YOU WROTE:





"Current medical status: Lumbar MRI... Findings: The conus is normal in signal, caliber and position. Hemangiomas are noted within the lower thoracic spine, largest at T12 and also seen at L2. Lumbar vertebral body height and alignment are maintained. There is no suspicious marrow edema. Intervertebral discs are well hydrated. Minimal bulges are seen from L2-L3 through L5-S1 without significant canal or foraminal compromise. However, there is a suggestion of minimal protrusion extending into the inferior aspect of the left L3-L4 neural foramen causing mild foraminal narrowing. Impression: No evidence of significant canal or foraminal stenosis. Minimal left L3-L4 foraminal protrusion causing only mild narrowing at the inferior aspect of the left neural foramen. Cervical MRI... Findings: Visualized contents of the posterior fossa are within normal limits. The cervical cord is normal in signal. There is mild narrowing of the cervical canal on a congenital basis. There is straitening of normal cervical lordosis. Mild intervertebral disc dessication is noted. Cervical vertebral body height and alignment are mainained. There is no suspicious marrow edema. Hemangioma is seen at the T4 level. C4-C5: Moderate central protrusion indents the ventral surface of the cord with AP dimension of the canal measuring 7-8mm in the midline. Foramina are maintained. C5-C6: same as above. Impression... 1. Moderate central protrusions at C4-C5 and C5-C6 causing moderate canal stenosis and indenting the ventral surface of the cord. 2. Straightening of normal cervical lordosis which may be positional or related to spasm. 3. Narrowing of the cervical canal on a congenital basis.





Current medical treatment: I am doing physical therapy 3x per week. My medications are 600mg of Neurontin, taken before bed and Percocet (7.5-500) taken every 4 hours as needed."











It is important to realize that visual diagnostic tests alone do not provide the "whole picture" of what is going on. In many cases, individuals have MRI's such as yours, but have no pain. In order to be able to effectively assist you with this, we need to know what your symptoms are. First, you can record the symptoms you are experiencing...than, you can consult with your orthopedic surgeon in order to report your findings. Ask yourself::





1. What is the sensation of pain you are getting?


2. Where do you feel the pain?


3. What time of the day do you feel the most pain/least pain?


4. Do you experience numbness or tingling?