Medical Info
last update: 03 Oct 2022 @ 008:15
Videos of MRIs
21 Jan 2022
The last MRI Lumbar study done by Kaiser Permanente Hawaii (Hilo) 2012. Videos of the MRIs are on Vanessa's YouTube channel. Click here to view the videos.
Compare what you see in the MRI images with the MD's 2012 report below. Is it accurate? Is it complete? Why no mentions of the osteoarthritis diagnosed in Kaiser California prior to patient's entry into Kaiser Hawaii system?
Vanessa's YouTube channel.
MD's 2012 Report. Is it Outdated?
MRI SPINE LUMBAR performed on Jan-21-2012
IMPRESSION:
1. Findings consistent with prior L3-4 through L5-S1 laminectomies. Recommend clinical correlation.
2. Mild left foraminal narrowing at L3-4 and moderate right foraminal narrowing at L5-S1.
TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar imaging of the lumbar spine per protocol
Diagnosis: 724.02: SPINAL STENOSIS OF LUMBAR REGION
Clinical Indications: History of spinal stenosis. Increasing R leg sciatica.
COMPARISON: None
FINDINGS:
Postoperative changes associated with prior L3-4 through L5-S1 laminectomies are noted. No paraspinous fluid collections or soft tissue masses are appreciated. The alignment of the lumbar spine is grossly anatomic. Multilevel degenerative changes are seen throughout the lumbar spine. No acute fracture or destructive lesion is visible in the vertebral bodies. The conus is located at the L1 -2 level, with no mass or compression in the peri-conal area.
L1-2: No significant spinal stenosis or foraminal narrowing.
L2-3: No significant spinal stenosis or foraminal narrowing.
L3-4: Central and left-sided posterior disc bulge without significant spinal stenosis. Mild left foraminal narrowing in conjunction with facet hypertrophy.
L4-5: No significant spinal stenosis or foraminal narrowing.
L5-S1: Mild right-sided posterior disc bulge without significant spinal stenosis. Moderate right foraminal narrowing in conjunction with facet hypertrophy.
Interpreted by: Hyo-Chun Yoon, MD on Jan-21-2012 at 14:20.
2022 Status
I just got around to reading this 2012 report closely. I'm concerned that it focuses on what is NOT there rather than what is.
I think I need a new MRI. It's been 10 years since the last one, and I'm 63 years old now. Kaiser changed my pain management routine recently. The new approach to treating my chronic spinal pain is actually increasing my pain and causing very old symptoms to flare up. Kaiser is basing its treatment on old data.
I've asked that a new MRI be done. Going through a little drama about getting this done. Decided today that I'm going to ask for an X-ray, too, if that's how one properly diagnoses osteoarthritis.
MY OBJECTIVE: Have an intelligent discussion about what exactly is my current condition (based on MRI and X-ray), what activities I must avoid in order to prevent damage and increased pain, and what activities I should do (that I don't know already) to alleviate pain.
Prior to my two spinal surgeries (1998 and 2004) done by Kaiser California, I achieved the level of 2nd degree brown belt in Aikido. I was a weightlifter, too, and I did all this while enduring the pain of untreated spinal stenosis which began in 1977. I can create my own PT plan if I have current medical data.
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Pain killers, of course, would make this all easier and faster to do, but, well.... that's a different issue. I'm very much looking forward to the CDC's revised opioid guidelines (scheduled for release in late 2022) to correct their acknowledged problems caused by the CDC 2016 opioid guidelines.