Expert: John Quackenbush DC - 8/25/2011

Question
Hi, I have recently had a mri lumbar spine after a year of being put on Antipsychotic medication because the Doctor believed my pain was psychosomatic.
I was hoping you could explain my results as i dont understan them & would like to know if it shows anything contributing to the pain i get.

Mild spondylotic changes involving L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels with a minor anterolisthesis of L5 in relation to La, small L4-L5 annular tear and mild disc bulge at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels without central canal or exit foraminal Stenosis.

I hope you are able to help as ive been depressed & even suicidal for months over this. I have 3 children i need to care for but am not coping with the pain.
Thankyou

Answer
Michelle,

My answers are in caps!!!

Mild spondylotic changes involving L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels with a minor anterolisthesis of L5 in relation to La

THIS MEANS YOU HAVE VERY MINOR AMOUNT OF DEGENERATIVE CHANGES AT THE LOWER THREE VERTEBRAE IN YOUR LOWER BACK APPROXIMATELY AT THE BELT LEVEL AND BELOW.

a MINOR ANTEROLISTHESIS OF L5 MEANS THE L5 VERTEBRAE HAS SHIFTED FORWARD ON TOP OF THE VERTEBRAE BELOW IT WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE YOUR SACRAL BONE.


small L4-L5 annular tear and mild disc bulge at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels without central canal or exit foraminal Stenosis.

THERE IS A SMALL TEAR IN THE DISC FIBERS OF YOUR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC ON THE TWO LOWEST DISCS IN YOUR SPINE.

mild disc bulge at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels without central canal or exit foraminal Stenosis.

THIS MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A DISC BULGE OF THE TWO LOWEST DISCS IN YOUR SPINAL COLUMN THE BEST PART IS THAT THE DISC BULGE DOES NOT MAKE THE CANNAL WHERE YOUR SPINAL CORD IS SMALLER (STENOSIS) AND WHERE YOUR SPINAL NERVES EXIT IS ALSO NOT MADE SMALLER. SO THE RADIOLOGIST IS SAYING YOUR DISC BULGE IS NOT MAKING THE SPINAL CANNAL SMALLER NOR IS THE NERVE ROOT CANNAL SMALLER AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

A DISC BULGE IS LIKE PUSHING DOWN ON A SOFT ICE CREAM SANDWICH WHERE YOU CAUSE THE ICE CREAM TO BULGE OUT AND A DISC HERNIATION IS LIKE  PUSHING DOWN ON A JELLY DOUGHNUT AND JELLY SQUIRTS OUT FROM A SMALL HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE DOUGHNUT.

SO ALL OF THIS MEANS THAT YOUR HAVE BIO MECHANICAL FAULTS IN YOUR LOWER BACK CALLED SUBLUXATIONS AND THESE ARE AFFECTING YOUR DISCS. I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR FOR AN EXAMINATION AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T HELP YOU. ASK IF THEY HAVE SPINAL DECOMPRESSION AVAILABLE THIS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN YOUR CASE.

I  hope this helps you in your medical decision making process.

Sincerely,

John Q Quackenbush DC MUAC