Does anyone know medical jargon and spines and can decipher my MRI?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

BACKGROUND- I had this MRI done way back in 2022 because of mystery back pain that felt like I had a screwdriver rammed into the base of my spine. At first my GP brushed it off as 'mechanical back pain' But I didn't feel like that was right, so I kept pushing and eventually they sent me for a pelvic Xray because I mentioned I sometimes got pain in my hips. I found out I have arthritis in my hips but still no answer about my back so I pushed again and they huffed and puffed and agreed to refer me for an MRI. I had this back in March 2022 and I still don't really know exactly what is wrong with me because a nurse phoned me with the results, she told me everything it said and then went "Well I don't really know what any of that means" She sent my report to the neuro team but they responded and basically said they weren't interested unless my legs went numb. So I've just been left to deal with it by myself 🤷🏼‍♀️ I see I have Degenerative Disc disease but I don't know what the rest means! Any help is so gratefully received.
MRI report copied and pasted below

MRI Spine Lumbar/Sacral 19-03-2022:
Clinical Information: History of back pain which is non radiating with no improvement since started. Pelvic x-ray showed osteoarthritis of the hips with normal appearing lumbar spine. No preceding trauma, bowel or urinary incontinence or saddle. anaesthesia.

REPORT: Standard ULHT lumbar spine protocol carried out.
The curvature and alignment of the lumbar spine is normal.
The conus terminates at L1 and is normal.
The visualised spinal cord is normal.
All vertebral bodies are of normal height and shape with no focal bone marrow lesion identified.
There is very mild Modic type 2 fatty endplate changes L5/S1.
Pre and para vertebral soft tissues appear unremarkable.
Axial imaging has been carried out from L3-S1 with no disc bulges or neural compromise above this level.
L3/L4 - the disc is grossly normal with no neural compromise.
L4/L5 - there is a very small posterior central annular fissure with no disc bulge or neural compromise. There is mild bilateral facet joint arthropathy.
L5/S1 - the disc is dehydrated with a central protrusion which is stenosing the left lateral recess and impinging the left descending S1 nerve root, the right descending nerve root is contacted.
The central canal is narrowed. The exiting nerve roots are normal. There
is mild facet joint arthropathy.

Summary Degenerative disc disease L5/S1 with a central protrusion which is stenosing the left lateral recess and impinging the left descending S1 nerve root.
Multilevel mild facet joint arthropathy.
Neuro/spinal team advice recommended.

I'd ask for to be referred to the neurosurgical team (not neurological team). If nothing from them then physio etc.

The interesting bit is the S1 nerve root being compressed.

You need to see a spinal surgeon.

basically you have what you may know as a slipped disc....have they never referred you for any physio? the surgeons may not think you need any interventions from them but your GP should definitely have referred you for physio.

They referred me for physio when my arthritis was discovered, because I think they thought that was what my problem was. But I turned up to my first session and the woman told me she wasn't sure why they'd even referred me as there was nothing she could do for arthritis, so I explained the whole story and she checked my flexibility and told me to get back to the GP 🤷🏼‍♀️ Should I try again?

can you go private to see a neuro surgeon specialising in spinal issues? Sometimes you just have to have a one off appointment to sit down with someone, have things reviewed and explained and find out if there is a treatment option or not. It says that the neuro and spinal team were meant to advise. Do you know if they did? Prices are often around £350 for a first appointment which I know is a lot but sometimes it’s what it takes to find out what your options are, not be fobbed off (or find out if there really isn’t anything ti be done) and truly understand your condition.

yes get a re-referral!! i'm very disappointed a fellow physio told you there was nothing they could do for arthritis - they cant change your spinal joints but they can help with pain management and advise on exercises to keep you as strong and mobile as possible. you sometimes have to be very clear with the GP about how its affecting your life...some people have awful MRI's and very few real life problems, some have nil of note on MRI and lots of issues. Is it affecting your sleep, work ,activities of daily life, walking distance, sex life even !!?!

@DaisyDreaming I just checked the letter my surgery sent to the neurological consultant and this is what it says. Apparently all they responded with was they don't want to see me unless I start going numb in my legs!

@volunteersruz thankfully I'm a SAHM but yes it affects everything when I have a flare up. I can't bend, can't straighten, can hardly walk without gasping out in pain (and I have to walk DS to school, luckily it's only 5 minutes away, but still...). I can't do anything, even just sitting hurts.

My experience of the NHS and back pain is that it is not taken seriously until it starts to affect your bladder (weakness) or bowel or you have foot drop (you don't automatically lift your feet when walking and can trip). These are known as red flags and can indicate a serious condition.

If back pain is 'simply' pain, the root cause rarely gets treated and pain relief is prescribed.

I suffered with back pain for 25 years before having major surgery and have just had a second op, 10 years on, both privately (I'm very lucky to have cover through work).

The very least you should get is physio. I sympathise, back pain is awful and often minimised in my experience.

You need to get your GP to refer you for physio,or you can now self refer on the NHS. To say they can’t help arthritis is rubbish. I have a spinal problem, arthritis of the spine that had now degenerated so much that it is bent. I’ve been going for NHS physio for two years, it does help a bit.Sometimes get sciatica & I can’t pick up my feet properly when walking & have had several bad falls, once breaking my nose going face first on concrete. Beginning now to have the bladder problems so think I need to go back. Your back doesn’t seem as bad…yet, so time to get some remedial physio help.

I had a very similar MRI report, but my disk problems ate L4/5, I was referred for physio, she has literally changed my life. I go every 4 weeks, she adds exercises to my plan, or makes others harder.

She's taught me what to do if I have a flare up. Honestly it's been life changing, I'd go back to the GP now the report is done and ask for a referral.

Update, I requested a GP appointment last week and I went on Friday, they gave me an appointment with the in-house physio (I didn't even know that was a thing!). I made him explain all my MRI results and I found out I have a slipped disc and arthritis. He gave me a sheet of exercises and told me to lose weight.

The nhs physio is s..t
thats all they ever do is , listen what your problem is then go on the computer and print out exercises!

How do we know we’re doing them correctly
why can’t they just spend 30 mins for a few weeks going through the exercises to make sure your doing them correctly
This is so important

when we go to Pilates or yoga the teacher comes round and puts you right

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens how are you now

It turns out my back was never the problem. Those flare ups that give me such horrendous pain is actually my pelvis, apparently twisting out of position! I was really bad in January and my grandma made me go and visit her osteopath, a few firm hugs and pushes in various positions later and I was fixed! The man’s a wizard.
Thank you for checking in 😊

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens but your mri showed slipped disc and nerve compression right

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens curious where you went 😀

Oh yes absolutely that’s all still there, but the pain I sometimes get isn’t related to my back, it’s my pelvis!

I have similar MRi results, but in two areas rather than one. It’s a fairly normal finding as you get older apparently.
Physio, Pilates and keeping mobile is the way forward.

@theeyeofdoe This is mine

I discussed the results of her MRI, which did not show any evidence of deep infiltrating endometriosis. However, there was a 15 mm left-sided cyst containing proteinaceous material, a small follicle in the right ovary, and a very small hydrosalpinx on the right side.The MRI of her spine revealed mild degenerative changes in the lower cervical and lumbar regions, as well as bilateral L5 nerve root impingement at the L5-S1 level.

any Insight

I have 2 slipped discs and sciatica. I never thought it would work but acupuncture was amazing for pain relief. Unfortunately I was having 3 sessions a week done privately, but now can't afford it. They then started doing it on the NHS in my area but after 2 rounds (12 weeks apart) they stopped the service. When I was having the 3 sessions a week, I managed to come off all of my pain meds, but without it I'm back to 18 tablets a day, which gives me some sort of a normal life.

@mrspresents so sorry to hear will your get surgery

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens would a physio be able to do this

@mrspresents what is the cure

@theeyeofdoe did physio help

They offered me surgery and said it was 70:30. 79% success and 39% or would be worse or make no difference. So I opted for surgery. By the time it came around I had to have another MRI and it showed that one disc had gone in slightly so it reversed my stats- 70% worse or no different and 30% success. So I opted for no surgery. Just take gabapentin, amitriptyline and zapian daily for it now to keep the pain at a level where I can work and have some sort of a life!!

However if I could afford it I would go back to having a few sessions a week acupuncture. It really made such a difference!!

Back pain sucks x