QuestionQUESTION: I have constant lower back pain, but some days I experience a severe excrutiating jolt of pain in my lower back. It does not radiate to my legs. I remain unable to move for a few seconds and it goes away. It does not happen every day, but sometimes several times in one day. I had an MRI with findings of L5-S1 of porterior marginal osteophytosis and mild bulging disc. Left frontal disc protusions touching the exiting left L5 nerve root & right foraminal osteophytosis touching the exiting right L5 nerve root. Flattening in the ventral thecal sac and mild central canal stenosis with mild biforaminal stenois inferiorly on a multifactorial basis. L4-L5 (mild bulging & bil ligamentum hypertrophy), L3-L4 (protrusion with annular tear), L2-L3(broad bulging disc. Could any of this be causing the severe pain?
ANSWER: Hi Doris,
Some (but not all) of these findings can contribute to the back pain. Have you followed up about this MRI report and have you been referred to a neurosurgeon for consultation yet?
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QUESTION: I had breast cancer in 2004 and I will see my oncologist on Monday. I wrote to you because I don't understand the MRI findings. Thank you.
AnswerHi Doris,
Sorry for the delay. My regular practice has been unbelievably busy.
The report is describing arthritis, mild disc bulging (which we all have) Soewm of the disc material is making contact with the nerves that come from the spinal cord and go down the leg.
Flattening of the ventral sac and mild spinal stenosis means the some of the disc material is pushing against the spinal cord flattening it's profile; the spinal stenosis means that the canal diameter of the canal is smaller than normal. The term biforamninal means both right and left sided openings where the nerves exit the spinal canal;ligamentum hypertrophy means that the ligaments are thicker than usual.
