Seeking Clarification on MRI Results
I've been dealing with significant low back pain and have been diagnosed with various conditions, including suspected degenerative disc disease, small fiber neuropathy, and CRPS at the age of 23. Recently, I underwent an MRI on my lumbar spine, which the report indicated was normal. However, upon reviewing the image I have shared, it seems evident that there is a noticeable bulging disc at the lower part. Can someone help me understand this discrepancy?
Answers (1)
6/23/2025, 10:10:33 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel confused and concerned about the discrepancies between your MRI results and your experience of symptoms. Let's break it down.
Main Points
- Normal MRI results can still coincide with significant pain and symptoms.
- Bulging discs may not always be clinically significant, meaning they don't necessarily explain your pain.
- It's important to consider a holistic approach that includes both imaging and your symptoms.
Explanation
- Normal MRI Findings: An MRI being reported as normal means that the radiologist did not find any major structural abnormalities that would typically explain your symptoms, such as large disc herniations or obvious fractures.
- Bulging Discs: A bulging disc can sometimes be present without causing pain. Many people have bulging discs shown on their MRI but experience no symptoms. The relationship between such findings and pain isn't always straightforward and can depend on various factors including nerve involvement and other underlying conditions.
- Your Conditions: Conditions like degenerative disc disease, small fiber neuropathy, and CRPS can cause pain even when imaging results don't reveal a direct source. These contribute to a complex pain experience that may not always correlate with what’s seen on an MRI.
Next Steps
-
Track Your Symptoms: Keep detailed notes on your pain—when it occurs, its intensity, and any factors that seem to improve or worsen it. This can help identify patterns or triggers.
-
Discuss with Your Provider: Bring your concerns and your findings to your healthcare provider. It’s important to have a conversation about your MRI, the implications of a bulging disc, and how it fits into your overall health picture.
-
Consider a Multidisciplinary Approach: Given the complexity of your conditions, it may be beneficial to involve specialists in pain management, physical therapy, or neurology who can help tailor a treatment plan that addresses both pain relief and functional improvement.
-
Self-Care Practices: Focus on low-impact physical activities such as swimming or walking, which may help maintain mobility without exacerbating pain. Incorporate gentle stretching or yoga, guided by a professional experienced in managing chronic pain.
By following these steps, you can begin to gain more clarity on your situation and find the most suitable path for managing your symptoms. Let me know if you need any more specific guidance!
Related Questions
Visual Disturbances: Seeking Guidance
Overview: I’ve been experiencing some ongoing visual disturbances that have prompted me to seek advice. To provide some background, I am a 21-year-old white male in the United States, standing at 5 feet 8 inches and weighing slightly over 170 pounds (though I’m not sure about the precise figure, I know it’s no more than 180). For about seven years, I neglected the need for corrective lenses and found myself spending excessive time in front of screens. Given these circumstances, I’m wondering whether I should consult an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, or my general practitioner. What could be the potential causes of these symptoms? They have persisted for quite a while, possibly even years.
Prolonged Exposure to Magnets: A Query about Safety
Hello everyone, I’m a 26-year-old male and I have a question regarding my work habits. I habitually carried a magnet attached to my hard hat to pick up metal shavings and manage wiring diagrams. Given that these magnets are positioned close to my head, I’m wondering about the safety implications. Are there any research findings related to long-term exposure and potential harm? I can't help but notice that when I carried the magnets, I experienced more intense headaches, though it coincided with the hot summer months, leading me to think dehydration might have played a role. I also do not have any medical implants or serious injuries, apart from a previously torn ACL. I'm intrigued about the matter, particularly since my current magnets are quite weak, and I'm considering upgrading to more powerful ones.
Should I Be Concerned?
Greetings everyone. I’m a 22-year-old woman seeking some guidance. For as long as I can recall, I have noticed these "lumps" on my scalp. They generally match my skin tone and appear stable, showing no signs of growth or change in size. Their height ranges from approximately 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch, if measured generously. I’m curious to know if these should raise any red flags for me. Thank you for your input!
Inquiry About Childhood Chiropractic Experience
Hello Reddit! I’m reaching out to seek insights regarding an experience from my adolescent years, roughly between the ages of 12 and 14. I’m currently 25 years old (female). To give you a bit of context, I encountered a troubling incident while bending down to access my locker; suddenly, my neck locked in a position to the side, rendering it completely immobile. The pain was unbearable. In response, my father thought it best to take me to a chiropractor, which seemed to provide some relief, yet I continued to endure significant pain and noticed an unusual odor that lingered for nearly a week. Unfortunately, this episode recurred a few months later, and I underwent the same routine; once again, I experienced that odd smell and extreme discomfort. Since those two occurrences, I have faced similar issues on only a couple of occasions, during which I opted for hospital care instead of chiropractic treatment. The medical professionals provided muscle relaxants, which effectively alleviated my pain without any bizarre lingering odor. Since those formative experiences, I have been left with a constant discomfort in my right shoulder, which feels strained frequently, and I find that my head tends to tilt towards one side. What could have caused this neck locking issue during my youth, and could my decision to visit a chiropractor instead of a physician have led to ongoing complications? I'm eager to understand what happened during those situations!
Frustration Over Medical Error: My Child's X-Rays Were of the Wrong Foot
[Patient: A healthy 2.5-year-old boy, average height and weight] I could really use some support right now. A couple of days ago, my toddler injured his foot while playing on a slide at the park. Since then, he hasn't been able to walk without pain or put weight on that foot, only managing to take a few steps at best. We visited his pediatrician, who performed an examination and concluded that the issue was with his left foot. She requested x-rays for that specific foot. After the x-rays were taken, the results indicated no fractures, merely suggesting a soft tissue injury that would require rest. However, after watching him struggle to move today, I've realized that he's actually favoring his left foot, while it’s his right foot that he's avoiding! They took x-rays of the wrong foot! 🤦♀️ As a parent, I feel absolutely devastated that this error occurred. I find myself overwhelmed with guilt for putting him through unnecessary radiation exposure. They captured around eight pictures of a foot that isn’t injured at all. The financial aspect—having spent $600 on those x-rays—feels secondary to the worry about the radiation and the continued uncertainty regarding whether there’s an actual injury. I'm feeling extremely upset and incompetent as a mother. Maybe someone could help me understand the radiation risk better? I’m really struggling with this situation.