Can someone help me understand my mri of the lumbar spine report?

Can someone help me understand my mri of the lumbar spine report?Reason for Exam: djd spine sciatica

Radiological Report :
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**** FINAL RESULT ****
ICD Codes / Adm.Diagnosis: /
Examination: MRI-LUMBAR SPINE WO - 2250320 - Mar 19 2009 9:18AM
MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST, 03/19/09:
Reason: Degenerative disc disease, sciatica, pain when walking up steps,
low back pain, right leg pain x three weeks, prior remote lumbar spine
surgery in 1979.
TECHNIQUE: Sagittal and axial short TR/short TE, and long TR/long TE
images, sagittal inversion recovery images. No prior exams available for
comparison.
REPORT: The vertebral body height and alignment are well maintained.
The disc space heights are well preserved. There is disc desiccation
throughout the lumbar spine with relative sparing at L4-5.
L1-2: There is mild diffuse disc bulging with a superimposed shallow right
paracentral/neural foraminal disc protrusion. There is mild mass effect
upon the right ventral lateral aspect of the thecal sac, however there is no
central canal stenosis. The neural foramen are patent.
L2-3: There is diffuse disc bulging slightly asymmetric towards the left.
There is no central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
L3-4: There is minor diffuse disc bulge without focal herniation. Mild
degenerative changes are present within the facet joints. There is no
central canal stenosis. The left neural foramen is mildly narrowed.
L4-5: There is mild diffuse disc bulging without focal herniation. Minor
degenerative changes are present within the facet joints. There is no
central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
L5-S1: There is no disc bulge or herniation. Mild degenerative change is
present within the facet joints, right greater than left. There is no
central canal or neural foraminal stenosis. There appears to be a
laminectomy defect on the left at L5-S1.
The conus is normal in signal intensity and morphology. The marrow is
normal in signal intensity. Atrophic changes are seen in the posterior
paraspinal musculature at the level of the lumbosacral junction,
particularly on the left.
Partially imaged structures of T2 prolongation are seen within the kidneys
with the largest at the upper pole on the left most likely representing
cysts, however sonography should be considered for confirmation if there is
further concern.
There is a tiny right paracentral disc protrusion at T12-L1.

Answer by lilmizmustang
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o180/lafchiro/spine.gif


each disk has a letter with a number next to it... like in the picture above it says lumbar? on your spine where your lumbar starts that section has L1-L5... now on your report, check and see what it says in L1... now on your back the lumbar is your lower spine... refer to the picture and you will see... same goes for the sacrum... S1-S5... so in your report what it says for L5, now you know what disk that is and where its located on your back and whats going on with it... its pretty self explanitory once you know what the whole L1 L2 L3 is.. lol those are the names of your disk placements.... there are approx 33 disks in your spine. theres your cervical the top of yur neck.. C1-C7 then theres the thurasic which is the middle of your back.. T1- T12.. then Lumbar L1-L5, Sacrum S1-S5 and Coccyx which is your tail bone... hope i helped out a little...

So basically starting at the top of your spine to the bottom.... its

C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
T8
T9
T10
T11
T12
L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
then your coccyx which has 3-4 (aka tail bone)

Answer by kimberley RN
OUCH!

It states that the patient has bulging discs at the L2-3 and L 4-5.

You may want to get a renal ultrasound to rule out kidney cysts.

Chances are your physician will recommend a laminectomy or fusion.

Some folks would opt for steriod therapy and then do intense physical therapy.

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