Can anyone explain these findings to me?? MRI LUMBAR SPINE?

Question

My husband went to have an MRI done for lower back pain can anyone explain the findings in English???

LUMBAR SPINE MR

Technique: Sagittal T1, T2 and STIR sequences were obtained through the lumbar spine.

Axial T1 and T2 weighted images were also obtained.

Findings: The individual lumbar vertebral bodies and normally aligned. No

compression fractures are present. There is no bone marrow edema. No pars defects

are noted.

There is loss of disc height and disc desiccation at the L5-S1 level. The remaining

discs have maintained relatively normal signal.

On the axial images at L1-L2, no degenerative changes are noted.

At L2-L3, L3-L4 and L4-L5, there do appear to be mild facet degenerative changes.

There is no spinal canal or foraminal stenosis. No focal disc abnormality is present.

Answer 1

The report does not sound too impressive.

A point to make that is very important: You cannot make a diagnosis from imaging alone. The examination has to be consistent with the anatomy. This is something clinicians have known for years, but patients seem to have difficulty understanding. If you have radicular pain and an absent or decreased ankle reflex, maybe the L5-S1 bulge is significant.  However, many asymptomatic people will have similar MRI's .

Answer 2

In very plain words this MAY indicate that your husband´s lower back pain is a result of a herniated disc. However, the exact diagnosis has to be made on the basis of examination,  medical history and MRI.

If it is a herniated disc most likely that the pain will gradually diminish. However, If the pain persists and conservative treatment fails a surgery (discectomy) might be recommended. If performed using minimally invasive technique, your husband may leave the hospital the following day. Most patient notice improvement immediately after the operation.

You need to consult a specialist.

Answer 3

SHORT TI INVERSION RECOVERY  is a type of MRI  picturing , using and measuring pulse in an axis . Sagittal is side to side axis

Loss of disc ht is thinning of inter vertebral disc. between L5 and S1

Lumbar vertebra are normal.

Spinal canal is very slightly narrowed.