What does a broad-based disc bulge mean?

What does a broad-based disc bulge mean?

By strict definition, a broad-based herniation involves between 25 and 50% of the disc circumference. A focal herniation involves less than 25% of the disc circumference. Herniated discs may take the form of protrusion or extrusion based on the shape of the displaced or herniated material.

What causes a broad-based disc bulge?

Like a herniated disc, the most common cause of a bulging disc is degenerative disc disease. A bulging disc may also be caused by neck or back strain brought on by repetitive movements, lifting heavy objects, and poor posture.

What is a broad disc Osteophyte complex?

The disc osteophyte complex is a protruding ridge composed of chronically bulging disc encased with bony hypertrophy and granulation or scar tissue and is different from a focal or pure disc herniation, which are less common in the cervical spine.

What is a broad-based disc bulge C3 C4?

C3-C4: 2mm broad-based posterior disc protrusion which results in mild central canal stenosis and no neuroforaminal narrowing. C4-C5: 2.5 mm broad-based posterior disc protrusion which together with uncovertebral joint hypertrophy results.

Can you become paralyzed from a bulging disc?

With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.

Can disc bulges get worse?

A bulging disc can create pain, tingling, and numbness that radiates through the body. Over time, the symptoms will worsen and the problem will get worse over time. Don’t hesitate to get bulging disc treatment.

Does a disc protrusion require surgery?

When & How to Seek Medical Care. Fortunately, the majority of herniated discs do not require surgery. With time, the symptoms of sciatica/radiculopathy improve in approximately 9 out of 10 people. The time to improve varies, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

Is a disc bulge serious?

Is it serious? Bulging disks increase the likelihood of a herniated disk, which can be painful, affect mobility, and limit a person’s daily functioning and quality of life. Bulging disks can also lead to weakness or numbness in the legs and poor bladder control.

Is disc osteophyte complex serious?

Although very rare, disc osteophyte complex has caused paralysis. Disc osteophytes can cause different symptoms according to their location.

What causes broad based disc osteophyte complex?

The most common cause of cervical spinal stenosis is degenerative osteoarthritis of the spine, specifically disc degeneration, formation of disc-osteophyte complex (DOC, bone spurs), hypertrophy (overgrowth) of the ligamentum flavum and the formation of large osteophytes adjacent to the facet joints.

Which is worse bulging or herniated disk?

Compared with a bulging disk, a herniated disk is more likely to cause pain because it generally protrudes farther and is more likely to irritate nerve roots. The irritation can be from compression of the nerve or, much more commonly, the herniation causes a painful inflammation of the nerve root.

What are the results of a C5 / C6 MRI?

C5/C6: Moderate right uncovertebral joint spurring and mild bilateral facet hypertrophy result inc moderate to severe right neural foraminal stenosis. There is no spinal canal stenosis at this level. C6/C7: There is a mild broad-based posterior disc bulge resulting in mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis without spinal canal stenosis.

What are the MRI results for disc osteophyte?

At C6-C7, a broad-based disc osteophyte complex is present. No canal stenosis. Tiny right posterolateral protrusion and spur with mild right foraminal narrowing. No left foraminal narrowing. At T1-T2, no disc protrusion, canal stenosis, or foraminal narrowing is noted.

What are the results of a MRI at T4?

At T4-T5, there is a tiny central disc protrusion with minimal ventral thecal sac deformity. At T5-T6, there is a broad-based disc osteophyte complex with mild ventral thecal sac deformity. No foraminal compromise. 1. Minimal discogenic changes of the cervical and upper thoracic spine as above.

What are the MRI results for spinal stenosis?

This results in severe left and moderate to severe right neural foraminal stenosis and mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis with contact of the ventral surface of the cord with mild cord flattening. There is mild increased T2 cord signal intensity within the ventral aspect of the cord best appreciated on sagittal image 7 of series 2.

What do the C4 and C5 MRI results mean?

C4 c5 level as a disc bulge with osteophyte complex causing severe central canal stenosis and moderate to severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. The C 56 level as a disc bulge osteophyte complex causing moderate severe canal stenosis and moderate to severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing

What do the C spine MRI levels mean?

The C2-3 level is normal. The C3-4 level demonstrates a small disk osteophyte complex eccentric to the left with indentation of the ventral thecal sac. At C4-5 small disk osteophyte complex is demonstrated. At C5-6, a broad based disk osteophyte complex indents the thecal sac and abuts the spinal cord.

What are the problems with the C6-C7 spinal motion segment?

Common Problems at C6-C7. Due to its load-bearing function, the C6-C7 motion segment may be affected by a number of problems: Disc herniation .The C6-C7 intervertebral disc is one of the most common to herniate in the cervical spine. 3 Herniation may result from injury or age-related wear and tear.

What are the MRI results for left foraminal narrowing?

Uncovertebral hypertrophy contributes to mild to moderate narrowing of the right neural foramen. C7-T1: The disc contour is probably normal and the canal and foramina appear patent. IMPRESSION: Multilevel multifactorial degenerative changes as described above, with moderate C4-C5 and severe C5-C6 left foraminal stenosis.

What does a broad based disc bulge mean?

What does a broad based disc bulge mean?

By strict definition, a broad-based herniation involves between 25 and 50% of the disc circumference. A focal herniation involves less than 25% of the disc circumference. Herniated discs may take the form of protrusion or extrusion based on the shape of the displaced or herniated material.

What nerves does L5 S1 affect?

The two nerves most commonly pinched in the lower back are L5 (lumbar 5) and S1 (sacral 1). Pinched nerve at L5. The L5 nerve supplies the nerves to the muscles that raise the foot and big toe, and consequently, impingement of this nerve may lead to weakness in these muscles.

What kind of bulging disc is L4-L5 and S1?

“Dr. Andalon… my name is Casey, I’m 41 and I was recently diagnosed by my primary doctor with having L4-L5 and L5-S1 bulging discs following an MRI scan. I’ve now suffered with chronic back pain, stiffness and at times severely painful sciatica symptom for up to 9 months now. At first the bulging disc symptoms were very mild.

Is the L5 vertebrae on top of the S1?

The L5 vertebrae sits on top of the S1 vertebrae. Compression of the nerve root between L5 and S1 vertebrae can cause pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the leg on the affected side. Core strengthening can help relieve the symptoms of L5-S1 compression.

What does an MRI of the lumbar spine show?

An MRI of the lumbar spine shows the bones, disks, spinal cord, and the spaces between the vertebral bones where nerves pass through. The risks of a lumbar MRI scan Unlike an X-ray or CT scan, an MRI doesn’t use ionizing radiation. It’s considered a safer alternative, especially for pregnant women and growing children.

What causes lower back pain at the L5-S1 level?

Disc problems. Lower back disc herniation typically occurs at the L5-S1 level. 3 A steeper inclination of this disc leads to a higher degree of shear stresses and increases the risk disc of injury and degeneration. Facet joint pain.

“Dr. Andalon… my name is Casey, I’m 41 and I was recently diagnosed by my primary doctor with having L4-L5 and L5-S1 bulging discs following an MRI scan. I’ve now suffered with chronic back pain, stiffness and at times severely painful sciatica symptom for up to 9 months now. At first the bulging disc symptoms were very mild.

Is the L5 nerve separated from the S1 nerve on an MRI?

The L5 nerve to the top of the foot and big toe. The S1 nerve to the outside and bottom of the foot. The disc normally is composed of 2 parts. These are microscopic and cannot exactly be differentiated on an MRI.

Disc problems. Lower back disc herniation typically occurs at the L5-S1 level. 3 A steeper inclination of this disc leads to a higher degree of shear stresses and increases the risk disc of injury and degeneration. Facet joint pain.

An MRI of the lumbar spine shows the bones, disks, spinal cord, and the spaces between the vertebral bones where nerves pass through. The risks of a lumbar MRI scan Unlike an X-ray or CT scan, an MRI doesn’t use ionizing radiation. It’s considered a safer alternative, especially for pregnant women and growing children.