Degenerative Disc Disease Support Group

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called "degenerative disc disease" (DDD) of the spine, DDD is in fact a condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the quality of one's life. While disc degeneration is not a normal part of aging and for most people is not a problem, for certain individuals a degenerated disc can cause severe constant...

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What does this mean?

kshort49
kshort49
Hi-I am new to this group, hoping you might be able to help me educate myself. I have breast cancer (in remission), lupus, fibromyalgia, and now DDD. I had been having a lot of back and hip pain, and my oncologist had me go for an MRI of my lumbosacral spine to make sure no cancer was there. They mailed me the report, and perhaps some of you might be able to help me figure it out-my doctor is on vacation right now. The diagnosis says "Muscle spasm. Generallized Degenarative Disc Disease. Broad Disc Herniation L1-L2 Compressing the thecal sac and migrating superiorly along the lower portion of the first lumbar vertebra.". It also says "Diffuse disc degeneration with subligamentous midline disc bulges at L3-L4-L5 and less prominent at L5-S1 resulting in minimal to mildly prominent anterior spinal canal narrowing at all these levels." Can anyone tell me what the above means? Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and God Bless.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm not a doctor or a medical professional. Your doctor will have to look at the films and read the report to give you the best read. If this were my MRI, I would take it as some good news that it doesn't say "severe", or "torn", anywhere. I've been told multiple times by my orthopaedic surgeon that 50%+ of the population has disc herniation (bulges) that are mild to moderate and are completely asymptomatic. So that should tell you how common it is. Generalized Degenerative Disc Disease is fairly common as we age - it means the discs are losing some of their size (they lose moisture), and as that happens, they may bulge. The numbers refer to the lumbar vertebrae - they are numbered L (for lumbar) 1-5. #1 is higher, #5 sits above your sacram (S1). The spinal canal narrowing is "minimal to mild" and is anterior - meaning that it is more on one side of your spine than the other. Hope that helps.
deleted_user
deleted_user
ok i can give you what little knowledge i know as this sounds a lot like what i have.
you have a large disc bulge at lumbar1 lumbar 2 disc that is pressing into the sac the nerve and spinal chord is in. it also sounds like it is bent over the top of the first vertabraer or bone of the Lumbar 1 vertebrae. since it is written near this might be where the spasm is which is the intense pain in the back region there.
you hav e smaller disc bulges at the other lumbars 3 through to sacral 1 which is making the canal where your spinal chord is going through thinner then usual.
don't quiote me on it but that is what it looks like to me from what i know from my own but of course when your doctor comes back you will get a clearer picture.