L3/L4 annular tear?!
Question: What does this mean? Thanks
Answers: What does this mean? Thanks
Defintion
The annulus is the fibrous ring of the disc structure which surrounds the centrally located soft nucleus of the disc. The nucleus and annulus function together to create a pressurized structure that acts as a shock absorber. The annulus is a ligament and like any ligament in the body can be torn. Tearing of the annulus can produce pain because the annulus has pain fibers within its structure. Many episodes of low back pain are probably tears in the annulus.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of annular tearing can be made on MRI imaging but the definitive diagnosis is made on CT-discograms where dye is injected into the nucleus of the disc leaks out into the torn area of the annulus.
Non-Surgery Treatment
Treatment can consist of time to reduce symptoms, physical therapy, bracing, medications, etc.
Surgical Treatment
In very selected situations, the symptoms from the annulus may be treated with intra-discal electrothermal treatment. Occasionally, patients have enough persistent pain from annular tears and internal disc disruption to undergo a fusion of the disc space at the level of the tear.
Prognosis
The prognosis of annular tears is generally the prognosis of low back pain. Annular tears can be the precursor of the herniated disc.
The above is correct, perhaps hard to follow so this is the easy definition. In your spine you have vertebra or bones and wedges between the vertebra are Discs. So when you jump and land, the discs act as cushions absorb the shock. A Jelly Donut is like a disc, it has a hard outer shell, inside is jelly. As we age the jelly dehydrates and eventually becomes hard like the outside shell. However if you bite into a Jelly Donut what happens? The Jelly oozes out, usually down the front of you and you need a napkin to remove it. However if you took a small sharp knife and nicked the outside of the donut, what would happen? Depending on how deep the nick is, deep enough and the jelly will ooze out, small nick and nothing will happen. You have a small nick on your hard outer shell of the disc. Now this might repair itself given time and rest. However if you over exert the area, start weight lifting, lift heavy stuff, twist suddenly, chances are the small nick will be a large tear and then the jelly might start to bulge. Therefore just be mindful that you have what you have, watch what you are doing. The last thing you want is a bulge, because the jelly is highly inflammatory to certain nerve roots in the vertebra and the pain, take it from one who knows is disabling.