Wow, I had an MRI done on my back and I talk about my surprising results in this episode.

I’ve had some previous back issues- a snowboarding injury and a mid back problem with my rib that developed during pregnancy.

A couple times in the last few years that my back “went out” for a few days (last time was over a year ago.)

I do not have chronic back pain, and I do not have to restrict my activity.

But if I had pain and numbness and these same MRIs results, I could qualify for disability.

MRI and X Ray results actually do not accurately predict the amount of pain someone is in.

Structural changes in the body are actually normal with age. And addressing normal degenerative changes with surgery is really nothing more than a placebo.

We now know it’s common for pain free people to have bulging discs, torn rotator cuffs, torn meniscus of the knee, hip labral tears.

We just haven’t been doing MRI’s on pain free people to see that.

So here are the results if you want to read them-

Right paracentral disc protrusion at T5-6 with mild mass effect on the ventral aspect of the cord.

L2-3: Diffuse disc bulge extending 2.5 mm into the thecal sac. No spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.

L3-4: Diffuse disc bulge extending 3 mm into the thecal sac. Mild spinal canal stenosis. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.

L4-5: Central disc protrusion measuring 16 mm in width and extending 5 mm into the thecal sac. Mild spinal canal stenosis. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.

L5-S1: Central disc protrusion measuring 18 mm in width. Moderate to severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. No spinal canal stenosis.

IMPRESSION:

1. Central disc protrusion at L5-S1 with retrolisthesis measuring 6 mm. Moderate to severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.

2. Central disc protrusion at L4-L5 with mild spinal canal stenosis and mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.

3. Diffuse disc bulge at L3-4 with mild spinal canal stenosis and mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.

4. Diffuse disc bulge at L2-L3 without spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.

5. Modic type I endplate changes at L5-S1 with Modic type I endplate changes.

6. Straightening of the lumbar spine on the sagittal view which can be seen in the setting of muscle spasm.

Below are some of the research articles I mentioned:

-Takatalo- 50% of healthy 21 year old Finns had at least one degenerative disc and 25% had a bulging disc.

-Boos- 73% of adults without back pain had bulging discs.

-Briggs- hip labral tears in 89% of pain free young athletes 16 years of age or older, & 56% of pain free athletes 16 years or younger.

-S Rajasekaran- Delivery of MRI results affects pain and healing.

-Karayannis Fear of movement is associated with trunk stiffness.

If you are a woman experiencing chronic neck or back pain, I am forming a group especially for you! Details to come soon.