Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Help Reading MRI Results Plz?

Er, not quite.... disc bulging is from degeneration in the strength (integrity) of the annulus fibrosis, rather than herniation, which is when the jelly-like substance is leaking out through a tear in the annulus. The nucleus pulposis could be thought of as caustic, if you like, and will cause massive inflammation in structures that it touches. Then in addition to that it may compress the theca enough to cause spinal canal or spinal nerve root compression and therefore neurological symptoms.

The disc material(or even the annular bulge)is NOT touching the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord in Holly's MRI. No significant indentation of the thecal sac is evident, let alone pressure on neural structures.

Sorry to be anal, but there's a huge difference between signs and symptoms of disc bulges and disc herniation...

(Off my soapbox now...)

Well, hell. This blows.

I can't thank you enough. Truly. I would have probably gone skipping along thinking I was fine, since the pain in the upper back & neck doesn't hold a candle to the pain in the lower back!

Louise - can I trouble you with one more thing? My primary goal, once my pain is minimized, is to first work on strengthening my spine -- regaining my posture. My rheumy agrees, but do you?

Is it possible to undo some of this? Or keep it from getting worse if I can just get my pain under control and work hard, very, very hard to get my strength & posture back?

Just this morning I was trying to convince myself (again) that I don't have AS. I do that at least 2 times a day you know. Even though I do have AS. Stupid spondy monster. Grrrr.

Oh, on a happy note, thanks for thinking I'm, uh, a cute babe! It really is me in the pic, I promise. I'm only 36, and I've only had active AS for 4 years. I might have wiry gray hair under all of these funky colors I put in it, who knows. Part of why it took me so long to get diagnosed (and I know many of us go through this) is that I look so normal. Like your average soccer mom.

So, guess I'm gimpy from neck to butt now. Who knew.

Thanks again for everything. I might have a solo-pity party over here for a little while, because I'm just so angry. Feel like I just got diagnosed with something incurable, like, I dunno... AS or something.

Wait a sec -- am I overreacting? Maybe I'm reading into what you said. I'll come back tomorrow and see if I interpret it differently.

See? Soccer Mom. ;-)

By the way Craig, I didn't thank you for your reply as well.

I think when I'm sane again tomorrow, I'll re-read what you all wrote and probably react like I should have the first time. As you guys know, I'm suuuuppppperrrrr emotional.

Ha - I miss Kevin. This is when he would have chimed in to remind me that I'll never be sane, and that I never really have been. ;-)

well sorry to tell you but you'll never be sane and you never really were

Ha. Thank you. I'm smiling again now.

Michelle

Takes one to know one

Me too...I was able to get my court papers filed against BP(still can't believe I almost missed the deadline! ) ...tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Rig explosion...and WL&F announced yesterday that shrimp season will remain closed until further notice due to the new discovery of oil in our fishing zone... But...I'm still very happy that it all worked out and the papers were filed at the courthouse...whew!! close call!!

Absolutely!!! I own it too...