Anyone good at reading medical results of MRI?!

[Badback44]

Had a bad back for ages and had an MRI recently but have to now wait a few weeks for the results to be explained.

CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATION: Disc pathology particularly at the lower 2 lumbar levels. There is probable mild left-sided transiting L5 nerve root compression within the lateral recess at the L4/L5 level. There is also transiting right S1 nerve root compression within the lateral recess at the L5/S1 level

Can anyone make sense of this?!

Sounds like you’ve ‘slipped a disc’ in your lower spine (L4/L5 and S1 are more at the the bottom of your spine) which would typically cause pain in your legs, feet and bottom.

Transiting just refers to the nerve that’s being compressed afaik. It doesn’t mean anything about severity I don’t think, or anything like that.

Have they suggested any treatment? Sometimes these things can be managed conservatively with pain relief (I think they usually suggest amitryptiline, pregabalin etc before opioids now) and physio, sometimes you can get an injection to manage the pain better too. Keeping moving where possible helps (gentle movement, swimming for example). Used to work on a neurosurgical unit though and a lot of admissions for surgical treatment (which often works, sometimes doesn’t).

Important to note that you can get a condition called cauda equina where the compression becomes more serious and needs immediate treatment - signs of that would be ‘saddle’ numbness (numbness between your legs basically), or issues with toileting - incontinence or inability to go or not getting any sensation when going. If that was to happen you’d really need A&E as that can do permanent damage if not treated quickly enough.

Disclaimer - I’m not a doctor or a trained nurse (I am a different type of HCP though) but worked as an HCA in neurosurgery for a very long time!!!

Ah thank you that’s so helpful! I don’t have an appointment for a few weeks to discuss the report. I tried googling but got confused 😆

Slipped disc