I am 54 years old, 5 ft. 2, (was 5ft. 4 a year ago) 138lbs, and a waitress/shift manager in a restaurant. I am having serious back issues now, some in the neck area but mainly in the lumbar spine area. I was diagnosed years ago with Osteoarthritis from a bone scan looking for cancer, Degenerative Spine Disease from a CT, and Fibromyalgia. I haven’t had medical insurance for years now so I go to a local health clinic for treatment.
I have always had pain and numbness, but about 3 weeks ago I hurt my lower back even more at work hauling supplies up a flight of stairs. I went to urgent care at the clinic and after doing an X-ray, the Dr. ordered an MRI of my lower back. The doctor didn’t seem too interested in explaining the results to me. He just said I have arthritis, which I already know and referred me to a physical therapist. Can anyone help me understand what all of this means on my MRI report?
MRI imaging of the lumbar spine without contrast demonstrates moderate levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine. Endplate degenerative changes are also noted. However no marrow edema is identified.- Mild bulging of the L1-2 disk is noted. - Mild bulging of L2-3 disk is noted. Hypertrophy of the posterior elements is noted. Mild to moderate right neural foraminal stenosis is noted. - Mild bulging of the L3-4 disk is noted. Hypertrophy of the posterior elements is noted. Mild right neural foraminal stenosis is noted. Bulging of the L4-5 disk is noted. Hypertrophy of the posterior elements is noted. - Bulging of the L5-S1 disk is noted. Hypertrophy of the facet joints is noted. - Facet arthrosis in noted particularly in the lower lumbar spine. The tip of the conus is noted at the level of the L1 vertebral body.
Impression: Moderate Levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine is noted. Osteoarthritic and discogenic changes are also noted. Mild to moderate right Neural foraminal stenosis at L2-3 and L3-4 which is multifactorial in nature. Facet arthrosis is noted There is slight retrolisthisis of L2 over L3 and L3 over L4 which appears to be related to facet arthrosis. Endplate degenerative changes noted.
Thank you for any help you can give me,
djh358