How to Read Your Cervical MRI was just posted on my channel. So head over there if you have a cervical MRI. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/35ZleHqjuaI/v-deo.html
you all probably dont care but does any of you know a method to log back into an instagram account?? I stupidly lost my account password. I would love any help you can offer me
@Kamryn Damian i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
Dear Dr. Gillard ,This is the best and simplest presentation I have ever seen of complex science.Thanks a lot for making such wonderful video. what I like about your video is you always talk simple and to the point.
After countless googles on how to read an MRI of the lumbar, your page came up on my homepage randomly. This is by far the simplest and most informative description ( to a layman ) of how to read an MRI. Great video!
This is great for me.. I passed 2 boards in radiology but before MRI. After 40 years and 1000s of patients. It's time to get this down.. Thank you very much Bless you Doctor🙏
ChiroGeek does a great job of conveying lumbar spinal anatomy and image interpretations for interested laypersons. And as others have posted, his questions to us force us to think which is very helpful.
Great educational video. Got MRI disc 2 days ago and have listened to your video several times. Just got report of MRI today .. no surprises as I ascertained the problems because of your video. 1. 25 % Spondy L5 ON S1 associated with bilateral pars defect severe foraminal narrowing potential compression of exiting L5 nerve roots. 2. large broad based central disc protrusion at L2/3 which migrates inferiorly, severe compression of the thecal sac. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Dr. Gillard, thank you so very much for this video and taking time to explain everything...I am learning alot. I am 58 and fell from a 6' ladder at work. I have wonderful doctors working with me, who each, have ordered MRI's and X-Rays of my spine and shoulder. I have been told that there is alot of damage, and although they have "explained" the injuries, their description still left me with a lack of understanding. After seeing your video, I became very excited because I am now beginning to understand what they are talking about. I have subscribed, and will be viewing all of your video's. Again, thank you so much.
Thank you Dr. Gillard for your excellent presentation. It's really helpful for me and put me more confident to assess the MRI image interpretation of my patient. Once again, it is much appreciated. Thank you.😊🙏 Abel Freitas Lay, MD. from Timor-Leste.
Thank you for this. My MRI report has NINE THINGS on it. Watching this video on my phone in one hand, and my report in the other has helped me to understand my back pain immensely. If only mere knowledge could be the cure!
I am not a doctor, or in the health field. I just had an MRI for my lumbar pain and I saw on my MRI that I have some degeneration of the L5-S1 disc. Your info here is awesome for making it much clearer for me to understand. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this video I am a 62-year-old male who has had seven lower back surgeries at L5 S1 and three cervical surgeries recent suffer in a tremendous amount of pain in my lower back. your video is helping me understand my condition thank you so much. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Very truly Yours in pain Don
Dr you talk so clear and perfect that it sound like your eating the most expensive meal and you are enjoying every single bite. thank you so much I am not a doctor but I love and enjoy learning new things.
Ive known your web page since my own disk herniation a couple of months ago and it has been my first source of trustworthy indepth information since. The web is full of sponsored stuff littered with ads which doesnt always mean a bad thing but your page is truely a gold nugget. Im amazed now to find this video of yours which hopefully enables me to read my own MRI. Thank you for your invaluable service!
Thank you Dr. Gillard, for the amazingly informative educational video. I had serious spinal problems in 2010, 2011 and ended having surgery January 2012. I was pre-admitted for surgery on a cancellation at “Kaiser Hospital Sunset” in Los Angeles to have spinal neurosurgery. Prior to all this, I was really just in great physical shape prior to my back starting to fall apart. When I got progressively worse as time went by, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t drive, my legs were in so much pain they were heavy, and they would burn . That time in my life was absolutely brutal. I had surgery from S1 to L3, with complete biomedical screws, rods, and full bone fusion grafting from cadaver bones. My spinal surgeon saved my life and prevented me from being completely wheelchair bound. Fast forward to 2020 and I started having some serious problems sense 2019, and I could barely walk. The Muscles and nerves going across my groin and through my thighs hurt so bad. The feeling & sensation I got was such as if you were pressing very very hard on the thighbone were sensitive across the groin section due to the severe spinal compression. The situation for me was getting really desperate, so I Requested a MRI To be performed. My spinal doctor via the radiologist found out that there was a complication above my prior surgery at (L2&L1) I had to have emergency surgery immediately According to my spinal doctor to prevent permanent damage. On March 23, 2020 I had surgery at “Kaiser hospital Sunset” in Los Angeles. All of my existing hardware from S1 to L3 was removed and replaced. AThank you Dr. Gillard, for the amazingly informative educational video. I had serious spinal problems in 2010, 2011 and ended having surgery January 2012. I was pre-admitted for surgery on a cancellation at “Kaiser Hospital Sunset” in Los Angeles to have spinal neurosurgery. Prior to all this, I was really just in great physical shape prior to my back starting to fall apart. When I got progressively worse as time went by, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t drive, my legs were in so much pain they were heavy, and they would burn . That time in my life was absolutely brutal. I had surgery from S1 to L3, with complete biomedical screws, rods, and full bone fusion grafting from cadaver bones. My spinal surgeon saved my life and prevented me from being completely wheelchair bound. Fast forward to 2020 and I started having some serious problems sense 2019, and I could barely walk. The Muscles and nerves going across my groin and through my thighs hurt so bad. The feeling & sensation I got was such as if you were pressing very very hard on the thighbone were sensitive across the groin section due to the severe spinal compression. The situation for me was getting really desperate, so I Requested a MRI To be performed. My spinal doctor and radiologists found out that there was a complication above my prior surgery at (L2&L1) I had to have emergency surgery immediately According to my spinal doctor. Within a three weeks time of my spinal doctor viewing the MRI results, I had surgery admits The current infective pandemic, When almost all elective surgeries were being canceled. I was truly blessed to be able to have surgery performed. I was in really bad shape I was getting worse and who knows how long it would’ve been if I didn’t get in as a tier 3 emergency case. I feel bad for the people whom had their surgeries canceled. So on March 23, 2020 at Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles, I was able to get into the OR and be surgically corrected . I had a stronger construct fabricated and installed it’s my back. All of the hardware from my previous surgery was replaced to accommodate the brand new hardware where my current injury is. The new spinal hardware will improve the overall construct. The Newly installed hardware Will create a stronger construct. This should Prevent the longer construct and spinal fusions from bending. My spine is now fused from S1 to The thoracic spine, & I couldn’t be happier now being on the side of recovery, but this ordeal was probably one Of the most brutally wicked times of my life. I Have been living alone for the past three years since my divorce, and this has been tough without the live-in help that I had last time from my wife. I am blessed that I have my dad to take me to and from the hospital my daughter and one of my neighbors that stop in to help otherwise I would not be able to do it, no way. The last time I had surgery my ex wife really, really helped me eight years ago. I would like to link my MRI scans so they can be viewed and that people can get a better idea of what exactly I want through. If you are going through something similar or the same thing are you could reach out to me and I would be glad to be able to talk to you. If you read all of this message I really appreciate that you took the time to do so you take care.
I did read through your message. Needs to be edited as a full paragraph is repeated. Nonetheless, I'm absolutely flabbergasted by what you have been through. I would not have had the strength of mind. I'm also amazed that your entire lumbar spine is fused and equipped with hardware to assure it doesn't flex. I had no idea that such extremes are taken in cases such as yours. Based on a March 23 surgery, you are now in your 5th week of recovery. I hope its progressing well. I'm not much of a church goer, but I'll say a few prayers for you. Hope you keep us posted as your recovery progresses.
treborhi Thank you so much for responding and for your kind words. I am progressing for sure and I do realize that I have a long way to go. One thing that has me very excited is how straight up that I stand now. Just recently I could not stand up straight whatsoever and this is just amazing to me. Modern medicine and science have done me wonders along with the very skillful surgeons and staff. I am very grateful for sure. One thing that is bothering me since all of my steri strips fell out about a week ago, is my surgical scar is a is somewhat itchy and irritating. I have a telephone appointment with my doctor coming up this week, and an itchy scar is on my mentioning list. I am curious if my Doctor would recommend any type of Gel or cream that I could apply to my scarring. Anyways thank you so much for your time.
@@treborhi how are you feeling are you fully recovered and your leg pain is it gone? Can you walk miles? Please if you see this kindly reply i will need updates to help me I'm going thru a lot too.
Thank you so much. I never watch a video that explains so much in such a short period of time. After watching over 1000 videos I don't think any has explained this so simply and eloquently. You have made the complicated simple. Your comment about the traversing roots budding out of the thecal sac at the L5 level and that a study should be done is brilliant.
I am a neurologist, more specifically a near-ophthalmologist, and your presentation was excellent. The explanations of anatomy, T1, T2 and coronal, axial and sagittal cuts were simple and beautifully illustrated. Thanks
Thanks. I am successfully recovering from L5/L4 replacement. I studied a lot going in. However, this one video gave me more insight than days of research.
Thank you for explaining this in detail. It's made reading my MRI and most of my CTs easier. There's plenty wrong from L2 - S1 and stenosis included in my scans, and I'm dealing with Drs whose response is "I can't help you" for the last six months. Now I can point out myself what they're missing.
There’s nothing wrong with second and third opinions. Even more. There are plenty of places that will do free MRI reviews including facilities in Germany that are regarded as the most advanced in the world. Keep researching. It’s your life.
Douglas very good clear and easy to understand. I have used Chiro Geek for a long time to show patients whats happening to thier disc herniation and which nerves are affected prior to transforaminal ESI. Great work
Thank you for the lesson. This is by far the most articulated lesson that I have Come across. Very helpful to understand your own images so that you have good questions for your follow up visit. It sure helped me, thank you.
Douglas Gillard, BS, DC, Spine Researcher I have had 20+ back surgeries. I'm fused from T10-L5. I recently had a MRI- which was terrible- in the spinal cord I have a lot of black running thru it. I've been told by Dr.Michael Wang(one of the top neurosurgeons in the world) that from my surgeries and having had a spinal cord stimulator implanted and then removed after 2 years that my cord is wrapped with scar tissue and my peripheral nerves are all clumped with scar tissue. My question is with my last MRI I see a lot of black running thru my cord. Is that what scar tissue would look like in the cord? My pain management/an orthopedic(so he is supposed to be) local dr is not really educated in the severity of my problems I've had with failed fusions. He doesn't do fusion etc. He does epidurals and pain management mainly. This last MRI, I was told by the Radiology company that they don't really have a good enough machine to take detailed images of my back. I have so much hardware in my back it's so hard to get a decent reading. Thank you. I know by not looking at the images you obviously can't diagnose but just looking for a opinion. Thank you have a great day.
love your presentation. your explanation is easy and accurate. its like a live discussion. thanks a lot, cleared up lot of confusion as im learninig as well
Thank You for your clear and detailed information at a relaxed pace ,so nice to see normal and natural communication And not the usual UA-cam/ Hollywood star wannabe performance
When getting my MRI results today the guy said the reason my neck disks were completely blacked out was due to arthritis. When I was actually diagnosed with DDD in my previously scan. So glad I looked into this and found this video now.
Wow ! Dr. Gillard, very very , detailed analysis indeed, I have picked up a lot of points, which nobody teaches us. I am an orthopaedic surgeon, perhaps these points are privy to radiologists, but not to us surgeons, thanks, I appreciate this very much.
It was my pleasure. Just happy to be of service. My eighth quarter students at Palmer are getting a really good education when it comes to the lumbar spine. They are learning all these tricks which will help them better manage patients - at least that my hope.
+venkat Raman S. I am an orthopedic patient, and over several decades, have had a long history of orthopedic issues, having had five inpatient surgeries and one outpatient. The most recent was back surgery and involved fusing and decompression of S1 through T10. It is amazingly terrifying to me to hear an orthopedic surgeon make the above admission, while being impressed with the honesty of your admission. Why then, should I even consider a surgeons prepossessed operation WITHOUT consulting with a radiologist, first?
All i can say, I hope my doctor knows as much as you. Im waiting on results from a scan two days ago. Im hurting. Thanks for the professional explanation.
What a wonderful video. I learned so much valuable info. I am college grad so consider myself "marginally trainable". You lecture was perfect for level of comprehension. I wish you were here in person so I could thank you.
Thanks for all this information, it's a lot more then what you get at a doctors office. I'm not complaining as I know they have more patients to tend to.....
Would appreciate some help regarding C4-C5 cord atrophy with compressive myelomalacia and what this means exactly? Appreciate any advice on suggestions💯 Coronal localizer images of series 1 provides partial visualization of the upper portion of a thoracic levoscoliosis. There is straightening of normal cervical lordosis. No spondylolisthesis is visualized. There is no evidence of fracture, osteomyelitis or osseous neoplasm. Postoperative changes are again noted is provided below. 1. Patient has undergone anterior cervical discectomy, instrumentation and fusion from C3 to C6. 2. There has been partial laminectomy at C3-C4 and C4-C5. 3. Posterior instrumentation artifact is visualized from C3 to C6. No postoperative complication is visualized. The atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial articulations are unremarkable in MR appearance. The visualized intracranial structures are unremarkable in non-contrast MR appearance. The spinal cord is visualized to the T5 level. Again noted is myelomalacia and cord atrophy at the C4-C5 level.. C2-C3: Minimal spondylosis. Minimal right facet arthrosis. Minimal disc bulge. C3-C4: Anterior fusion. Partial laminectomy and posterior instrumentation. Minimal left uncovertebral joint spurring. C4-C5: Anterior fusion. Partial laminectomy and posterior instrumentation. C5-C6: Anterior fusion. Posterior instrumentation. C6-C7: Moderate-to-severe spondylosis. Severe left facet arthrosis. Small left-sided disc-ridge complex, without compression of the left C7 nerve root. See axial series 6, image 17. C7-T1: Moderate spondylosis. Facet arthrosis, moderate on the right mild on the left. Small right-sided disc protrusion without surrounding mass effect, sagittal series 2, image 9. The upper thoracic spine is visualized to the T5 level on sagittal sequences. There is minimal spondylosis from T3 to T5. There are small central and right-sided disc protrusions at T3-T4 and T4-T5, mildly effacing the ventral thecal sac, sagittal series 2, image 7-10, unchanged compared to sagittal images 11 of series 2 from the June 2020 MR study. There is mild postinflammatory mucoperiosteal thickening in both maxillary antra. Impression: Straightening of normal cervical lordosis. Postoperative changes as detailed above, without postoperative complication. Chronic compressive myelomalacia and cord atrophy at the C4-C5 level, unchanged compared to preoperative studies. Spondylosis and facet arthrosis as noted. Small left-sided disc-ridge complex at C6-C7, without compression of the left C7 nerve root. Small right-sided disc protrusion at C7-T1, without significant mass effect. Small central and right-sided disc protrusions at T3-T4 and T4-T5, unchanged compared to MR images from June 2020.
Thanks for the amazing, and heretofore totally mysterious, explanation of lumbar MRIs. I have a long way to go to get close to full understanding, but at least it's starting to make sense as I view my own MRI. Cheers.
this was very helpful, Physical therapy student, i genuinely appreciated how you asked questions that forced me to think and that was very helpful, please keep doing what you do.
Had seizures right after university and lost my airmen medical certificate over it. The seizures were quickly labeled idiopathic at the time and I was left to search for an explanation myself. Since then I suffered multiple traumatic injuries including a 60 (Six-Zero) feet fall and hit the ground back in 2005 and my spine has deteriorated exponentially since then. It was painful to begin with but now it is becoming unlivable with. Your video helped me to read my own MRI after my surgeon went over it with me and I had ACDF C4,5,6 last week and am recovering now. I went to look at an updated look of my Lumbar Spine from a new MRI the day before my thoracic surgery. But I noticed that the person who burned the study to cd left off all of the axial views and there are only three sagittal studies on the disc without enough information to compare it to previous studies at least from my novice point of view. Anyway, I'd like to catch some researcher's eye who want's to take interest in my case and study it as it is extensive, unique and not finished being written yet. I do want to learn to read these MRI's with expertise myself but that is a long long way off from here.
Thank You, Dr. Gillard for your exemplary presentation. I was studying to be an orthopedist when spondylolisthesis, (x 4 fusions that failed), epidural abscess, and now chronic osteomyelitis took me out of my medical studies, but I will forever love to learn about medicine! Do you know of any doctors, you can recommend, that can help treat my chronic osteomyelitis? I’ve been on and off treatment, for five years, and I’m severely debilitated by the active osteomyelitis, and the pain is so excruciating, that it renders me sedentary, hopeless, and even suicidal. I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to live like this anymore. I truly hope you see this message, and you get back to me, if you know anyone that could help me. I’m just about ready to give up on life, Either way, I thank you for your extraordinary and thorough presentation, in this video, and I look forward to seeing you in future videos.
Oh wow! I sure am sorry to hear about your story. Bone infection can be very difficult to snuff out sometimes. If you haven't done so already, might try contacting hospital for special surgeries in New York and/or UCSF in San Francisco. In my opinion, those are the best two spine centers in the world - hopefully they can help. Good luck and hang in there. Also the obvious: if you are having suicidal thoughts, you should go to the emergency room, so you can get help.
Great work if you can find it. I have had at least 6 mri scans done just on my l5s1 leading to 3 surgeries. I searched the Dr's name who read the mri and wrote the report and found his home. I live on a large lake and his home was on a gated/guarded point consisting of 6 McMansions. Of course you have the circular brick driveway, 3 story , 4 car garage. The large pool,guest house leading down to your beach,dock and a boat more suited for being on the ocean. I picture the Doc kicked back with a cup of java,a pipe spending maybe 30 seconds to a minute on each mri. The occasional break when his trophy wife interrupts him to tell him she is going to meet her handsome tennis instructor to work out her back hand. BTW- WITH insurance my lower back mri scans run $800-900 DOUBLE if they request contrast. W/O insurance iirc I saw $2700+ for the regular mri.
Not sure what you mean by "sacral instability." If you mean instability of L5/S1, then if the signs are there, a flexion/extension radiographic study can rule out such instability. If you mean sacroiliac joint instability, I find that to be incredibly rare. Remember, the sacroiliac joint only has 2° of motion (Nutational motion) anyway as it is held together by the powerful interosseous sacroiliac ligament. Patients with Marfan's disease or other connective diseases, however, could be more at risk for this rare instability.
u are truly here to help people,, thank you,,,,had a Microdiscectomy, pain went away for a month came back even more the Pre surgery,,got another Mri 7wks out 4/5 looks rough still.What would be your thoughts....
I'm sorry to hear the microdiscectomy has failed. Typically, when the pain comes back between 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery, it means that epidural fibrosis (scar tissue) has reared its ugly head and maybe strangling the traversing and exiting nerve roots. Recurrent disc herniations must also be ruled out. I would have to see that post op MRI (hopefully it was done with gadolinium) to see what has happened. I do offer coaching service where we figure things out over GoToMeeting. You can learn all about it at my website on the coaching service page (www.chirogeek.com)
It is encouraging that you mentioned, "Put him out for the season", referring to the basketball player. I don't play basketball, but am in construction. That gives me hope. Mine is just as massive, if not a little more...
How to Read Your Cervical MRI was just posted on my channel. So head over there if you have a cervical MRI. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/35ZleHqjuaI/v-deo.html
you all probably dont care but does any of you know a method to log back into an instagram account??
I stupidly lost my account password. I would love any help you can offer me
@Walter Marcel instablaster ;)
@Kamryn Damian i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Kamryn Damian It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thanks so much you really help me out :D
@Walter Marcel happy to help :D
Dear Dr. Gillard ,This is the best and simplest presentation I have ever seen of complex science.Thanks a lot for making such wonderful video. what I like about your video is you always talk simple and to the point.
After countless googles on how to read an MRI of the lumbar, your page came up on my homepage randomly. This is by far the simplest and most informative description ( to a layman ) of how to read an MRI. Great video!
I am a family physician.This video is helped me to understand basics of lumbar MRI .
Thank you,
I love the way you use analogy to help remember what things are.
This is great for me.. I passed 2 boards in radiology but before MRI. After 40 years and 1000s of patients. It's time to get this down.. Thank you very much Bless you Doctor🙏
I’m studying my MRI images. And your video really helps.
I like the way you made it simple to understand. Thank you so much
ChiroGeek does a great job of conveying lumbar spinal anatomy and image interpretations for interested laypersons. And as others have posted, his questions to us force us to think which is very helpful.
Great educational video. Got MRI disc 2 days ago and have listened to your video several times. Just got report of MRI today .. no surprises as I ascertained the problems because of your video. 1. 25 % Spondy L5 ON S1 associated with bilateral pars defect severe foraminal narrowing potential compression of exiting L5 nerve roots. 2. large broad based central disc protrusion at L2/3 which migrates inferiorly, severe compression of the thecal sac. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Dr. Gillard, thank you so very much for this video and taking time to explain everything...I am learning alot. I am 58 and fell from a 6' ladder at work. I have wonderful doctors working with me, who each, have ordered MRI's and X-Rays of my spine and shoulder. I have been told that there is alot of damage, and although they have "explained" the injuries, their description still left me with a lack of understanding. After seeing your video, I became very excited because I am now beginning to understand what they are talking about. I have subscribed, and will be viewing all of your video's. Again, thank you so much.
Thank you Dr. Gillard for your excellent presentation.
It's really helpful for me and put me more confident to assess the MRI image interpretation of my patient. Once again, it is much appreciated. Thank you.😊🙏 Abel Freitas Lay, MD. from Timor-Leste.
Thank you for this. My MRI report has NINE THINGS on it. Watching this video on my phone in one hand, and my report in the other has helped me to understand my back pain immensely. If only mere knowledge could be the cure!
As a fellow sufferer, I hope you are finding relief...
I am not a doctor, or in the health field. I just had an MRI for my lumbar pain and I saw on my MRI that I have some degeneration of the L5-S1 disc. Your info here is awesome for making it much clearer for me to understand. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this video I am a 62-year-old male who has had seven lower back surgeries at L5 S1 and three cervical surgeries recent suffer in a tremendous amount of pain in my lower back. your video is helping me understand my condition thank you so much.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Very truly Yours in pain
Don
Dr you talk so clear and perfect that it sound like your eating the most expensive meal and you are enjoying every single bite.
thank you so much I am not a doctor but I love and enjoy learning new things.
You have made MRI reading as simple as if an X-ray reading. Great
Dear Dr gillard, lovely explanation .of MRI of lumbar spine.
Ive known your web page since my own disk herniation a couple of months ago and it has been my first source of trustworthy indepth information since. The web is full of sponsored stuff littered with ads which doesnt always mean a bad thing but your page is truely a gold nugget. Im amazed now to find this video of yours which hopefully enables me to read my own MRI. Thank you for your invaluable service!
It drives me crazy when I go to a website and get peppered with ads and pop-ups. I vowed never to let that happen on ChiroGeek.com.
Thank you Dr. Gillard, for the amazingly informative educational video. I had serious spinal problems in 2010, 2011 and ended having surgery January 2012. I was pre-admitted for surgery on a cancellation at “Kaiser Hospital Sunset” in Los Angeles to have spinal neurosurgery. Prior to all this, I was really just in great physical shape prior to my back starting to fall apart.
When I got progressively worse as time went by, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t drive, my legs were in so much pain they were heavy, and they would burn . That time in my life was absolutely brutal. I had surgery from S1 to L3, with complete biomedical screws, rods, and full bone fusion grafting from cadaver bones. My spinal surgeon saved my life and prevented me from being completely wheelchair bound.
Fast forward to 2020 and I started having some serious problems sense 2019, and I could barely walk. The Muscles and nerves going across my groin and through my thighs hurt so bad. The feeling & sensation I got was such as if you were pressing very very hard on the thighbone were sensitive across the groin section due to the severe spinal compression.
The situation for me was getting really desperate, so I Requested a MRI To be performed. My spinal doctor via the radiologist found out that there was a complication above my prior surgery at (L2&L1) I had to have emergency surgery immediately According to my spinal doctor to prevent permanent damage. On March 23, 2020 I had surgery at “Kaiser hospital Sunset” in Los Angeles.
All of my existing hardware from S1 to L3 was removed and replaced. AThank you Dr. Gillard, for the amazingly informative educational video. I had serious spinal problems in 2010, 2011 and ended having surgery January 2012. I was pre-admitted for surgery on a cancellation at “Kaiser Hospital Sunset” in Los Angeles to have spinal neurosurgery. Prior to all this, I was really just in great physical shape prior to my back starting to fall apart.
When I got progressively worse as time went by, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t drive, my legs were in so much pain they were heavy, and they would burn . That time in my life was absolutely brutal. I had surgery from S1 to L3, with complete biomedical screws, rods, and full bone fusion grafting from cadaver bones. My spinal surgeon saved my life and prevented me from being completely wheelchair bound.
Fast forward to 2020 and I started having some serious problems sense 2019, and I could barely walk. The Muscles and nerves going across my groin and through my thighs hurt so bad. The feeling & sensation I got was such as if you were pressing very very hard on the thighbone were sensitive across the groin section due to the severe spinal compression.
The situation for me was getting really desperate, so I Requested a MRI To be performed. My spinal doctor and radiologists found out that there was a complication above my prior surgery at (L2&L1) I had to have emergency surgery immediately According to my spinal doctor.
Within a three weeks time of my spinal doctor viewing the MRI results, I had surgery admits The current infective pandemic, When almost all elective surgeries were being canceled. I was truly blessed to be able to have surgery performed. I was in really bad shape I was getting worse and who knows how long it would’ve been if I didn’t get in as a tier 3 emergency case. I feel bad for the people whom had their surgeries canceled.
So on March 23, 2020 at Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles, I was able to get into the OR and be surgically corrected . I had a stronger construct fabricated and installed it’s my back. All of the hardware from my previous surgery was replaced to accommodate the brand new hardware where my current injury is. The new spinal hardware will improve the overall construct. The Newly installed hardware Will create a stronger construct. This should Prevent the longer construct and spinal fusions from bending.
My spine is now fused from S1 to The thoracic spine, & I couldn’t be happier now being on the side of recovery, but this ordeal was probably one Of the most brutally wicked times of my life. I Have been living alone for the past three years since my divorce, and this has been tough without the live-in help that I had last time from my wife. I am blessed that I have my dad to take me to and from the hospital my daughter and one of my neighbors that stop in to help otherwise I would not be able to do it, no way. The last time I had surgery my ex wife really, really helped me eight years ago.
I would like to link my MRI scans so they can be viewed and that people can get a better idea of what exactly I want through. If you are going through something similar or the same thing are you could reach out to me and I would be glad to be able to talk to you. If you read all of this message I really appreciate that you took the time to do so you take care.
I did read through your message. Needs to be edited as a full paragraph is repeated. Nonetheless, I'm absolutely flabbergasted by what you have been through. I would not have had the strength of mind. I'm also amazed that your entire lumbar spine is fused and equipped with hardware to assure it doesn't flex. I had no idea that such extremes are taken in cases such as yours.
Based on a March 23 surgery, you are now in your 5th week of recovery. I hope its progressing well. I'm not much of a church goer, but I'll say a few prayers for you. Hope you keep us posted as your recovery progresses.
treborhi Thank you so much for responding and for your kind words.
I am progressing for sure and I do realize that I have a long way to go. One thing that has me very excited is how straight up that I stand now. Just recently I could not stand up straight whatsoever and this is just amazing to me. Modern medicine and science have done me wonders along with the very skillful surgeons and staff. I am very grateful for sure. One thing that is bothering me since all of my steri strips fell out about a week ago, is my surgical scar is a is somewhat itchy and irritating. I have a telephone appointment with my doctor coming up this week, and an itchy scar is on my mentioning list. I am curious if my Doctor would recommend any type of Gel or cream that I could apply to my scarring. Anyways thank you so much for your time.
@@treborhi how are you feeling are you fully recovered and your leg pain is it gone? Can you walk miles? Please if you see this kindly reply i will need updates to help me I'm going thru a lot too.
Found this video by accident. I finally understand how to look at a lumbar spine MRI. Thank you so much . You are a great teacher. (ER Physician)
Thank you.
At 7:46 in figure 7 you changed the articular processes of L4 - L5.
Regards
Thank you so much. I never watch a video that explains so much in such a short period of time. After watching over 1000 videos I don't think any has explained this so simply and eloquently. You have made the complicated simple. Your comment about the traversing roots budding out of the thecal sac at the L5 level and that a study should be done is brilliant.
Thank you so much..you explain so well and easy to understand..I really wanted to learn this..🙏
I am a neurologist, more specifically a near-ophthalmologist, and your presentation was excellent. The explanations of anatomy, T1, T2 and coronal, axial and sagittal cuts were simple and beautifully illustrated. Thanks
Thank you for the comments. That means a lot coming from a neurologist!
I do love it when doctors talk to each other
Is contrast necessary?
As an MRI Tech AWSOME Video.. NOW I have a better understanding of SPINE exams
Thanks. I am successfully recovering from L5/L4 replacement. I studied a lot going in. However, this one video gave me more insight than days of research.
Hello, I am so happy for you!
I have the same thing like you!
Can you please tell what you did?
Really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.
My pleasure!
Watched this several times.. thanks so much for this educational video.
Thank you for explaining this in detail. It's made reading my MRI and most of my CTs easier.
There's plenty wrong from L2 - S1 and stenosis included in my scans, and I'm dealing with Drs whose response is "I can't help you" for the last six months.
Now I can point out myself what they're missing.
If you have to serve as instructor for your Drs, do you really think they are good enough?
@@CrakenFlux exactly!
There’s nothing wrong with second and third opinions. Even more. There are plenty of places that will do free MRI reviews including facilities in Germany that are regarded as the most advanced in the world. Keep researching. It’s your life.
Extremely useful video that anyone who suffers back pain must watch at least 3 times.
MRI technologist student about to sit my final. Your lessons have been great!! Tessa from New Zealand
Congratulations Dr Gillard, simply the best.
Thanks. This video is completely helpful for the beginners
Douglas very good clear and easy to understand. I have used Chiro Geek for a long time to show patients whats happening to thier disc herniation and which nerves are affected prior to transforaminal ESI. Great work
Thank you for the lesson. This is by far the most articulated lesson that I have Come across. Very helpful to understand your own images so that you have good questions for your follow up visit. It sure helped me, thank you.
Thank you for the lesson Prof. Dr. Douglas Gillard🙏🙏🙏. This gives me broader insight of MRI as I am not a radiologist.
The best video I've watched for this topic.. Thaaaanx alot
Here I will teach you the basics of how to read your lumbar MRI.*Note: this information is for educational purposes only.
Douglas Gillard, BS, DC, Spine Researcher can i ask you something
that is an excellent thing to post on your video.. wtg
Fantastic sir
Douglas Gillard, BS, DC, Spine Researcher i k
Douglas Gillard, BS, DC, Spine Researcher I have had 20+ back surgeries. I'm fused from T10-L5. I recently had a MRI- which was terrible- in the spinal cord I have a lot of black running thru it. I've been told by Dr.Michael Wang(one of the top neurosurgeons in the world) that from my surgeries and having had a spinal cord stimulator implanted and then removed after 2 years that my cord is wrapped with scar tissue and my peripheral nerves are all clumped with scar tissue. My question is with my last MRI I see a lot of black running thru my cord. Is that what scar tissue would look like in the cord? My pain management/an orthopedic(so he is supposed to be) local dr is not really educated in the severity of my problems I've had with failed fusions. He doesn't do fusion etc. He does epidurals and pain management mainly. This last MRI, I was told by the Radiology company that they don't really have a good enough machine to take detailed images of my back. I have so much hardware in my back it's so hard to get a decent reading. Thank you. I know by not looking at the images you obviously can't diagnose but just looking for a opinion. Thank you have a great day.
Thank you. Easy to understand when You speak it.
Excellent instructional video! Thank you!
Awesome!!!!!! It all makes sense now. I see a lot of the stuff that you pointed out on my MRI imaging.. Thank you!
love your presentation. your explanation is easy and accurate. its like a live discussion. thanks a lot, cleared up lot of confusion as im learninig as well
Very good information and explanation, much more than I got out of two surgeons I have seen and have carried out tests on me.
FANTASTIC! Thank you so much. I really learned a lot.
Thank You for your clear and detailed information at a relaxed pace ,so nice to see normal and natural communication And not the usual UA-cam/ Hollywood star wannabe performance
Very good lecture! Thank you, Dr. Gillard
When getting my MRI results today the guy said the reason my neck disks were completely blacked out was due to arthritis. When I was actually diagnosed with DDD in my previously scan. So glad I looked into this and found this video now.
Excellent explanation. The best that I have ever seen. Thank you so much.
Wow ! Dr. Gillard, very very , detailed analysis indeed, I have picked up a lot of points, which nobody teaches us. I am an orthopaedic surgeon, perhaps these points are privy to radiologists, but not to us surgeons, thanks, I appreciate this very much.
It was my pleasure. Just happy to be of service. My eighth quarter students at Palmer are getting a really good education when it comes to the lumbar spine. They are learning all these tricks which will help them better manage patients - at least that my hope.
+venkat Raman S. I am an orthopedic patient, and over several decades, have had a long history of orthopedic issues, having had five inpatient surgeries and one outpatient. The most recent was back surgery and involved fusing and decompression of S1 through T10. It is amazingly terrifying to me to hear an orthopedic surgeon make the above admission, while being impressed with the honesty of your admission. Why then, should I even consider a surgeons prepossessed operation WITHOUT consulting with a radiologist, first?
Douglas Gillard, BS, DC, Spine Researcher
Oh my god you're amazing! Thank you for taking the time to explain it!
Thanx Doc !!! I am finally getting to learn some gr8 ways to read MRIs !!!
All i can say, I hope my doctor knows as much as you. Im waiting on results from a scan two days ago. Im hurting. Thanks for the professional explanation.
Hi nick is everything well with u? What was it
Wonderful Overview.. Thank you so much!!
What a wonderful video. I learned so much valuable info. I am college grad so consider myself "marginally trainable". You lecture was perfect for level of comprehension. I wish you were here in person so I could thank you.
Thanks for all this information, it's a lot more then what you get at a doctors office. I'm not complaining as I know they have more patients to tend to.....
You explained this so well
Thanks for imparting good knowledge ❤
Love this Doc,I’m an OR Nurse and have seen a ton of these but never got a good explanation. Definitely going to check out your website.
Great video! Thanks show much for the informative videos, they are priceless.
That was kool. I put my mri on (pip) picture in picture and followed you all the way. Thank you!
This is such an excellent presentation, thanks a lot Dr. Gillard.
Thanks for this great explanation
Would appreciate some help regarding C4-C5 cord atrophy with compressive myelomalacia and what this means exactly?
Appreciate any advice on suggestions💯
Coronal localizer images of series 1 provides partial visualization of the upper
portion of a thoracic levoscoliosis.
There is straightening of normal cervical lordosis. No spondylolisthesis is
visualized.
There is no evidence of fracture, osteomyelitis or osseous neoplasm.
Postoperative changes are again noted is provided below.
1. Patient has undergone anterior cervical discectomy, instrumentation and
fusion from C3 to C6.
2. There has been partial laminectomy at C3-C4 and C4-C5.
3. Posterior instrumentation artifact is visualized from C3 to C6.
No postoperative complication is visualized.
The atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial articulations are unremarkable in MR
appearance.
The visualized intracranial structures are unremarkable in non-contrast MR
appearance.
The spinal cord is visualized to the T5 level. Again noted is myelomalacia and
cord atrophy at the C4-C5 level..
C2-C3: Minimal spondylosis. Minimal right facet arthrosis. Minimal disc bulge.
C3-C4: Anterior fusion. Partial laminectomy and posterior instrumentation.
Minimal left uncovertebral joint spurring.
C4-C5: Anterior fusion. Partial laminectomy and posterior instrumentation.
C5-C6: Anterior fusion. Posterior instrumentation.
C6-C7: Moderate-to-severe spondylosis. Severe left facet arthrosis. Small
left-sided disc-ridge complex, without compression of the left C7 nerve root.
See axial series 6, image 17.
C7-T1: Moderate spondylosis. Facet arthrosis, moderate on the right mild on the
left. Small right-sided disc protrusion without surrounding mass effect,
sagittal series 2, image 9.
The upper thoracic spine is visualized to the T5 level on sagittal sequences.
There is minimal spondylosis from T3 to T5. There are small central and
right-sided disc protrusions at T3-T4 and T4-T5, mildly effacing the ventral
thecal sac, sagittal series 2, image 7-10, unchanged compared to sagittal images
11 of series 2 from the June 2020 MR study.
There is mild postinflammatory mucoperiosteal thickening in both maxillary
antra.
Impression:
Straightening of normal cervical lordosis.
Postoperative changes as detailed above, without postoperative complication.
Chronic compressive myelomalacia and cord atrophy at the C4-C5 level, unchanged
compared to preoperative studies.
Spondylosis and facet arthrosis as noted.
Small left-sided disc-ridge complex at C6-C7, without compression of the left C7
nerve root.
Small right-sided disc protrusion at C7-T1, without significant mass effect.
Small central and right-sided disc protrusions at T3-T4 and T4-T5, unchanged
compared to MR images from June 2020.
I have spinal stenosis and find your information very valuable. Trying to decide between a versiflex or PRP. Thanks.
Excellent informative lecture thank you very much.
Thanks for the amazing, and heretofore totally mysterious, explanation of lumbar MRIs. I have a long way to go to get close to full understanding, but at least it's starting to make sense as I view my own MRI. Cheers.
I'm glad the video was helpful to you.
Hey Doc! I am a MRI student, loved your presentation, well presented, easily understood and personable. Keep it up!
Thank you for the CE update information. I always love your teaching style. Thank you.
I watched your video, and it was very very interesting! I'm Japanese but it was very easy to understand! Thank you very much!
thank you for comprehensive lectures
Great tutorial . Just what I've been looking for . Thank you.
this was very helpful, Physical therapy student, i genuinely appreciated how you asked questions that forced me to think and that was very helpful, please keep doing what you do.
Thanks you! Wealth of information. I have MRI coming this week. Would like you to review.
Very clear and simple explanation.thanks
Had seizures right after university and lost my airmen medical certificate over it. The seizures were quickly labeled idiopathic at the time and I was left to search for an explanation myself. Since then I suffered multiple traumatic injuries including a 60 (Six-Zero) feet fall and hit the ground back in 2005 and my spine has deteriorated exponentially since then. It was painful to begin with but now it is becoming unlivable with. Your video helped me to read my own MRI after my surgeon went over it with me and I had ACDF C4,5,6 last week and am recovering now. I went to look at an updated look of my Lumbar Spine from a new MRI the day before my thoracic surgery. But I noticed that the person who burned the study to cd left off all of the axial views and there are only three sagittal studies on the disc without enough information to compare it to previous studies at least from my novice point of view. Anyway, I'd like to catch some researcher's eye who want's to take interest in my case and study it as it is extensive, unique and not finished being written yet. I do want to learn to read these MRI's with expertise myself but that is a long long way off from here.
Thank you for sharing. Very concise, direct to the point.
Very well presented!
Thanks it really helped me understand viewing MRI. 👍😊
Greatly nicely explained
Awesome lecture Sir..
Enjoyed, I have a fusion L5 S1, due to the fusion S1, S2 have been damaged by scar tissue, making for pain.
Thank You, Dr. Gillard for your exemplary presentation. I was studying to be an orthopedist when spondylolisthesis, (x 4 fusions that failed), epidural abscess, and now chronic osteomyelitis took me out of my medical studies, but I will forever love to learn about medicine! Do you know of any doctors, you can recommend, that can help treat my chronic osteomyelitis? I’ve been on and off treatment, for five years, and I’m severely debilitated by the active osteomyelitis, and the pain is so excruciating, that it renders me sedentary, hopeless, and even suicidal. I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to live like this anymore. I truly hope you see this message, and you get back to me, if you know anyone that could help me. I’m just about ready to give up on life, Either way, I thank you for your extraordinary and thorough presentation, in this video, and I look forward to seeing you in future videos.
Oh wow! I sure am sorry to hear about your story. Bone infection can be very difficult to snuff out sometimes. If you haven't done so already, might try contacting hospital for special surgeries in New York and/or UCSF in San Francisco. In my opinion, those are the best two spine centers in the world - hopefully they can help. Good luck and hang in there. Also the obvious: if you are having suicidal thoughts, you should go to the emergency room, so you can get help.
Thank you for this valuable knowledge.
Great video. Thank you Doctor.
Vielen Dank für die vorzügliche Erklärung. Sehr anschaulich und genauestens erklärt.
Great work if you can find it. I have had at least 6 mri scans done just on my l5s1 leading to 3 surgeries. I searched the Dr's name who read the mri and wrote the report and found his home. I live on a large lake and his home was on a gated/guarded point consisting of 6 McMansions. Of course you have the circular brick driveway, 3 story , 4 car garage. The large pool,guest house leading down to your beach,dock and a boat more suited for being on the ocean. I picture the Doc kicked back with a cup of java,a pipe spending maybe 30 seconds to a minute on each mri. The occasional break when his trophy wife interrupts him to tell him she is going to meet her handsome tennis instructor to work out her back hand. BTW- WITH insurance my lower back mri scans run $800-900 DOUBLE if they request contrast. W/O insurance iirc I saw $2700+ for the regular mri.
Excellent presentation
Thank you ! We can never fully appreciate what is happening in the lumbar without looking carefully at sacral instability.
Not sure what you mean by "sacral instability." If you mean instability of L5/S1, then if the signs are there, a flexion/extension radiographic study can rule out such instability. If you mean sacroiliac joint instability, I find that to be incredibly rare. Remember, the sacroiliac joint only has 2° of motion (Nutational motion) anyway as it is held together by the powerful interosseous sacroiliac ligament. Patients with Marfan's disease or other connective diseases, however, could be more at risk for this rare instability.
Thank you very much. Very informative.
You are a wonderful teacher!
thank you sir...it was really very helpfull and awesome teaching technique.
Wow - this is amazing! My radiology rotation just became 10x more understandable!! Thank you so much!
I'm glad to be of service. Good luck with that rotation!
Great educational resource! I'm so happy to have found you! Thank you so much for sharing this and all that's on your web page!
Very clear and informative
Thank you sir
This is great doc
Thanks Alot Sir. It really cleared up many things for me.
This was very helpful. Thank you for posting.
much appreciated, usefull information, thanks doc
u are truly here to help people,, thank you,,,,had a Microdiscectomy, pain went away for a month came back even more the Pre surgery,,got another Mri 7wks out 4/5 looks rough still.What would be your thoughts....
I'm sorry to hear the microdiscectomy has failed. Typically, when the pain comes back between 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery, it means that epidural fibrosis (scar tissue) has reared its ugly head and maybe strangling the traversing and exiting nerve roots. Recurrent disc herniations must also be ruled out. I would have to see that post op MRI (hopefully it was done with gadolinium) to see what has happened. I do offer coaching service where we figure things out over GoToMeeting. You can learn all about it at my website on the coaching service page (www.chirogeek.com)
Hell doc I recently don a extra an it show lost of lumdar lordosis an secondary muscle spasms tell me what you think about this.
Incorrect spelling I ment exray
It is encouraging that you mentioned, "Put him out for the season",
referring to the basketball player. I don't play basketball, but am in construction.
That gives me hope.
Mine is just as massive, if not a little more...
Thanks for this information, it was very helpful