OfflineHello all,
New here but definitely not new to back pain, lol. I've been serving in the military for 11+ years and have had back pain/back injuries for about 8 of them. I'm sure most of you know that the typical military answer to an injury is drink water and walk it off. I've done so for years and after a recent episode of muscle spasms in my upper back, a military doctor finally took the time and looked into my back pain...this is the result of my MRI...
IMPRESSION: Multilevel moderate-to-severe disk protrusions that results in mass effect upon the right and left nerve roots, as described below.
C1-C2 UNREMARKABLE
C2-C3 UNREMARKABLE
C3-C4 Moderate sized broad based right paracentral disk protrusion that results in mild to moderate narrowing of the central spinal canal, right lateral recess and right neural foramina. There is mild mass effect upon the right exiting nerve root.
C4-C5 Moderate sized broad based right paracentral disk protrusion that results in mild to moderate narrowing of the central spinal canal, right lateral recess and right neural foramina. There is mild mass effect upon the right exiting nerve root.
C5-C6 Large broad based left paracentral disk protrusion that results in moderate to severe severe narrowing of the left lateral recess and moderate to severe mass effect upon the left exiting nerve root.
C6-C7 UNREMARKABLE
C7-C8 UNREMARKABLE
IMPRESSION: Mild-to-moderate sized disk protrustions with mild mass effect upon the right exiting nerve roots at T6-T7 and T8 levels.
C7-T1 UNREMARKABLE
T1-T2 UNREMARKABLE
T2-T3 UNREMARKABLE
T3-T4 UNREMARKABLE
T4-T5 UNREMARKABLE
T5-T6 UNREMARKABLE
T6-T7 Mild to moderate sized right paracentral disk protrusions that results in mild to moderate narrowing of the right lateral recess and neural foramina. There is mild mass-effect upon the right exiting nerve root within the right lateral recess.
T7-T8 Mild to moderate sized right paracentral disk protrusions that results in mild to moderate narrowing of the right lateral recess and neural foramina. There is mild mass-effect upon the right exiting nerve root within the right lateral recess.
T8-T9 Mild to moderate sized posterior central disk protrusion that abuts the ventral surface of the spinal cord. there is no mass effect upon the bilateral exiting nerve roots.
T9-T10 UNREMARKABLE
T10-T11 UNREMARKABLE
blah blah blah
That is the meat and potatoes of the MRI report...Can anyone help me and tell me what the hell it means? Thanks in advance.
SGT Andrus
US Army
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Means you got some serious budlging disks and herniations my friend...
and several other things. Several of your disks are protruding onto your spinal cords as well. Talk to a doctor. Have an appt. yet?
Yes, I have an appointment with a local Neural Surgeon next monday to determine if I need any surgery and also to determine if I am deploying in December. As it stands right now, the military doctor said I am not allowed to wear any gear (bulletproof vest, helmet, etc). The civillian doctor will have the last say and the process gets started with his suggestion.
All I know about my situation is the military doctor looked concerned and scheduled me to see this neural surgeon. The extent of what the MRI says is over my head, I just blow stuff up and yell typical Army terminology, haha.
Well, sir, good luck to you. You most def have some serious and long term issues with yourself. I would get as many opinions as possible, and try to take it easy, at least easy for the Army. Oh, and may I chime in off the note, thank you sir for serving our country and fighting for our freedom and rights as US citizens.
araine is right also one of the "several other things" is nerve involvement. So thank goodness you're seeing a neuro doc!
So I was chiming in just to mention to be cautious if they say you should deploy without treatment whatever that may be...any strenuous activity may make it worse, so a second opinion may be needed or if the military allows that you might do that anyway. It seems like that should be allowed but I'm clueless how that all works. If a fusion is recommended you should get a second opinion for sure, but that is just my humble 2 cents...
Thorasic involevement and extensive involement at that is not as common and hard to herniate just for anatomic reasons...wow you must be in alot of pain!
Good luck
9/07 L4-iliac crest TLIF with intrumentation & foramenotomies for severe nerve compression. L5-S1 was bone on bone. 4/08 partial hardware removal of the iliac screws
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I get to pick up a CD with the images from the MRI to give to the NS that I have an appointment with next week. I'm kinda anxious to see what these protrusions look like. I'll post up some images when I get them tomorrow. Thanks all for the help and support. Wish my back would magically fix itself but I think the MRI results aren't in favor of that, haha.
I also wish that your back would magically fix itself,but we know better than that so I hope that you get proper care that you deserve.
Yellow ribbons in your honor and a big Thank You for your service to our country...
http://www.resizr.com/resized/5804.jpg
http://www.resizr.com/resized/e93a1.jpg
Didn't know exactly what to show but these seemed odd. Any ideas?
SGT Andrus
ignore...
re-linked to myspace
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/35/l_1c01452c1ea448798bc438f...
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/59/l_7aed0927d73849f6bfe50ef...
Edited to include Medical Disclaimer
Ron DiLauro, Spine-Health Administrator 10/09/08
The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
Hello there SGT A: Sorry about your back...I understand your pain. From what I understand, there are a few differences in terminology in the med field when it comes to discs i.e. protrusions, extrusions, bulges, herniations, etc. A disc protrusion usually means that it is a disc that is bulging (pretty severely in your case in multiple levels) which makes them vulnerable to complete herniations. Herniations are when the gel-like substance within the discs spill out, usually putting pressure on surrounding areas. Many people have protrusions (bulges) and are asymptomatic. Yet, many discs bulge out so far that it puts tons of pressure on exiting nerves and possibly the spinal cord (which unfortunately is your case). Spinal nerves and even the areas that surround the spinal cord have lots and lots of nerve endings that can drive you to drink when they are compressed... regardless of whether your disc has herniated fully or not. Thus...sigh, ouch! The more compression you have, usually, the more pain and tingling/burning, pins and needles you have. The "mild to moderate narrowing" means that your discs are taking up space where they shouldn't be. I have it all up and down my lower back, but I don't have much of a problem in that area, luckily. (Mine is in my neck) Your T8-T9 is messing with your spinal cord. Are you feeling shooting pains down your legs? Leg weakness? How are your reflexes? Bowel or bladder issues? These are problems associated with spinal cord compression. Hope this helps. Let me know how things go at the doc...I hope you don't need surgery and that you can do okay with PT, meds, and hopefully, rest.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt 11: 28)
Neck lacks normal curve: kyphosis with apex at C4-C5
C2: 2mm broad-based protrusion and radial tear.
C3: 3.5 mm disc protrusion
C4: 5 mm disc extrusion; posterior displacement of spinal cord
C5: 2 mm protrusion
C6: disc space narrowing with anterior and posterior osteophytic activity with bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis; 4 mm disc-osteophyte complex
Legs feel fine, was running regular 3 miles a day for PT (physical training) ahead of the group as usual. Reflexes feel normal too. No toilet issues (haha) I feel the most pain when running (which I have stopped doing) because it felt like my spine was bouncing bone on bone. When I do pushups or dips, my chest actually pops, not my back...my chest, and it hurts. That's what actually got me to go to the Dr this last time.
I really feel the back pains when I throw on the 35 lb body armor, the 60 lb ruck sack, and then march about 6 miles and march back...but I figured that would make anyone hurt so I ignored it, oops
I just wanted to let you know that I saw your MRI images,not that I can comment...I have no clue what I'm looking at...but I can read and see that you have cervicle and thoratic issues,it makes me wonder if the MRI covered the lumbar region?
IMO I don't see how any medical Dr could see their way to clear you for deployment..
Let us know what the NS tells you on Monday-if you don't mind,that is..
No clue what I was looking at either, but froze those pictures because they didn't look right, whatever right looks like haha. They did my L spine as well with the MRI and Xrays, found nothing.
I'm glad I am being referred to a civillian Dr, because any Army Dr would throw a bandaid on me and call me good. Worked for 11 years so far, OUCH!
Will definitely let ya know what I find out on Monday.
mmmmmm, flexeril.....
Saw a nurse practitioner instead of the Neural Surgeon and she said I don't need surgery. My muscle spasms, neck and back pains, and numbing fingers don't point to the large bulging disk in my back or the other 5 ones.
Second Opinion?
A nurse practitioner? For something this serious..are you kidding me(rhetorical question).
Just my opinion,like everything said here-but I would.Possibly you don't need surgery,but wouldn't you rather have the surgeon tell you.You know,I think that is so disrespectful to go in and NOT be seen by the surgeon.I bet they charged the same as if you had.Sorry,it just burns me up...
Yes,I'd go to a different Dr and take your films with you.PRONTO.That's an order...just kidding (lol)
Well they scheduled me with the NP because the appointment they made with the original DR was later in the month and we are packing bags now, needed a better understanding of if I am good for a deployment or not. No worries, I didn't pay a dime (one benefit of being military). Gotta call my original DR and start back over I guess. I was pretty perturbed by the way the NP acted. Heck, she even walked out of the office when I was describing some of the symptoms, which immediately flagged a "you're going to get a BS answer from this NP" in my head.
Hey again there SGT A. When I originally went in to the doc about my severe pain, burning arm, vertigo, etc, the doc told me, "Well, I can't keep you out of work just because of pain." No MRI had been done, no x-rays, nothing. I had to advocate for myself and put my foot down and demand an MRI. (Come to find out I may very well need surgery because of spinal cord involvement.) What would have happened if I would have listened to him passively and just gone back to work? God knows. Sometimes in order to save money, time, God knows why else, they do what they do, and people fall between the cracks. It could mean trouble for you later on. So, yea, 2nd opinion with a specialist of some sort seems appropriate...not a NP. Unless you have clear proof that she has been trained in radiology and is a back specialist, I agree with everyone else here...get someone else on board to give you sound advice. See ya buddy.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt 11: 28)
Neck lacks normal curve: kyphosis with apex at C4-C5
C2: 2mm broad-based protrusion and radial tear.
C3: 3.5 mm disc protrusion
C4: 5 mm disc extrusion; posterior displacement of spinal cord
C5: 2 mm protrusion
C6: disc space narrowing with anterior and posterior osteophytic activity with bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis; 4 mm disc-osteophyte complex