My mother has had back problems as long as she can remember. We finally got an MRI done and got the results, and a referral to an orthopedist. We go today for her first epidural shot, and to see how that works. The doctor, so far, is recommending the shots for pain management, weight loss, and exercise/physical therapy. If those don't work, then we will discuss surgery options.

Here are the results:


PROCEDURE: MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST

COMPARISON: None.

INDICATIONS: Low back pain


TECHNIQUE: A variety of imaging planes and parameters were utilized for visualization of suspected pathology.

FINDINGS:

BONES/ALIGNMENT: There is minimal degenerative grade 1 retrolisthesis of L2 on L3. Remainder of the alignment is satisfactory. Fatty degenerative marrow signal changes adjacent to the endplates of L5-S1 are noted. The marrow signal is otherwise unremarkable.

CONUS MEDULLARIS: Normal, terminating at L1.

PARASPINAL SOFT TISSUES: Normal.

L1-L2 level: There is minimal disk bulge eccentric to the right which slightly encroach into the inferior aspect of the right neural foramen without causing significant stenosis. There is no left neural foramina stenosis or central stenosis.

L2-L3 level: There is moderate narrowing of the disk height with disk desiccation. Posterior disk osteophyte complex is present causing mild central stenosis. Mild bilateral neural foramina stenosis are present due to minimal inferior disk encroachment.

L3-L4 level: There is disk desiccation. Broad based disk protrusion with bilateral facet hypertrophy causes moderate central stenosis. Mild bilateral neural foramina stenosis are present due to inferior disk encroachment.

L4-L5 level: There is disk desiccation. Broad based disk protrusion slightly eccentric to the left is present. there is mild to moderate effacement of the bilateral lateral recesses with mild central stenosis. There is a moderate left and mild right neural foramina stenosis due to inferior disk encroachment. Moderate right and mild left facet arthropathy is noted.

L5-S1 level: Moderate to severe narrowing of the disk height is present with disk desiccation. There is minimal disk osteophyte complex slightly indenting the ventral thecal sac without causing significant central stenosis. However, there are disk osteophyte encroachment into the bilateral neural foramina causing moderate to severe left neural foramina stenosis with probable mild nerve impingement. There is also moderate right neural foramina stenosis without definite nerve impingement.

CONCLUSION:

1.  Moderate central stenosis is noted at the L3-L4 due to broad-based disk protrusion.
2. Moderate to severe left neural foramina stenosis at L5-S1 with mild nerve impingement due to disk osteophyte encroachment. Moderate right neural foramina stenosis at L5-S1 is also noted
3. Moderate left and mild right nerual foramina stenosis at L4-L5.
4. Mild degenerative changes at other levels, as described.