| Help me understand my MRI Report
I have a lower back problem - it has been said that I have an herniated disc in my lower lumbar spine. Here's what my MRI said but need understanding in layman terminology - can someone help me? Thanks.
AT L4-L5, THERE IS A MODERATE DESSICATION OF THE DISC. A BROAD-BASED 2.0 MM BULGE IS IDENTIFIED. THE NEURAL FORAMINA ARE PATENT. THERE IS INCREASED FACET SIGNAL.
AT L5-S1, THERE IS A CENTRAL AND RIGHT PARACENTRAL DISC BULGE OF 4.0 MM. POSTERIOR TO THE L5 VERTEBRAL BODY, THERE IS A LOW SIGNAL DENSITY WHICH APPEARS TO REPRESENT AN EXTRUDED DISC FRAGMENT MEASURING 1.9 CM IN LENGTH IN THE SUPERIOR/INFERIOR DIMENSION. THERE IS SEVERE LEFT-SIDED IMPINGEMENT ON THE THECAL SAC AT THIS LEVEL.
THE FRAGMENT MEASURES APPROX. 1.2 X 1.2 CM IN SIZE IN THE ANTEROPOSTERIOR AND TRANSVERSE DIMENSION, AND 1.9 CM IN SUPERIOR/INFERIOR DIMENSION.
CONCLUSION: SIGNIFICATION INTERVAL WORSENING WITH EXTRUSION OF A LARGE HERNIATED FRAGMENT, WHICH APPEARS TO BE ARISING FROM THE L5-S1 DISC. A HIGH FIELD STUDY IS RECOMMENDED IF SURGICAL INTERVENTION IS COMTEMPLATED.
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