Spinal cord edema
August 11, 2011 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Christian Welsch
MRI:
Bone marrow edema circumscribed in the left dorsal part of the L4 vertebral body in osteochondrosis. No pathological signal elevation in the remaining bone structures. No evidence of spinal canal stenosis or root pocket amputation in myelography sequences.
L3/L4:
Broad-based disc protrusion with indentation of the dural sac, neuroforamina free. No nerve root compression. Osteochondrosis with bone marrow edema in the left dorsal part of the L4 vertebral body.
No evidence of nerve root compression in the other lumbar spine segments, mild bilateral spondylarthrosis present, partially activated.
I have the same problems in C6-7.
My question is, what does all of this mean, what is bone marrow edema? Does anyone know what bone marrow edema is called in English since I will be seen in an American hospital?
My pain is in my back, radiating down from above the buttocks into the entire leg. Where do these pains come from and what would be the best therapy for them? Thank you very much for your help.
Yours sincerely.
Dear patient,
Your MRI findings describe a worn lumbar spine. Osteochondrosis is a remodeling process in the spine, where the vertebral bodies have to absorb the pressure due to the decrease in the cushioning effect of the intervertebral discs, causing them to flatten. This leads to bony outgrowths at the transition to the disc (spondylophytes) and increased wear of the facet joints (spondylarthrosis, here "activated" means that an inflammatory process is taking place in the joint).
A disc protrusion is visible, the disc has an annulus fibrosus containing a gelatinous core (nucleus pulposus). With protrusion, the disc bulges into the spinal canal without the annulus fibrosus tearing. This is what happens with a disc herniation (nucleus pulposus prolapse NPP).
The bone marrow edema in your case is, in my opinion, a sign of wear and inflammatory processes in the vertebral body. Its exact cause is not fully understood, but it is commonly found in patients with osteoporosis, diabetes, or lipid metabolism disorders. Edema is nothing more than increased water in the tissue, here due to inflammatory remodeling processes.
Severe nerve damage requiring immediate surgery cannot be detected in your case according to the findings. For example, spinal canal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal due to bony remodeling processes.
In my opinion, a well-made physical therapy coupled with treatment with anti-inflammatory painkillers should help you further, even though it cannot reverse the wear that has occurred.
It is also important in your case for an orthopedist or neurosurgeon to review the images, as only a doctor who looks at the patient, images, and findings together can provide a reliable assessment.
I hope this information helps you.
Get well soon,
C. Welsch
