@smn1

Here is what my last lumbar MRI showed in 2024.

FINDINGS:
Vertebral body height, signal intensity and alignment:
* Type II Modic endplate changes around the degenerated L2/L3
intervertebral disc.
The conus has a normal configuration and terminates at level of L1
pedicles.
At the following level(s), SPONDYLOSIS, e.g., degenerative disk disease,
infolding of ligamenti flavi, uncovertebral hypertrophy, facet arthrosis
or some combination, causes:
L2/3: Mild central and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis
L3/4: Mild central, moderate RIGHT foraminal and mild LEFT foraminal
stenosis.
L4/5: Severe central and moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L5/S1: Mild LEFT foraminal stenosis.
Paraspinal soft tissues and visualized bony pelvis: The visualized
structures are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION:
Multilevel lumbosacral spondylosis, as described in the body of this
report. In particular at the L4/L5 level there is severe central and
moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis, but that has not changed relative
to most recent comparator (see above).

At the time, I had pain/numbness/weakness in my lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet bilaterally. Most improved after surgery but I have some residual numbness in my right foot big toe. I do have some nerve pain in my hips/hip flexors at times but I also have bilateral gluteal tendinopathy and bilateral hamstring tears so not sure if that is contributing to my sensations (don’t believe it has fully healed yet).

My compression in my lumbar spine started in 2011 and I have a congenitally narrow spinal canal so long term compression and nerve injury will take a while to heal. I was also told that you don’t really have a clear picture of surgery outcome for a full year.

For my cervical spine surgery in 2022, my c5-c6 was decompressed and fused and it relieved my daily headaches, neck/shoulder/shoulder blade pain and knots, some arm/hand pain/weakness and pain/numbness, improved bladder control, walking didn’t feel like I was wearing heavy cement boots anymore, etc. I have a new herniated disc at c6-c7 and some symptoms have returned (mostly neck pain, arm pain/weakness/numbness, bladder control issues and balance issues.

For me, I really have no choice but to have surgery when there is compression because my narrow spinal canal I was born with causes many symptoms and issues with the slightest degenerative changes. Physical therapy and spinal injection will only help so much for a short period of time.