Hello, Here are the findings from the two MRIs I had yesterday on my thoracic spine and on my lumbar spine. Jennifer, I would appreciate your comments about them. I don't know how severe the findings are and what my next steps might be. Although I have a good doctor, he is very busy and declines to take the time to explain things. I feel anxious about that.

FINDINGS, THORACIC SPINE
There is an accentuated thoracic spine kyphosis.
There is degenerative disc disease at the mid thoracic levels.
No compressive fracture or subluxation is identified.
The overall marrow signal characteristics are unremarkable.
The sagittal T2 count images demonstrate degenerative disc disease. with mild spur disc complexes at C4-C-7
Axial images:
T6/T7: There is a central and right central disc protrusion with mild superior migration compressing the sac and producing mild flattening of the spinal chord.
Much smaller disc protrusions are identified at the T6-T10 levels without cord compression.
no cord edema or syrinx is seen. No foraminal stenosis is seen.
LUMBAR SPINE
There is mild levo scoliosis.
Heights of the vertebral bodies and the overall marrow signal characteristics are unremarkable.
The distal spinal cord is in normal position with normal signal.
There is moderate to advanced degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 with disc space narrowing eccentric to the right, degenerative marrow endplate signal changes with very mild anterolisthesis.
There is moderate to advanced degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, greater towards the left.
There is mild to moderate degenerative disc disease at L2-L4 and there is very mild retrolisthesis at L2-L3.
Axial images:
T12-L2: No disc protrusion, spinal canal or foraminal stenosis.
Mild degenerative facet disease is seen at L1-L2.
L2-L3: Degenerative changes of the facet joints are noted bilaterally with very mild indentation of thecal sac.
There is very mild broad-based bulging disc with very mild flattening of thecal sac.
No foraminal stenosis.
L3-L4: Same as above.
L4-L5: Degenerative changes of the facet joints and ligamentum flavum thickening is seen bilaterally with mild flattening of thecal sac.
There is mild broad-based bulging disc with mild flattening of thecal sac and extends into the neural foramen on the right and mildly compresses the exiting right L4 nerve root.
There is mild compression of the intradural right L5 nerve root. There is mild compression of the intradural right L5 nerve root as it is starting to exit out of the thecal sac.
L5-S1: Mild degenerative changes of the facet joints are noted bilaterally. Very mild broad-based bulging disc is identified abutting the S1 nerve roots bilaterally and extending into the inferior neural foramen on the left abutting the exiting left L5 nerve root.

Small Tarlov cysts are present involving the S1 and S2 sacral nerves.
A few scattered small cortical renal cysts are seen within the kidneys bilaterally.

IMPRESSION:
1. T6-T7 demonstrates a central and right central disc protrusion with mild superior migration producing a mild flattening of the spinal cord.
2. Mild levoscoliosis of the lower lumbar soine. Degenerative disc disease is seen at the L2-S1 levels, greatest at L4-S1.
3. Degenerative changes of the facet joints and bulging discs at the L2-S1 levels, greatest at L4 - S1 as described.