MRI results , can anyone help me understand it

[Deborahday66]

The Canal is capacious. There is straightening of the normal lardosis. At L1/2 there is an intraosseous disc herniation he upper L2 vertebral body. The upper lumbar disc are otherwise unremarkable. At L4/5 there is minor tear in the annulus and a small central disc protrusion without neural or significant thecal compression. At L5-S1 there is reduction of disc height and signal an marked reactive changes in the vertebral bodies adjacent to the disc. There is a central disc protrusion without neural or significant thecal compression. The lowermost cord is normal. There is reduction in bulk of the posterior paraspinal muscles. There are some hypertrophic changes in the facet complexes a the lumbosacral junction.

Impression

Degenerative changes at L5-S1 without evidence of root compression

[helixhelix]

Can you ask your GP to go through it with you? My reading of it is as follows, but I'm no expert. You have some minor damage to a couple of the vertebrae (there are 5 lumbar vertebrae) at the base of your back, and a bit more to the bottom one, but it is not thought that it's putting pressure on your spinal cord.

[Deborahday66 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you. It's such gobberly gook to me you never know if it's bad. Thank you for your help

[helixhelix]

But probably doesn't help much as I guess you have back pain if you went for an MRI? Even the indication that one of your discs (L2) has a bit of a bulge doesn't have the giveaway word "acute" that usually means serious. So doesn't give you a clear explanation for pain. It does say that your posture isn't quite right as spine too straight, and that the muscles supporting your spine are a bit weak - which can cause pain. So maybe ask about specific exercises to strengthen spine?

[earthwitch]

Definitely get the full explanation from your doctor. a "capacious canal" just means the spinal cord has plenty of room and isn't being compressed. Straightening of lordosis, means that you have lost some of the normal curve of your neck (it kind of goes in a sort of S shape, but can straighten out because of wear and tear on discs or osteoarthritis, etc, especially as you get older). And as helix has said, some small disc herniations but they aren't putting pressure on your spinal cord, so shouldn't be a problem or need anything doing to them. The main thing to understand is the summary at the end: (normal) degenerative changes with no (nerve) root compression.

[Deborahday66 in reply to earthwitch]

Thank you. That's always the problem when everything is technical talk. I can't see my GP for 2 weeks so I was worrying that there was something awful wrong. I'm 49 so not old old but not a spring chicken 😊