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strange finding on MRI

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Posted 3/25/2010 7:44 PM (GMT 0)

Ok...so I had an MRI a few weeks ago...I went the other day and picked up the disc and the report... The report was Blah Blah Blah....nothing major at T12-L3...then we get to L3/L4: The intervertebral disc desiccation and disc space narrowing. Bilateral facet joint arthropathy and concentric disc bulging.  There is flattening of the thecal sac anteriorly. It measures 14 mm. Short Pedicles. Moderate Bilateral L3 Neural foraminal stenosis.

 

Findings: mild straightening of the normal lumbar lordosis and intervertabral disc desiccation and disc space narrowing at L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1.  The conus Medullaris terminates at the T1/L1 level.

L4/L5: Intervertebral disc desiccation and disc space narrowing. Bilateral facet joint DJD, degenerative temp. limit the flavum, short pedicles, and minimal disc bulging. Combo. of these factors cause moderate to severe bilateral L4 neural foraminal stenosis.

 

L5/S1:  Intervertebral disc desiccation and disc space narrowing.  Mild bilateral facet joint DJD.  There is severe bilateral L5 neural foraminal stenosis. Disc material approximates both L5 nerves.  Minimal S1 lateral recess stenosis.

 

That is the Normal stuff....Here is the strange stuff....

 

It also states that there is a Cortical Cyst in the inferior aspect of the right kidney.....What? 

 

Okay fellow HWer's.....what is that?  Anyone that can tell me what this report is saying please feel free....

 

I guess the cyst would explain some of the pain I'm feeling....but not all of it...right?

Posted 3/25/2010 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there,

You need to ask the Dr. if the cyst is complex or simple...those are the usual clasification...Cysts can develop pretty much anywhere in/on the body...I've had numerous one's on my ovaries...kidney cysts are common as well...it's build up of fluid...

I would think that if there is any issue..the Dr. will read the report/look at the films and have you come in for a follow up...Most cysts will just go away on their own..

I have had to have a few surgeries (laprascopic) for my ovarian cysts because they kept bursting...but that's more with ovarian one's as the ovary changes so much each month so their is more movement..

So try not to be too concerned and just see what the Dr. says...That's where we can get ourselves spooked when we try to interpret our own reports...(I've done that before too!! LOL)...so the words can seem more scary than what it actually is...
Posted 3/25/2010 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks....I do feel better now. It's just that I'm tired of new things going wrong....ya know? I already have Diabetes and that sucks....now I"m worried that I might have to have back surgery again....Ugh...no way....

Me.
Posted 3/25/2010 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I hear ya ME...It seems like just when we get 'settled' with our regular issues/pains then something else pops up...So I totally empathize with you...it stinks:(

Hopefully you can find something funny to watch on tv or movie tonight to relax and take your mind off things...

That is one of my 'must haves' every single day..no exceptions..I have a DVR..(favorite invention in the world! HAHA)...that I record all my favorite shows each night/day so that I can just click on something whenever I need an endorphin boost...Because if I didn't find things to laugh at each day..I would certainly be too sad/depressed about all my chronic pain...

Like the new show Modern Family...oh my goodness!!! I have tears down my face laughing so hard at that show!

Sending you another hug (can't have too many:)....
Posted 3/26/2010 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Me

From what you wrote if you have back pain, it definitely looks like L4 and L5 are the culprits! What does your Doc say about them? I also have a cyst on my left kidney and also a small one on my liver, and a big one in my sinus! So unless your Doctor is concerned about it, it is probably no big deal. But your lumbar spine sure doesn't sound very good! with severe bilateral neural foraminal stenosis at both L4 and L5! That can cause you allot of problems right there! I will be curious to see what your Doctor has to say about it. Anyway Good Luck to YOU

White Beard
Posted 3/26/2010 7:24 AM (GMT 0)
ME; I am so sorry to hear that you are once again hurting. Dang it, can't any of us get a break??? Seems the minute one thing is starting to look like it will get better something else (like Diabetes, where you and I are pretty much sisters in that aspect) comes along to blast us into another round of 4 more medications or something horrible that just forces us to look at the big picture.

Sending you many, many hugsssssss; bubble bath for those crying nights where the pain is so bad you cannot sleep and your fav tea for those not so bad nights.

Huggggs

Scarred
Posted 3/26/2010 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
The finding relating to the facet joints can cause alot of pain. I have been going through diagnostic injections for facet joint syndrome and will be having radio frequency abalation (where they insert the needle into the affected nerve then apply heat) soon. If you are having pain in you lumbar spine the nerve running around the facet joints could be the culprit. With djd bone spurs can appear and cause pinched nerves which cause pain. Let us know what your doctor has to say!
Posted 3/26/2010 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
 

   Dear Rhonda,

 

     Good morning *huggs* It is good to hear from you. I hope your pain levels are somewhat tolerable today. Mobility must be very hard right now. I hope you are able to get a few moments of rest.

 

     Your MRI report is troubling to say the least! Any one of the problems you are having would cause a tremendous amount of pain. Add them all together and goodness you are a very strong woman! What did your doctors say about the next course of action?

 

     You have alot on your plate right now, and I am so sorry you have to endure through so much. You are in our hearts and prayers here. Stay strong

 

*huggs*

    dani

Posted 3/26/2010 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Me you sure have a lot of narrowing going on, wondering how much of this narrowing is causing some nerve involvement which would certainly explain the increase in the pain you are having. Usually when you have narrowing you have nerves being compromised.

I have a cyst on my right kidney that has been there for almost 4 yrs, all they do is monitor it and thats pretty much it. All of my drs say it ok to have it there nothing for me to worry about. But, I do have concerns about your back issues. What has your dr said about the MRI?
Posted 3/27/2010 4:53 AM (GMT 0)

Ok...first things first...Thank YOu all for being so kind...and making me feel better.  The odd thing about the MRI is that I have had 1 Lamenectomy at L3 in 1999...and 5 or 6 years ago I had Spinal Fusion at L4-S1 due to Spinal Stenosis.  I guess it's gotten worse since then, Huh?  When I had the fusion they only used what material they "Chiseled" out during surgery (bone and blood). so no hardware....that's a good thing....right?

 

Before , during , and since the fusion I have had no relief...as a matter of fact it's gotten much worse and in different places. 

 

When I looked at the MRI pics I noticed that there was "stuff" that looked like it was oozing out  from between the discs in both directions at L4,L5, and S1....and the discs themselves looked flat as Kansas....I don't know what most of the terms mean but I am assuming that DJD is Degenerative Joint Disease....is that the same as DDD?  and it seems that I have other discs that are bulging..

 

What can be done?  if the fusion didn't work then what do I have left to try?  My next appt. isn't until April 7...and I don't know what to expect... I am terrified that he'll want me to have more surgeries....I don't think I can go through that again...that was awful..

 

But other then being on Pain Pills forever...what else is there?  PT doesn't help, can't do ESI anymore....

 

Help?  Please

 

Me

Posted 3/27/2010 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure but I think djd is in the facet joints and that ddd is in the disc. In ddd the disc dries out causing the disc space to narrow which in turn causes the vertebra to rub together causing bone spurs or osteophytes which in turn can cause nerve impingement. In djd the facet joints do pretty much the same thing. Hope this helps clear this up. Definately ask your doc about this and you can check out alot of info on the web.
Posted 3/27/2010 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
All I can offer is support. Perhaps they will agree to move up your appointment. It would certainly be worth a call (considering the findings on the MRI).
Posted 3/28/2010 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

Unfortunately my PM Docs don't move appts. unless it is an emergency...I don't think they consider this as such... He is the one that ordered the MRI...only 1 year since the last one...I have a feeling that I might be in for more surgery.  If they tell me that I won't do it.  I'm sick of surgeries that don't help... As I said before the last one I had was Spinal Fusion at L4/S1 without hardwear....but on the MRI report it stated that he saw where I had 2 midline lamenectomies...and a left lamenectomy... Wait a minute!!  I have only had 2 back surgeries....one a lamenectomy in 1999 and the other a fusion 5 years ago.... Do you think he just assumed what it was?  Or do you think the last one really wasn't fusion?  I'm beginning to wonder now.....

 

I go back on April 7th for my regular follow-up visit.  This is when I have to make a decision about meds.  Should I try to change to Opana ER from the Methadone?  I have been on Methadone for so long that it scares me.  I tried to change to Morphine once but that only lasted a few days due to withdrawls.... I have heard many different things about the Opana ER....I don't know what to do.

 

He thinks it will work better for me....another Dr. there tells me it's 50/50. 

 

Anyway, I guess I'll have to decide soon....I'd rather stay the way I am but increase the doseage of my Oxy IR 30's to 5 a day instead of 4....and maybe increase the Methadone to 140 mg. a day.. This was another option given to me by the NP....

 

I'm not doing to well lately....I have bronchitis, my Diabetes is out of control, and my stress is through the roof!!!

 

Yippee....what a life.

 

Me.

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