Will someone please translate this for me - MRI lumbar spine without contrast. What is a small L5 hemangioma? L2-L3: slight foraminal bulging, L3-L4: mild diffuse bulging and facet arthropathy causing slight bilateral formainal stenosis. L4-L5: Mild disc bulging and mild-moderate facet hypertrophy and overgrowth. L5-S1:small central annular tear with shallow central protrusion causing slight ventral mass effect on thecal sac and right lateral recess. Mild facet hypertrophy, mild-mod bilateral foraminal stenosis.
I have had 3 ESI's, after the 2nd one, pain moved up my back and still aches at the bottom. I was treated for sciatica yet when saw the neurosurgeon last week, he said the numbness in my small 2 toes and sole of my foot was not consistent with the MRI (see above). He also said the type of back surgery I am a candidate for is the spinal fusion. I have never had back surgery before, I'm 44 yrs old, have never had chiropractic treatment either. I am so frustrated. It is a workers comp injury and I feel like I am a guinea pig on an asembly line. I never get straight answers and I have read that a protruding disc is in fact a herniated disc? I don't want surgery because I'm afraid (there is a low success rate apparantly). Before the MRI, I had 8 sessions of pretty extreme PT and am concerned that that may have hurt me more? The MRI is over 3 mos old now and why does the Dr ignore my physical symptoms and go on and on about my pain not correlating to the MRI and then prescribing me narcotics for the pain? I am active, I do aqua therapy and walk, fortunately I'm not bedridden but this accident has definitely affected my quality of life. I'm beginning to question the neurosurgeon and that isn't going to be conducive to my treatment and prognois. Any feedback would be appreciated.
