercises, to see how bad it hurt. That had me in tears, she gave me 3 day supply of muscle relaxers. I went back on the 24, and she finally done an X-Ray, which showed that I a very badly bruised back bone. The pain just kept getting worse as I never stopped working, on the 2nd of March they finally did a MRI, showing that I had a compression fracture at T7 and bulging disc and L4 & L5. All this time I had worked making beds and running up and down stairs and running vacuum cleaners. Now the pain is so unbearable and I am losing feeling in my left leg. The specialist just told me to avoid falls. My question is: since worked and kept doing everything that I normally do, could I have messed my back more?
Tue, 25 Apr 2017
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Orthopaedic Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi, I went through your history and have identified the following problems; I have not seen your X rays or MRI films so my opinion of this is going to be a limited one.

1. The T7 compression fracture: This fracture must have been a stable fracture, as you have been weight bearing and walking even after the fall. An unstable fracture would have contributed to new neurological deficits that you would have experienced and not allowed you to bear weight at all.And since its been more than 3 months since the injury, the fracture would have healed by now anyway. Since it takes an average of 6 weeks for vertebral body fractures to heal.

2. The disc bulge if severe enough at L4-5 can contribute to numbness over the back of your calf. This would signify a neurological compression. If it was a bad disc bulge or disc prolapse as we call it you would most likely need a surgical intervention.

So in conclusion, you wouldn't have messed your back more by this. But i suggest you show a spine surgeon who could take a look at your problems, examine you clinically and correlate with your MRI images and decide whether you need any surgical intervention or not.
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Orthopaedic Surgeon,  Dr. Tushar Kanti Chaudhuri's  Response
As you said MRI reported T7 vertebral compression fracture, it means T7 of your spine is fractured and it's height is reduced. As you are not taking absolute Bed rest,can go for second MRI to see if there is any compression on the spinal cord or nerve Root.
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What Does This MRI Test Result For Intense Back Pain Indicate?

Hi, I went through your history and have identified the following problems; I have not seen your X rays or MRI films so my opinion of this is going to be a limited one. 1. The T7 compression fracture: This fracture must have been a stable fracture, as you have been weight bearing and walking even after the fall. An unstable fracture would have contributed to new neurological deficits that you would have experienced and not allowed you to bear weight at all.And since its been more than 3 months since the injury, the fracture would have healed by now anyway. Since it takes an average of 6 weeks for vertebral body fractures to heal. 2. The disc bulge if severe enough at L4-5 can contribute to numbness over the back of your calf. This would signify a neurological compression. If it was a bad disc bulge or disc prolapse as we call it you would most likely need a surgical intervention. So in conclusion, you wouldn t have messed your back more by this. But i suggest you show a spine surgeon who could take a look at your problems, examine you clinically and correlate with your MRI images and decide whether you need any surgical intervention or not.