I have been working as a housekeeper for some time untill I felt a horrible pain in my back. I used meds to keep the pain down and continued working which landed me in my bed for the last month. I have a MRI read and would like to know what it means the severity level of the injury to my back.

Here is what the Report says:

HISTORY: Technique: Four pulse sequences: T1 sagittal, T2 sagittal, proton density and T2 transaxial images from L2-3 Through L5-S1.
Comparison: None.

Findings: The lumbar vertebral bodies have normal heights marrow signal intensity and alligment.
Assuming five lumbar levels, the conus medullaris terminates at the L1 level with normal contour and signal intensity. There is normal dependent layering of the cauda equina.

L1-2 through L3-4 disc levels are unremarkable.

At L4-5 there is normal discal narrowing, mild discal desiccation and minimal disc bulge. Bilateral facets are unremarkable.

At L5-S1, There is normal discal height, moderate discal desiccation and a 3mm left-sided disc extrusion displacing the left proximal S1 nerve root. Bilateral facets are mildly hypertrophied without encroachment at the exiting L5 spinal nerve.

IMPRESSION: Left-sided L5-S1 disc extrusion displacing the left proximal S1 nerve root.


People with this severity of back injury, do they recover at 100%?
I am in pain 24/7 and my doctor sent a referal to my workmans comp as a routine referal instead of a urgent?! is this right? I don't think I can bare this pain any more/