CT Results/Diagnosis

[Guest guest]

I got my CT Mylogram results today and I will try to post them pretty

much word for word except for cutting out unnecessary words.

Moderately severe underlying degenerative changes to the lumbosacral

spine. Moderately sever multilevel facet arthropathy. Mild to

moderate multilevel degenerative disc disease. Deformity of the

spinal canal and thecal sac at several levels secondary to post-

surgical changes and facet arthropathy. Dural ectasia or cysts are

seen involving several nerve root sleeves. Small Tarlov cysts in

upper sacral region.

L2-3 and L4-5 there is only mild deformity of the thecal sac and

facet arthropathy. No stenosis but narrowing of right formamen at L3-

4. (my fusion goes to L4)

L4-5=moderate deformity of the thecal sac probably mild posterior

disc bulging. Neural foraminal narrowing.

L5-S1=mild deformity of the thecal sac due to facet arthropathy. Mild

posterior disc bulging. Narrowing of neural foramina. Mild to

moderate degenerative changes of sacroiliac joints.

They also found a filling defect in my cecum (rectum) that probably

needs to be investigated, too.

I had to look up some terms I didn't understand: Tarlov cysts are

fluid filled sacs that most often affect nerve roots in the sacrum.

The cysts can compress nerve roots causing lower back pain, sciatica,

urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and some loss of feeling or

control of movement in the leg and/or foot.

Stenosis means narrowing.

There--if any one has any interest in my diagnosis!! I think I'm a

total mess!!! I'm sure many people have been permanently disabled

with far less, but I manage to drag myself to work 40 hrs a week just

because I can't afford to live on disability. Disability that is half

of what I take home now just won't work in our budget!! I live on 2

Ultram every 6 hrs (total of 8 per day) and also if the muscle spasms

get bad, Skelaxin. I probably should be on some kind of narcotic

drug, but no doctor has wanted to prescribe one for me yet. Ultram

doesn't make me sleepy as long as I'm up and doing something. I take

Lyrica at night only for the nerve pain and it helps me sleep. Gives

me weird, vivid dreams, though!

Carol (CA)