NEW MRI

Just had new MRI-very similar to old one.

Should I be feeling severe pain from this?

At L1-L2 there is no canal stenosis. The neural foramina demonstrates no significant narrowing bilaterally.

At L2-L3, there is disk bulge diffusely with facet hypertrophy. There is mild canal stenosis identified with mild foraminal narrowing present bilaterally.

At L3-L4 there is disk bulge and central disk protrusion with boderline canal stenosis. The neural foramina demonsrates mild narrowing bilaterally.

At L-4-L5 there is disk bulge and facet hypertrophy with central disk extrusion which extends along the posterior margin of the L5 veretebral body with boderline canal stenosis. The neural foramina demonstrate moderate narrowing toward the left and mild narrowing toward the right.

At L5-S1 there is no canal stenosis identified. The neural foramina demonstrate no significant narrowing bilaterally

IMPRESSION

L4-5 DISK BULGE AND CENTRAL DISK EXTRUSION WITH BODERLINE CANAL STENOSIS AND FORAMINAL NARROWING IDENTIFIED WORSE TOWARD LEFT.

L3-4 DISK BULGE AND CENTRAL DISK PROTRUSION WITH BODERLINE CANAL STENOSIS WITH MILD FORAMINAL NARROWING.

L2-3 DISK BULGE AND MILD CANAL STENOSIS WITH MILD FORAMINAL NARROWING BILATEDRALLY

SLIGHT SCOLIOTIC CURVATURE OF THE LUMBAR SPINE IS PRESENT

actaully, i've always need told that it is very normal to have bulging disk..but I know what what the other stuff means. a lot of people have slight curves too.
I don't see that the nerves are being pressed....I don't know.
But who am I to say this doesn't cause pain. I know my bulging disk can r'. eally hurt at times.
I bet your doctors are saying"you shouldn't be in as much pain as you are" I was so tired of hearing that one.
we all sense pain differently, and respond differently.
I just hope the pain goes away for you.
Ang

I too have a slight side-ways curve, and I was told this is normal. I wasn't talking about ht curve in the lumbar area.
but again, I'm no doc.

Hi Alan, wow, yeppers you sure should be hurting. The facet problems will give you pure hell, then top it off with the stenosis, could be harboring a herniation, sheesh. With the multi level involvement, I canno see hoe you possibly would not be in pain. I sure hope you have some decent pain meds to take. Hugs, Susie

Alan, I have facet problems L5-S1, and I have a pain pump and 2mg of Dilaudid I can take orally. It does not touch that pain. I am being scheduled for a RF and hopefully will get some relief again for ahwile. Dr said today he feels sure the nerves have grown back. Also, I have noticed that I am starting to lean forward instead of being straight up, he says its the facets causing this. I am too dang young to be hunched over, lol. Susie

I had pretty much ran out of avenues when my dr rec the pump. I have so much pain in so many different parts of my body, he said no pain pill could handle taking care of all the pain. I do not tolerate medications well at all, that was another problem to add to the mix.

I have done very well with my pump. The 1st year was not easy at all for me, had to find the right mix of medications, then they titrate the doseage up, usually done at 20% increments, I got 10% to prevent and possibly ward off reactions to the meds. I also had other health conditions and that was another reason to go slow & steady. It was very slow going, but once we got in the area we needed to be it was great. I am now beginning to do some things I have been able to do in the past few years. I will not be able to do everything I did before, but I am thankful for what I can do. Susie