MRI Results and New Appointment List

 

The MRI results are back. 

Here's a screen shot ... 

In case you have trouble reading these, allow me to interpret 😂 

"Dextrocurvature" of the spine means (adult) scoliosis towards the right, which I already knew about. 

(Other imaging has stated it's both mid and lumbar spine and mild to moderate, but this particular imaging position only scanned lumbar area.

I have an acute/subacute L1 (lumbar or lower back) vertebral compression fracture resulting in 40% height loss, with surrounding acute/subacute edema indicating an acute/subacute event. 

The words "acute/subacute" on both the fracture and the surrounding edema are definitive proof the fracture is a result of the accident alone. 

(We also have a DEXA scan scheduled to rule out osteoporosis at play, but at this point, even if I do have osteoporosis, the above wording on the MRI scan would still prove the fracture was caused by accident, just exacerbating an underlying condition at most.)

I also have 2 disc compressions at L4-L5 and L5-S1, which are old and I did NOT know about.

(I just thought I had muscle spasms there due to scoliosis, and as I've said, I'm good with physical pain, so I had no idea)

Disc-space narrowing more towards one side than the other means the discs are compressed. "Desiccation" means the discs are "drying" or have lost fluid as a result. (The discs between your vertebrae are essentially your shock absorbers).

We know they are old because of the presence of osteophyte formation near them.

(Osteophytes are your body's way of compensating for disc-space height loss and develop over time; thus, how we know they are old and NOT a result of the accident.)

The disc compressions are likely the result of scoliosis rather than the accident.

The "spondylosis" mentioned - or "abnormal spine" is likely the result of the osteophyte formation and scoliosis as well. 

This does NOT mean I'm not experiencing pain there as a result of the accident, I certainly am - the accident aggravated this area.

The good news is, NONE of this will require surgery!

Otherwise, a few people have asked for my appointment list to send prayers or good vibes or just to know.

A few more were just added.

They are:

OCTOBER:

Tuesday, October 20th, 9:40 a.m. - PCP to investigate the new upper rib pain - there may be imaging involved.

Wednesday, October 21st, 7:40 a.m. - DEXA scan. This is a bone density test to help prove the fractures were not a result of bone density loss or osteoporosis. (Even if I do have osteoporosis, it would make no difference after the MRI result proving the accident caused the fracture; if anything, it would only help my case that it caused a fracture already having a bone condition).

Tuesday, October 27th, 10 a.m. - follow-up visit with Neurosurgery after scanning results.

Thursday, October 29th, 8:00  - follow-up visit with Orthopedics to check wrist fracture and ankle sprain, also to check new hip and shoulder pain.

NOVEMBER:

November 17th, 1:30 p.m. - Cardiothoracic/Vascular Surgery to investigate whether true aortic mural thrombus or simple plaque build-up - and if it is a true thrombus, whether or not it was caused or worsened by the accident.

That's all for now, Folks!