my MRI

[Guest guest]

He wouldn't tell me the results. I asked him for a hint. Then I told him

the doc wanted to put me in the hospital for IV antibiotics in case it's a

spinal infection. He said I don't need to be getting antibiotics. He said

" What do you think you did to fracture your spine? " So that was his hint to

me. He said the doc won't get the report for two days. I hope he's wrong

about what it is, but since he does the tests every day, I'm guessing he

probably knows more than the docs do.

I am so claustraphobic I thought I would die in that machine. I just kept

thinking " I'm an Indian. I can do this! " Took 25 minutes and the top of

the machine was 2 inches from my face. :-(

My sister, who is a cardiology nurse, said that type of surgery isn't as

invasive as lower back surgery. Hope she's right! I have COPD and PBC so

my lungs aren't in good shape and I bleed really bad so I'm not the best

surgery risk. I'm sure that any type of surgery would put off the beginning

of Remicade treatment, though.

Nina

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: Maggie

> I'm clostrophobic too. Had to get an MRI on my shoulder in 1997....they put me in the capsule like machine and I had to get out of it without them running the test. The next trip back for the redo they had prescribed valium. Boy did that make a difference!! I was able to get into the machine AND get the dye injected (which they didn't do the first time). A piece of cake with valium ;-)

I had an MRI on my arm in 1998, but the machine wasn't as closed. I couldn't take any valium today because I had to drive myself there and home (two hour round trip). I can't believe I made it through it. He told me if I hit the panic button to get out, it would just prolong it and make me spend more time in it. So I just listened to the music on the headphones, tried not to open my eyes and kept thinking that I could do it! Wouldn't want to do it again any time soon, though. ;-)

Nina

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

I have had this for over 12 yrs. However, it is in my entire spine. There

are non-surgical treatments, pt, epidurals (I had over 20 of these and will not

have anymore after reading about what is in the shots), pain meds, trigger point

injections that relieve the muscle spasms, of course, there is surgery, as a

last resort. I am sure there are many more treatments. They are finding more

every day. Surgeries are improving, becoming less invasive. Good luck and I

hope you find good doctors to help you!

Annie

barbarac102 <barbarac102@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I typed out my last lumbar mri. Any ideas would be appreciated. If

anyone can read hip mri's that would be great too. Thanks for your

help in any and every way. Someone said it looks like DDD, do you

agree and what is done for it, thanks again.

Always, Barbara

MRI- 12/15/06

Findings: Sagittal images show no evidence of a fracture, subluxation

or pathologic marrow replacement process. There is mild lower lumbar

disc desiccation without significant disc space narrowing. The conus

medullar is is present at 12-L1

L1-L2; Very minor posterior bulging without central or foramina

stenosis.

L2-L3; There is mild biforaminal disc bulging and mild ligament

flavum thickening without significant central or foramina stenosis.

L3-L4; There is mild-moderate biforaminal disc bulging and mild facet

degeneration resulting in mild bilateral foramina stenosis but no

significant central stenosis.

L4-L5; There is mild posterior broad based disc bulging which extends

into inferior nueral foramina. There is also bilateral facet

degeneration and ligament flavum thickening which results in mild-

moderate left foramina stenosis and mild right foramina stenosis w/o

significant central stenosis.

L5-S1; There is a small poster central focal disc bulge without

central or foramina stenosis. Mild facet degeneration is present.

Impression: Low grade lumbar degeneration disease with foramina

stenosis which is most significant on the left at the L4-5 level and

which is mild-moderate in severity. There is no local disc protrusion

or disc extrusion and ther is no definite nerve root impingment.

We become wiser by adversity.

- Seneca

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

There are several websites that can show you exercises. However, you need to

be careful. Will your insurance pay for physical therapy? You could do that

and then you would have exercises that are safe for your spine.

Annie

Barbara <barbarac102@...> wrote:

Hi Ann,

Thanks for your reply. I've had epidurals and nerve blocks and none has helped,

which has been a great disappointment.

Do you or does anyone know if there are certain exercises to do or ones to stay

away from?

Thanks again,

Barbara

ann gourieux <fudgie4u@...> wrote:

Barbara,

I have had this for over 12 yrs. However, it is in my entire spine. There are

non-surgical treatments, pt, epidurals (I had over 20 of these and will not have

anymore after reading about what is in the shots), pain meds, trigger point

injections that relieve the muscle spasms, of course, there is surgery, as a

last resort. I am sure there are many more treatments. They are finding more

every day. Surgeries are improving, becoming less invasive. Good luck and I hope

you find good doctors to help you!

Annie

barbarac102 wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I typed out my last lumbar mri. Any ideas would be appreciated. If

anyone can read hip mri's that would be great too. Thanks for your

help in any and every way. Someone said it looks like DDD, do you

agree and what is done for it, thanks again.

Always, Barbara

MRI- 12/15/06

Findings: Sagittal images show no evidence of a fracture, subluxation

or pathologic marrow replacement process. There is mild lower lumbar

disc desiccation without significant disc space narrowing. The conus

medullar is is present at 12-L1

L1-L2; Very minor posterior bulging without central or foramina

stenosis.

L2-L3; There is mild biforaminal disc bulging and mild ligament

flavum thickening without significant central or foramina stenosis.

L3-L4; There is mild-moderate biforaminal disc bulging and mild facet

degeneration resulting in mild bilateral foramina stenosis but no

significant central stenosis.

L4-L5; There is mild posterior broad based disc bulging which extends

into inferior nueral foramina. There is also bilateral facet

degeneration and ligament flavum thickening which results in mild-

moderate left foramina stenosis and mild right foramina stenosis w/o

significant central stenosis.

L5-S1; There is a small poster central focal disc bulge without

central or foramina stenosis. Mild facet degeneration is present.

Impression: Low grade lumbar degeneration disease with foramina

stenosis which is most significant on the left at the L4-5 level and

which is mild-moderate in severity. There is no local disc protrusion

or disc extrusion and ther is no definite nerve root impingment.

We become wiser by adversity.

- Seneca

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Barbara- Do yourself a favor and let the therapist know that your

goal is to be able to exercise at home. I have been to 4 different

pts, and my best results were the last, but honestly, I think part of

it is the way I began the session... I told him that my goals were to

become more flexible, gain strength, and develop a plan I can do at

home and addapt as I felt stronger. He laughed at me. Insurance only

pays for 6 weeks, and there's not much chance I could do all this in 6

weeks! BUT, what he did do, was to talk a lot to me about how I could

progress the exercises he gave me, and suggested some types of

exercise to try (and some to stay way from) once I felt better. It

was really helpful to me.

Good Luck!

cd

>

> Yes, I am beginning pt for bursitis but I know I must let them know

about my back.

> I tried bursitis exercise at home and hurt afterward. It's not

clear what I can do at this point if I have a few problem areas. I was

an exercise nut for over 25 yrs, this is making me crazy,

> I had pt last yr and I'm not sure if it helped but this will be a

different place.

> Thanks again for responding, Annie.

>

> Barbara

[Guest guest]

Thank you I'll keep it in mind. Last year the pt I went to always sent me home

with the exercises I did on paper, so I left there with exercises do to but

nothing beyond those few pages. I think it's real important what not to do as

well.

I hope this person is knowledgeable.

Thanks again,

Barbara

achangedlife101 <no_reply > wrote:

Barbara- Do yourself a favor and let the therapist know that your

goal is to be able to exercise at home. I have been to 4 different

pts, and my best results were the last, but honestly, I think part of

it is the way I began the session... I told him that my goals were to

become more flexible, gain strength, and develop a plan I can do at

home and addapt as I felt stronger. He laughed at me. Insurance only

pays for 6 weeks, and there's not much chance I could do all this in 6

weeks! BUT, what he did do, was to talk a lot to me about how I could

progress the exercises he gave me, and suggested some types of

exercise to try (and some to stay way from) once I felt better. It

was really helpful to me.

Good Luck!

cd

>

> Yes, I am beginning pt for bursitis but I know I must let them know

about my back.

> I tried bursitis exercise at home and hurt afterward. It's not

clear what I can do at this point if I have a few problem areas. I was

an exercise nut for over 25 yrs, this is making me crazy,

> I had pt last yr and I'm not sure if it helped but this will be a

different place.

> Thanks again for responding, Annie.

>

> Barbara