Can someone explain what this means
L5-S1 level disc desiccation. Mild spinal canal narrowing secondary to disc bulge. This material abuts and focally compresses the traversing left S1 nerve.
I understand the canal narrowing its the other explanations I don't understand.
Thanks for the help
It means that the sciatic nerve at lumber region 5 and spinal cord area 1 is being pinched by a bulging disc, as far as I know. But, the best person to ask is your specialist or doctor! It's the area mine is and where I had surgery (L5/S1).
Thanks for the reply. My dr has read the report and said there is nothing being pinched. I am going to email Her today and ask about this portion of the reading.
What I've read online is what you've said as well. It's so frustrating. This started over 2 years ago and my mri was done over 1 year ago. I had it sent to Johns Hopkins for a 2 nd opinion and that's whete this portion of the reading came from.
How did your surgery go? What symptoms were you having?
Thanks again
desiccation just means dry . A bulging disc is usually considered a normal part of ageing.
My L5-S1 disc was so desiccated it had almost gone completely, so I was getting bone- on- bone pain, as stated in previous post, desiccated just means dry,and there are many degrees of dry ! It was where a significant amount of pain was for me, with sciatica and awful pelvic rim pain, I finally got mine replaced with an artificial one, the relief was immediate and long lasting, but I will warn people it's a significant surgery and nothing can describe the pain and trauma of having it done.Would I do it again ? In a heartbeat.
I have the same my nerve is being pinched I have radio frequency this is where the burn the nerve ending so you don't get the pain going down the leg. The nerve will grow back the first time I had this done it took two years to grow back
Did you have it done instead of surgery? My leg pain has returned and I'm having to consider alternatives.
The nerve can grow back and the pain will return radio frequency is done in theatre but the pain in my lower back is treated with steroid injection under a live x-ray in theatre this lasts about 8 weeks but I can only have 3 a year.
I have been on most pain meds most of them ease the pain but make me very sick morphine being the worst I would be interested in any alternatives
results of MRI scan 27th August
New here - would like some advice
Radio frequency nerve abalation 
