Mri

[Deedoo]

Please help me read this
CLINICAL INDICATION: Lower abdominal pain radiating to the upper abdomen. Right
upper leg. Lateral and medial thigh pain and groin pain.? Nerve root impingement?
Endometriosis?
FINDINGS: Normal alignment of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.
No acute fracture, facet joint dislocation or pars defects.
No evidence of inflammatory spondyloarthropathy.
Mild degenerative disc changes noted at C4-5 and C5-6 but there is no significant disc
herniation, exiting foraminal, lateral recess or spinal canal stenosis in the cervical or thoracic
spine.
No cord compression or myelopathy.
The visualised brain is normal.
There is degenerative disc dehydration and volume loss at L5 S1 with shallow disc protrusion
at that level causing bilateral exiting L5 nerve root impingement, slightly worse on the left.
Fatty endplate change also noted at L5 S1.
No cauda equina compromise.
No sinister bone marrow lesions, paravertebral or intrathoracic pathology.
Small amount of free fluid noted in the pelvis
CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATION: Mild degenerative changes in the lower cervical and
lower lumbar spine as detailed above.
Bilateral exiting L5 nerve root impingement at L5 S1.

L5/s1 is the issue - sciatica type pain is usually caused by it. Your nerve is being hindered by the disc

@fivebyfivebuffy thsnk you what can I do to help it

@fivebyfivebuffy it is sciatica pain but what can I do. Am I just doomed I feel so depressed

Pain relief, time and physio mostly
Steroid injections are an option sometimes, I had surgery but my MRI was .. bad!

@fivebyfivebuffy is mine not bad

I had cauda equina and a huge disc bulge crushing my spinal cord so they operated within 24hrs of my MRI

This is not a report that should cause you to feel that you are doomed op. Some of these changes can even be normal findings.

I totally understand you feeling worried, as medical terminology and subsequent googling etc can easily lead to slipping into a black hole of worry and it's easy to get things out of proportion.

However, it's best to ask a specialist to interpret for you as sometimes the reports are not even all that accurate. It depends who has done it, and your specialist will be often best placed to explain and reassure you.

You can manage disc protrusion and nerve impingement conservatively with physiotherapy and exercise

Omg did that develop over time

@physwizz thank you I don't see the specialist until Jan I had all this done privately as my Gp was useless and my pains are awful. I have physio booked now too.

You are far from doomed

@GiveMeAbitOfSugar thank you I just feel the pain is getting worse I haven't been able to do much or move without the pain in back and legs and pick up my kids I just feel dreadful

@fivebyfivebuffy What helps please

Thermacare lower back and hip wraps
Painkillers
Physio
Don't sit - stand or lie and keep walking/moving gently
Don't bend over or twist, squat down instead
Don't lift anything heavy

Pilates! Pilates! Pilates!

I do it online because I have 3 young kids and a job so not much scope to go to classes. It was recommended the consulting saw after my mri for similar sciatica type pain. Really has improved things. There are free pilates videos on the NHS website, which I'm sure are very googleable. I do a class called yourpilatesphysio. But I'm sure any would be good. There is hope!

@Tealpins thank you did you have nerve compression

@fivebyfivebuffy how long does it take to heal. Iv been doing physio I only had one session and home exercises Il get the thermocare wrap

I can't really say as I had surgery so it was immediate for me

@fivebyfivebuffy ah ok and are you ok now after surgery xx

Yep, I still get a little back pain and I have lost some feeling in my affected leg but mostly fine

@fivebyfivebuffy amazing to hear.

I actually paid no attention to what was wrong as I was primarily there to check for cauda equina so I was just super delighted it wasn't that! Sorry!

Hi @Deedoo We've chatted before about similar pain and issues. I have an mri booked in in a couple of weeks.

1. Have you spoken to your GP about your results yet? What did they recommend?

1. I am having a brain and spinal mri. How did you find it? I'm not a claustrophobic person but feeling nervous about it!

@Lollyl88 feel free to dm me x

@fivebyfivebuffy I had manual therapy I hated it never went back

@physwizz physio was horrible