posted
I just got home from the diagnostic place which did my MRI and I have the results from it. I won't see my Dr for a few days but does anyone know what an Unilateral facet hypertrophy on the right at L4-5 means? I'm clueless but wondering if this is why my back and legs are hurting now?
Thank you
Ally
Posts: 31 | From beaumont Texas | Registered: Jan 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
ally, you might be in for good luck on this one!
1 of our newest members in last 1-2 days is a mri tech reader!! hopefully, they might see your post.
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L4-5 would be in the lumbar spine. Hypertrophy is usually caused by arthritis or degenerative changes and causes the spaces that the nerve roots pass through to be narrowed. It just depends on how much narrowing there is as to how much trouble it causes.
I have this problem at L4-5, L2-3, T12-13 (I have an extra thoracic vertebrae) and C5-6. It is very common. In my instance, the doctor said the T and C problems were not enough to intervene surgically, nor was L4-5, but L2-3 was problematic enough that he agreed to neurosurgery. But I also had serious disc herniations in the lumbar spine adding to the hypertrophic changes and the problems those cause.
I was supposed to have the surgery, scheduled and everything, but that is when I had a severe diverticulitis attack and ended up with colon surgery instead. The time I spent lying still after that surgery allowed my discs to heal on their own and the hypertrophy isn't causing me problems too much anymore unless I really over-do.
Anyway, most people have hypertrophy once they reach a certain age. It is part of a normal aging process. Or, as in my case since even at the age of 48 when this was found, can be a result of putting too much mileage on your poor little body. All the sports I did. It's probably what is causing your leg pain. There are alot of different stretch and strenghtening exercises you can do to help. Ask your doctor. I'm really glad I didn't do the spine surgery.
Moosie
-------------------- Trying to figure it all out. Posts: 38 | From Spanaway, WA | Registered: Sep 2006
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