I haven't had a chance to do a follow up with my PA but I have my radiologist's report back for my lower back. I was wondering if anyone could brake this down for me and tell me what the findings mean? My symptoms are severe lower back pain and numbness going down right leg and foot.
X-rays:
9^SEE RADIOLOGIST'S REPORT
CHCS 07/31/1981
Comparison Study: None.
FINDINGS: Standard views of the lumbosacral spine demonstrate no evidence
of fracture or subluxation. The vertebral body height is preserved. Schmorl
nodes are present at the level of C 12 L1 and L1-L2. Slight narrowing is
present of the L5-S1 intervertebral disc space, suggesting degenerative
disc disease. There is no evidence of spondylolisthesis or listhesis. The
spinous processes and sacroiliac joints are normal. The alignment of the
spine is normal. Bone mineralization is normal.
IMPRESSION:
Degenerative changes as described above.
MRI:
9^SEE RADIOLOGIST'S REPORT
CHCS 07/31/1981
MRI lumbosacral spine without contrast: 4/13/2013
Indications: Chronic lower back pain with worsening , radiculopathy worse on
the right than left
Comparison studies: 7/15/2012
Technique: Spin echo coronal T2-weighted, sagittal T1-weighted and
T2-weighted along with transaxial T1-weighted and T2-weighted acquisition
were obtained through the lumbar spine.
Findings: There is a minimal retrolisthesis of the L5 in respect to S1 with
no significant interval change. Lumbar vertebrae are otherwise normal in
height and signal intensity. The conus terminates at a normal level at L1.
There are no cord signal abnormalities. The paravertebral soft tissues are
unremarkable. Mild DJD in her seen in the upper lumbar vertebrae. There is
a decrease in the signal intensity of the intervertebral disc T12-L1,
L1-L2, and to lesser extent L5-S1. Intervertebral osteochondrosis are again
seen in the 12 thoracic and upper 4 lumbar vertebrae.
Specific findings by vertebral level:
T12-L1: There is minimal bulging disc with posterocentral annulus tear
without central canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.
L1-L2: There is no central canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.
L2-L3: There is no central canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.
L3-L4: There is no central canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.
L4-L5: There is mild bulging disc with bilateral facet joint disease and
bilateral neuroforamina narrowing but without nerve root compression or
spinal stenosis.
L5-S1: There is minimal bulging disc with bilateral facet joint disease,
bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing but without spinal stenosis.
IMPRESSION:
1. Mild DJD changes in the upper lumbar spine.
2. Minimal retrolisthesis of the L5 in respect to S1.
3. Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the twelfth thoracic through fourth
lumbar vertebrae.
4. DJD disc disease T12-L1, L1-L2, and L5-S1.
5. Changes at multiple disc level as described above.