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  • LA_0209
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    Post count: 1

    Hello Dr. Corenman,

    I’m hoping you may be able to provide some insight regarding my MRI results. I’ve had an on-going issue for nearly five years. What began as low-back pain has progressed to a host of other symptoms.

    My original CT results were the following:

    Findings: The L3-4 and L4-5 discs are unremarkable in appearance. There is a small left paracentral disc protrusion at L5-S1 of dubious clinical significance. There are minimal degenerative changes in the L5-S1 facet joints. No focal bony lesions are seen.

    Roughly two years after this I had another MRI of the same area. I should note that both were reported by the same MD. The results were the following:

    Findings: There is mild anterior wedging of the T12 vertebral body that appears longstanding in nature. No aggressive osseous lesions are seen. The conus is normal in position. There is a tiny central disc protrusion at L5-S1 that is unlikely to be clinically significant. There are mild degenerative changes in the lower lumbar facet joints. There is a small left paracentral disc protrusion at T12-L1 that is contacting the left side of the cord. There is no abnormal signal within the substance of the cord.

    Another two years later I had a third MRI of only my thoracic. The findings/impression were the following:

    Findings: There is mild old wedging of T12 — unchanged from thoracic spine x-ray of November 22, 2012. The thoracic vertebrae are otherwise normally aligned. There is no disc herniation or spinal stenosis or other focal bone lesion. The thoracic cord and conus medullaris are normal in size and shape and signal intensity.

    Impression: No cause for ongoing back pain identified.

    The results of my most recent MRI appear to indicate that the small left paracentral disc protrusion at T12-L1 healed. Is this possible? I’m also very confused about the L5-S1 disc protrusion which on the CT was reported as a “small left paracentral disc protrusion” and on the MRI as a “tiny central disc protrusion”. Are you able to comment if small/tiny disc protrusions are likely to be symptomatic? I won’t go into detail about my symptoms as I’m not sure if that is appropriate on this forum.

    Thank you very much for taking the time to read and respond to the above!

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    These images do not stand in a vacuum. You need to state what your symptoms are and then compare to the MRI for a potential diagnosis. See the section on “how to describe symptoms” to convey what problems you have.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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