MRI reveals multi-level degenerative disc disease

[jjoanne]

Help! I am a female, in my mid 50's. My MRI showed mild cervical and lumbar stenosis, with multi-level degenerative disc disease. There was also multi level mild foriminal encroachment, and disc buldging. THe PCP sent me to a physical therapist for exercises for my lumbar spine. The PT found that I have thoracic joint dysfunction AND sacroiliac joint dysfunction. She saw that I could not do squats, either. Could someone tell me if it is normal for a woman my age to have so much wrong with her spine? Should the PCP try to find out what is causing the thoracic and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, before any mnore physical therapy? (I have had stiffness and pain in my sacral spine since 2001, and it has gotten progressively worse. I also have leg muscle pain and heaviness when I stand or walk, that is ALSO getting progressively worse.) Could I have spinal stenosis in my thoracic region? (It feels like a band of tightness around my chest, and I can not turn over in bed.) Could I have sacral nerve compression?

[Tootsie]

Help! I am a female, in my mid 50's. My MRI showed mild cervical and lumbar stenosis, with multi-level degenerative disc disease. There was also multi level mild foriminal encroachment, and disc buldging. THe PCP sent me to a physical therapist for exercises for my lumbar spine. The PT found that I have thoracic joint dysfunction AND sacroiliac joint dysfunction. She saw that I could not do squats, either. Could someone tell me if it is normal for a woman my age to have so much wrong with her spine? Should the PCP try to find out what is causing the thoracic and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, before any mnore physical therapy? (I have had stiffness and pain in my sacral spine since 2001, and it has gotten progressively worse. I also have leg muscle pain and heaviness when I stand or walk, that is ALSO getting progressively worse.) Could I have spinal stenosis in my thoracic region? (It feels like a band of tightness around my chest, and I can not turn over in bed.) Could I have sacral nerve compression?

Im sorry ur going through this......i cant answer ur questions as still looking my own answers but i can tell u what has helped me,

I think u should also try it.................a natural drug recommended to me by Pain Consultant.......Glucosamine Sulphate.....also take Cod liver oil capsuals..........although it is not a cure I felt alot more ease of general pain, bones/joints and muscles.

Please try them ! hopefully someone here will be able to answer ur questions !

I wish u well !

[oscar77]

Hi JJoanne sorry to hear of your troubles, you have quite a few issues with your health. It is not normal for a woman of your age to have so many problems with there spine, however it is not that uncommon for someone to have the same problems that you have. It would be a good idea for your PCP to try and find out what is causing your thoracic joint dysfunction, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, but this is very difficult, there are various theories as to why this occurs, but none have really been proven, and there is a lot of disagreement. If you had spinal stenosis in your thoracic region it would have almost certainly been picked up on your MRI, the band of tightness you describe could have other causes such as abnormal alignment of the vertebrae, and or fixated joints. If you have sacral nerve compression it should say so on your MRI, you said your MRI found multi level mild foriminal encroachment, this can result in nerve compression at what level is this present, L5-S1 would be the sacral level.


Your problems have probably been developing over a long period of time, and are interrelated. One thing that is in your favor is that you have not mentioned any thing about facet joint arthritis an MRI would have picked this up.

Good luck.

[jjoanne]

To oscar77 and tootsie, Thank you for your reply...I use the computer at the library and could not get back here any sooner. I looked at the printout of my MRI results, and it also DID say facet disease. I missed that last time. There are so many words in the report that I do not know the meaning of. Basically the MRI of my cervical and lumbar spine showed...that I have mild cervical and lumbar stenosis, multi-level degenerative disc disease, facet disease, and moderate foraminal encroachment at many levels. It also said I had benign hemangiomas. What is that? The reoprt did not say where they were, or if they were in the bone or not. Is this something serious? Could I have these in my pelvis? Would an x-ray reveal it? The pelvic pain is spreading forward and getting worse. I think I might have sacral nerve compression or thoracic stenosis because of the tightness around my chest. (Would the MRI that was taken of my lumbar spine also whow if there is sacral nerve compression, or any pelvic tumors?) I also can not walk too long because my legs get very heavy and painful. Does anyone know what causes so much to be wrong with the spine of a woman age 55. Today I went to a totsally different doctor and he ordered x-rays of my pelvis and an MRI of my thoracic spine. I hope this will finally gives me some answers. He also said I have Sacroiliitis! What is that? He asked me to walk on my toes and I could NOT do this at all. I also could NOT kneel down and get up!

[oscar77]

hello again jjoanne I don't think anyone can tell you why you have so many problems with your spine but your problems have probably been developing over a long period of time, when did you first notice symptoms?.

mild cervical and lumbar stenosis, this means your spinal canal that houses your spinal cord has narrowed some.

facet disease, this refers to arthritis of the small delicate joints at the back of your vertebrae that guide and limit motion of your spine.

moderate foraminal encroachment at many levels, foraminal encroachment is narrowing of the grooves between your vertebrae that your nerves coarse out of.

benign hemangiomas, these are vascular abnormalities usually congenital probably nothing to worry about however you should ask your doctor about these.

Would the MRI that was taken of my lumbar spine also show if there is sacral nerve compression, or any pelvic tumors?), it might not show sacral nerve compression because it might not go low enough nerves also exit the sacrum which is below the lumbar spine. i don't know about tumors.

Sacroiliitis, is an inflammation of either just one or both sacroiliac joints these are the joints between the sacrum and the illia bones (pelvic bones).

good luck jjoanne

[rustydusty]

I hear ya girl, I am a 48 year old male that has been dealing with the same issues for 18 years now. The Navy told me I had myofascial pain. Now I am fused C-3 to T-1 and the myofascial pain went away. Check for other injuries or signs of the umbrella dx's of myofascial or fibromyalgia symtoms. Both may indicate the existance of an old injury. Mine was a fractured scapula.

[weiwei]

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[acuann]

I agree completely you need glucosamine sulfate - at least 1500mg twice daily. Also chondroitin and MSM in 1000mg doses. These are all very helpful for degenerative disc disease. It takes up to six months before noticing real changes, tho some feel a difference more quickly.

Also consider acupuncture to help you with this. Acupuncture helps treat the pain, plust promotes healing at the tissues and joints.

I personally don't believe that degenerative disc disease is irreversible. Try the above and see if it helps you - it really should!

Best wishes
DOM

[SpineGirl]

You should go see a spine specialist with the list of things that you have wong with your back, there is a lot that your PCP might not know what to do with.

[Bince6]

It also said I had benign hemangiomas. What is that? The reoprt did not say where they were, or if they were in the bone or not. Is this something serious? Could I have these in my pelvis? Would an x-ray reveal it?

More information regarding hemangiomas, also known as angiomas or malformations can be found at angiomaalliance.org