Mri explanation/ interpretation

[Telvaker]

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

[Hidden]

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).

[Telvaker in reply to Hidden]

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

[juls]

desiccation just means dry . A bulging disc is usually considered a normal part of ageing.

[Hidden]

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.

[onamission]

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

[Hidden in reply to onamission]

Did you have it done instead of surgery? My leg pain has returned and I'm having to consider alternatives.

[onamission]

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