| Any thoughts on MRI results?
Hi everyone. I had a L5/S1 microdiscectomy in 06/2006 on left side due to an 11mm herniation. Have had varying degrees of back pain on same side of surgery since but nothing severe, just ache. About 1 month ago I started getting severe back pain on the opposite side of surgery. went to see my neuro and got an MRI. Since the neuro appt, I have started to get pain in my right buttock, numbness on top and side of right foot, burning in right hip and a bunch of other sciatica symptoms. Hoping to avoid a fusion on my L5/S1 but if I have to I will. Can anyone shed some light on my MRI results before I go back to see my neuro next week?
Results:
No spondylolisthesis present;
Mixed fatty and edematous marrow changes at L5/S1;
Significant loss of height of disc space and disc dessication at L5/s1;
Diffuse annular bulge at L5/S1 with bulging disc material abuts the S1 roots bilaterally without definitely compressing them;
The neural foramina are moderately stenotic bilaterally;
No bulge or herniation at any other lumbar level. All other neural foramina are patent.
What's everyone think? Fusion in the future? My neuro originally said after the discectomy that i would eventually need a fusion because so much of my disc herniated the first time.
Thanks
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