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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does My MRI Report Mean?

I have painful sciatica which I have had 4 spinal injections for. The first three seemed to help somewhat, but the last one did not. I am referred to a surgeon and have just had an MRI. The report states multilevel neural foraminal stenosis. What does that mean?
Tue, 13 Jan 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

The lower back is made up of an alignment of small bones. These bones have sponge like discs between them and the spinal cord passes along the back of these bones through the spinal canal. You seem to be having one of the discs protruding between the bones and this protrusion is backwards and causing narrowing of the spinal canal. You are having these discs protruding in to the spinal canal at more than one level and causing pinching of nerve roots leading to severe pain in your back and legs.

There are patients who get relief by doing physiotherapy and taking neurogenic pain relievers. Injections give relief as you have experienced earlier. However this might nor always happen. If your pain is severe and not responding to medical treatment then the disc protrusion needs to be removed by doing a small surgery at the lower back region. Presently, laser assisted surgical techniques are also available.
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What Does My MRI Report Mean?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. The lower back is made up of an alignment of small bones. These bones have sponge like discs between them and the spinal cord passes along the back of these bones through the spinal canal. You seem to be having one of the discs protruding between the bones and this protrusion is backwards and causing narrowing of the spinal canal. You are having these discs protruding in to the spinal canal at more than one level and causing pinching of nerve roots leading to severe pain in your back and legs. There are patients who get relief by doing physiotherapy and taking neurogenic pain relievers. Injections give relief as you have experienced earlier. However this might nor always happen. If your pain is severe and not responding to medical treatment then the disc protrusion needs to be removed by doing a small surgery at the lower back region. Presently, laser assisted surgical techniques are also available.