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DiscussionWhat can you tell me about my mri picture
Spine Health | Last Active: Sep 13 11:29am | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Please help with mri results. Also can this cause extreme pain in foot. S1 segment is..."
@justbec2004
Here is what I see in your MRI:
You have a congenital deformity of your S1 vertebrae. Normally, it is solid/stable in your sacrum but yours is more like a lumbar vertebrae that moves. That can be behind a lot of your pain. It presses on and irritates nerves.
At L5-S1, moderate disc height loss, your vertebrae may not be well supported which creates less space for your L5 nerves, especially on the right side. You also have bone overgrowth/arthritis and degeneration in your facet joints which may contribute to pain when your bones rub together and get irritated/inflamed. The loss of disc height and broad-based posterior disc osteophyte complex (4 mm AP) is a bony overgrowth due to excess movement of L5 and S1. This overgrowth extends into both sides of the vertebrae where nerve roots exit and can be irritating these nerves. See picture I attached that shows L5 nerves can cause pain into feet and these are the one to focus on.
Did you say you had spine surgery before? If so, what levels and what was done. If not, it seems like there should be options explored on fusion of L5-S1-S2, removal of the bony overgrowth/osteophyte complex between L5-S1, possible removal of facet joints (facetectomy), stabilization of spine, etc. spinal injections may only give temporary pain relief if injected in the right place. Physical therapy/stretching/strengthening, weight loss, improving posture, not lifting heavy things or doing high impact activities, etc. may help.
oh - you didn't reply to me with this. Yes, there I see it: At L5-S1, moderate disc height loss. Mild left neural foraminal stenosis. Moderate right neural foraminal stenosis. No significant spinal canal stenosis. Mild/moderate bilateral facet arthropathy. Broad-based posterior disc osteophyte complex (4 mm AP) with findings extending into the bilateral neural foramen.
The Osteophyte complex might be the reason! That doesn't mean you need a fusion but the loss of height could mean your vertebrae are compressed OR your disc bulge is pressing on the nerves and causing pain. You need to try some non-invasive procedures, like I said. Also, see if the osteophyte complex might be your problem. You need to learn more about your condition to get more from your doctors and then figure out what a "straight" answer would mean! Your should see a pain mgt doc. and see if he can help before you run to surgery.