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Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Spinal disk protrusion on MRI
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Q: Spinal disk protrusion on MRI
asked by: DoctorQuestion on February 6th, 2008
I had this MRI as part of medical examination for a job vacancy which I applied for. And providing the MRI came back clear, I would have been accepted for the job. However because of these results I was not accepted. It was a total shock as I had never suffered with any sort of back pain and am a very active individual, playing football etc.
The reason why I am writing is because the company are recruiting again shortly and I am just wondering is there any treatment that I could undergo to improve or rectify the findings of the MRI? As I wish to apply again. Would physio or surgery help or could it be a possibility that it could have rectified itself with time, I had this MRI 18 months ago. And I still have no pain whatsoever. Also, what in your opinion do you make of the results as they were not explained to me or what may have caused this?


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on February 8th, 2008
Back Pain Answer A3624
YOU WROTE:

Current medical status: Had an MRI on my back, results were as follows: "Multiplanar imaging was performed of the lumbosacral spine. Spine alignment appears normal. There is some disk desiccation present at L3-L4 level. There is an associated posterior disk protrusion at this level. The disk protrusion extends posteriorly encroaching slightly on the thecal sac. There is no significant encroachment on the exit nerve foramina at this level. The rest of the lumbosacral spine appears within normal limits."


It seems that the job you've applied for requires extraordinary physical health and you had to perform an MRI of the spine before you'd be considered for the position. The MRI confirmed an vertebral disk protrusion, but the protrusion is not big enough to cause any pressure on the spinal nerve(s), which explains why you feel no pain. However, if the job requires excessive spine efforts, the condition may become worse over time and you may start feeling pain.

There is no way you can improve the MRI-report. You can only try to prevent any worsening of the disk protrusion by avoiding hard labor and practicing exercises for strengthening the spine muscles (such as swimming, Pilates, or yoga). Surgery is not used for treating such asymptomatic conditions but can eventually be treated surgically if symptoms present themselves.




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