Expert: Dr. Man Tran, Ph.D., D.C., L.Ac. - 10/10/2009

Question
Finding:

Five lumbar vertebral bodies are presumed with the last formed disk being referred to as L5-S1.

Lumbar vertebral body height and aligment in general are normal. No compression facture, spondylolisthesis, or spondylolysis.

Visualized sacrum and sacroiliac joints are unremarkable.

LD-S1 spinal canal is small on a developmental basis. No significant spinal stenosis or nerve root encroachment.

L4-L5: The canal foramina are broad.
L3-L4: The canal foramina are broad.
L2-L3: The canal foramina are broad.
L1-L2: The canal foramina are broad.

T12-L1 Ther is a small right posterolateral disk protrusion. No significant spinal stenosis or nerve root encroachment.

Impression:
1. Patient has a transitional segment though for the purposes of this dictation, the last formed disk is referred to as L5-S1. The transitional segment is referred to as T12, the hypoplastic twelfth ribs. Using this enumeration, ther is a right paracentral disk protrusion at T12 without significant spinal stenosis or nerve root encroachment.
2. The spinal canal is smal in the lumbar spine at all lumbar levels on a developmental basis.

These are my findings I would like to know what it all means. My doctor is foreign and has a hard time explaining it. All help will be appreciated.

Answer
Dear Justin,

The cause of your low back pain is not from the spine...that what all the reading means.  Everything is normal as it should be.  However, there is a small disc issue at the upper level of your low back but not significant enough to cause pain.  You should be careful as it does predispose you to future pain and injury.