Anteroposterior and Lateral Views of Lumbar Spine
Lumbar spondylosis is an important cause of back pain. It signifies the age related changes in the lumber spine that lead to chronic back pain. Low back pain is a common cause of morbidity.
A healthy lifestyle and fit body can produce a healthy back and help to prevent the effect s of aging.
Straightening of lumbar spine is one of the early features of lumbar spondylosis.
The xray in the picture is of 36 years old lady who came with complaints of back pain. Her lateral view shows reduction in lordosis of lumbar spine or straightening of the spine.
Pain relieving medications and back exercises are mainstay of the treatment for this kind of back pain.
Hi Dr,
I got the back pain, in my X ray report they have made a comment like Straightening of Lumbar Spine.. can you please explain wats the consequances and wat i need to do
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:28 am
@Sharath Pranesh,
Follow your doctors advice and when he permits you should start exercises for strengthening the back.
Sir namaskar! I m 21 years engg student n i m getting continuous back pain from 8 months….. I have taken some medicines n done phys treatments n exercises also…but pain is increasing day by day…..recently .i have taken x-ray n they said it is early lumbar spondylosis n oesteocytes are deposited on l1-l5….it is creating much problems n hamperoing my studies …….so what would be better for me sir?? I m waiting your reply sir……
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
November 27th, 2010 at 7:03 am
@Pratap poudel,
Lumbar spondylosis at 21 years of age is not common. Please get investigated.
As for as your studies are concerned, please take the symptom relieving medicines and improve your posture
Thanks doctor…now i m maintaining my posture n doing exercises also….
Now pain is mainly in right hip joint….what are the exercises for this????? Or can i go to gym also for the exercises of back pain????
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
December 15th, 2010 at 5:37 am
@Pratap poudel,
You need to discuss with your treating doctor. He would be in better position to discuss the exercise regime.
All the best.
Hello Dr.Arun,
I am Garima agarwal. I am 27,married working women.I am having back pain since 7-8 years.
It got worse and the pain started radiating in legs and arms too. On 5th dec.2010,it got more worse and
i couldn’t sleep for whole night. I consulted an orthopaedition and he prescribed me bed rest for
7 days. and i got an x-ray done, that shows the straightning of the spine.
Please suggest me ,whether i should start with the exercises now because orthopaedition has asked
me to avoid the exercises for 2-3 weeks more.
and can it be related to Pott’s disease as dr.also asked me about fever and appetite
waiting for your reply
Regards,
Garima
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
December 29th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
@garima agarwal,
Back pain has got various causes and also includes those you mentioned.
When you visit a doctor, he would ask questions that would suggest or rule out a particular set of possibilities.
Examination and investigations further guide the physician to reach at a diagnosis.
Straightening of spine is an effect of the disease. It is not the cause in true sense.
Backpain radiates to the limbs when there is a compression or involvement of neural structures which supply our limbs.
Follow your doctor’s advice. He is the best person at the moment to guide you about your problem.
I can offer more knowledge on the subject if you would like to ask me but a physician who is taking care of you is the best informed to answer your specific questions.
How are you BTW?
i am currently dealing with a client who has symptoms of spondylosis and her x-rays prove my diagnosis. She is a very stressed individual with a very bad lifestyle structure with regards to eatng and overall wellness. i have recommended a few processes which may alleviate some of the pain which she is experiencing currently and would like a medical opinion on these processes. . .i have recommended daily hyperextention stretching as well as piriformus stretching and compression exercises to assist in release of the hamstrings to alleviate lower lumbar and lower appendage pain. when testing flexibility my cliets ROM is impaired and this is predominantly due to hamstring shortening. when diagnosing for spondylosis please consider the stretching and improving of ROM in the Hamstrings as a possible way to alleviate some of the pain. i know this is not a cure but at least it might help.
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
January 12th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
@K Smith,
Thanks for input.
Hamstring stretch is frequently prescribed for backpains.
Lumber Spondilitis or spondylitis is a condition where there is an inflammation of lumber (lower vertebral) spine, popularly called as Back ache. These changes may be mild, moderate or severe leading to a range of severity of symptoms. There is not only inflammation of the vertebra but also some amount of fusing, which gives painful stiffness.Homeopathy treatment is targeted at relieving the inflammation and stiffness, making the life comfortable. Also, the underlying process leading to such chronic inflammation and the complications can be prevented as well.
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hi!
this priya Jain.
i am having severe back pain which makes me handicap for various things.now a days i feel very weak and find myself unable to do daily work.pain shoots up when i knead dough,roll rotis,stand or sit for long,climbing down stairs,….
my family thinks that i have no pain and its all a drama as i don’t want to work..
i don’t know what i am suffering from as some doctors say i have nothing, some say i have ankylosing spondilitis arthritis, some others name it as disc prob,some others say its due to degenerative vertebrae,some others say its a mental case……………….i am in a fix……can someone please help
these are some of my details:-
sacralisation of l5,
anterior marginal osteophytes noted from l1 to l5,
blood sugar fasting – 75 to 445,
hydroxy vitamin d3 – 3.1,
bp 90/60 to 120 /90
tell me if any other detail/investigation report is required.
pls help
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
@PRIYA,
Only a doctor you can meet in person would be able to make a diagnosis.
The xray report does show spondylotic changes also called degenerative changes.
Disc cannot be visualized in xray.
dear dr. My name is Biju. I am having severe back pain last couples of week. So I have taken x ray it says that “straightening of lumbar spine, likely due to muscle spasm. Narrowing of LS-S1 disc space” can you just tell is it serious or it is commonly showing..why it is coming….can just clear it for me please…help
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
June 9th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@Biju,
Most of degenerative changes occur following over use /misuse/ abuse of the spine.
drugs and physiotherapy should restore you to normalcy.
I’ve back pain. It seems to me as kidney problem. Urine is gone out 10 minutes later on, if water is taken over 2 liter, after 2 hours. Already X-ray Report taken.
They say-
a. Nature of Exam:- X-Ray Lumbo-sacral spine B/V
1. Straightening of lumbar spine is seen.
2. No bony lesion is seen.
3. Disc spaces are maintained.
4. Interpedicular distances are normal.
5. Both SI joints appear normal.
…………………………………………….
Impression: Straightening of lumbar spine (may due to muscle spasm).
b. Nature of Exam:- Plain KUB region.
No radio opaque calculus or abnormal calcification is seen in KUB region.
…………………………………………….
Impression: Normal findings
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
June 9th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
@Ratan Das,
You have beginning of lumbar spondylosis. Ho are you now?
hi doctor!!
i ‘ve consulted many doctors , 1 described as SSA
another 3 said its ASA
another 2 said its RA Factor
another 2 says its mild pain
another 2 said its combination of ASA and RA Factor
another says its just vit. D defficiency !!!
????
i am confused a lot………….pls advice what to do now
bcoz some prescribes to include certain things while others restrict that………
pls help
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 9:14 am
@priya jain,
Please let me know what problems do you have? Let me know the investigations done so far in detail too.
Hello doctor.
I live in Sant Nagar and would like an appointment with you. Could you let me know where your clinic is and when it would be convenient? Please let me know at my email ID. I have been suffering from lower-back pain these past three years and X-rays show I suffer from a straightening of the lumbar spine. I would therefore like to consult with you.
Best Regards,
A
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
August 5th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@A L,
I a sorry for the delay in reply. Where is Sant Nagar? I am currently practicing in Punjab.
hi doctor!!
as you said that “The xray report does show spondylotic changes also called degenerative changes. Disc cannot be visualized in xray.” you may be right but this is it………….
my X-RAY LS SPINE AP/ LAT VIEWS as on 17/08/2009 says that:
Sacralisation of L5 vertebral body noted.
Anterior marginal osteophytes noted from L1 – L5 vertebral bodies.
Disc spaces are normal.
Pedicles, laminae and spinous processes are normal
Bone densty is normal.
Soft tissues are normal.
HLA B27 NEGETIVE
RHEMETOID FACTOR NEGETIVE
MRI OF DORSAL SPINE as on 27/05 06Shows
The dorsal vertebral bodies and inter vertebral discs reveal normal signal intensity. Thee facet joints and the visualized pre and paravertebral soft tissues are unremarkable.
The conus medullaris terminate at L1 level.
Screening of lumbar spine shows STRAIGHTENING of lumbar spine, no other significant abnormality noted.
MRI OF LUMBO-SACRAL SPINE as on 13/11/2007 FINDINGS
The adjoining endplates at L5-S1level shows grade-II degenerative changes . similar altered signalintensity is also noted along the anterior aspects of the upper endplate of L1 and L2 vertebrae.remaining lumbar vertebral bodies appear normal in height,alignment and marrow signal intensity.
At L4-L5 level an insignificant posterior bulge of the disc is seen, however the central spinal canal and neural canals appear spacious.
Facet joints show degenerative changes bilaterally at all the levels.
No abnormal pre or paraspinal soft tisuue signal intensity is seen.
Conus and cauda equina roots display normal MR signal.
MR myelography reveals spacious central canal.
IMPRESSION:-
MR FINDINGS REVEAL DEGENERATIVE ENDPLATE CHANGES AT MULTIPLE LEVELS IN THE LUMBAR SPINE ALONG WITH THE FACET JOINT ARTHROPOLOGY. POSSIBILITY OF UNDERLYING SPONDYLOARTHROPATHY SHOULD BE RULED OUT.
BONE DENSITY as on 17/08/2006 FINDINGS
PERFUSION AND BLOOD POOL imaging shows unremarkable perfusion and blood pool activity in the Lumbo Sacral region.
CORTICAL PHASE: Overall skeletal uptake of tracer is good with nominal soft tissue uptake.
Focally increased tracer uptake seen in posterior calcaneum of both feet(? Achilis tendonitis)
Tracer distribution i n the rest of the skeleton is within normal physiological limits.
Both kidneys are well visualized.
IMPRESSION
LESION MENTIONED ABOVE APPEARS TO BE INFLAMMATORY IN ORIGIN.NO OTHER SKELETAL LESION SEEN.PLEASE CORRELATE CLINICALLY.
CURRENT TESTINGS:-
WBC HIGH
NORMOCYTIC AND MICROCYTIC HYPOCHROMIC ANEMIA WITH MILD ANISOCYTOSIS
RUBELLA IgG DOUBTFUL
RUBELLA IgM EQUIVOCAL
THALESSAEMIA MINOR
ANA NEGATIVE
APTT NORMAL
SGPT NORMAL
CRP POSITIVE
VIT D DEFFICIENCY
ESR 32 – 60
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
August 13th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
@priya jain,
OK. What do you wish to know?
Hello Doctor,
Thank you for your response. Sant Nagar in Delhi. I did not realise you were practising in Punjab. I have been having lower back pain for the last four years or so. Initially it would be in the mornings. After a hot water bath it would recede only to come back next morning. Now it’s kind of chronic pain. When I finally got an x-ray done, it revealed straightening of the lumbar spine. I met an orthopaedist and he gave me a set of exercises to follow. I do them occasionally but don’t have discipline.
That’s the background. My queries are as follows:
Will I have to live with this pain all my life?
Will it get worse?
Is there any chance that it can be permanently cured without a surgical procedure? What can I do?
Is playing badminton a bad idea? What about jogging and basketball?
Rgds,
A L
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 1:03 am
@A L,
Please follow your doctor’s advice. Exercises are mainstay of treatment in chronic backpain. It usually resolves to conservative measures and surrgery is generally not needed.
Hello Doc,
I am 20 years old, X-Ray revealed that I have straightened lumbar spine…hmmm!! I’m worried so much with this result…I’m a nurse…does prolonged standing and sitting can contribute to this condition?
Thank You so much!
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 8:37 am
@John,
Yes! Prolonged sitting could be a factor.
27 year old female auto accident victim with loss of normal lordotic curvature from L-1 to L-5, mild kyphosis in upper lumber spine. also central posterior herniation at L-5-S-1 which is also identified as a focal convexity in the posterior aspect of the disc. MRI ‘s also showed disc bulging at L2-3, L3-4, L4-5 and T7-T8. Have received all types of physical therapy and trigger point injections over past 4 years with no relief. Is any part of this not considered soft tissue injuy? Chief complaint is lower back pain. However no significant leg pain. Are there any types of surgury that would benefit
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@CB,
Yes! there are surgeries available but what would be required in your case would be dtermined by a doctor who sees you.
sir,
i am showing my MRI OF DORSOLUMBER SPINE report which i got yesterdey,plz tell me .Is there any problem.
1)Straightening of spine seen.
2) no singnificant infective and neoplastic seen.
3) Minimal posterior bulge of L4-5 And L5-s1 Disc seen. no significant nerve root and cord signal intensity.
4) Maintained vertebra alignment seen.VERTEBVRAL BODIES ARE NORMAL IN HEIGHT AND MARROW SIGNAL INTENSITY.
5)CANAL DIMENSION IS NORMAL.
6)
CONOUS ENDS AT L1 LEVEL SHOWS NO CONOUS ABNORMALITY.
7)ROOTS OF CAUDA EQUINA ARE SEEN WELL DISPERSED WITHIN THE THECAL SAC.
9)REST OF THE DISC ARE NORMAL IN HEIGHT & MARROW SIGNAL INTENSITY.
Sir plz tell me what is the means of all these points…..i m having prob in my back from last 2 month…
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 7:45 am
@Deepak Raghav,
Your MRI report is almost normal except for straightening of spine which may be the earliest spondylotic change in your body.
Hello Dr!
I am 24 yrs old(female, unmarried). X-Ray shows ”straightening of lumbar spine suggestive of muscle spasm”. what is this? n what should I do?
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@SEHRISH,
Please see a doctor who would prescribe the treatment and suggest exercises.
dear doc.,
i want to know the correct diagnosis of disease, the treatment ,dos and don’ts……….!!
hope this time i don’t have to wait for long….!!
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 7:17 am
As per our policy we do not offer diagnosis and treatment. You would have to consult a physician in person.
I apologize for the previous delays but sometimes they are inevitable.
Dear Doctor,
Good Afternoon!
I am 30 yrs old.
I have got a back pain a year back wen i was driving a bike, i consulted a Ortho-Consultant he suggested me to take rest and suggested me to take NSAIDS.
Then i got cured and i used to get pain often and on apply simple pain killer gels it will disappears.
But a month back i got pain in my back, i have consulted a Ortho specialist after an X-ray he told me that there is Lumbar Lordsis. He prescribed me NSAIDS and simple excercise and walking.
But still the pain has not gone , i cannot concentrate on my work. Some of my friend suggested me to take an MRI.
On self interest i have taken an MRI of Lumbascaral Spine and i didnt consult any doctor after my MRI.
The radiologist impression as follows….
* Early Lumbar Spondylosis with the loss of Lordsis and minimal scolisis with convexity to the left side.
* Minimal Posterior Bulge of L4-L5 Disc.
* No Lytic/Destructive Lesion or Infective/ NEoplastic Process.
*Normal Lumbar Spinal Canal.
* Normal Lower End of the Cord.
Doctors please advise me wat to do, the pain is still off and onn.
Wat type of excercise i have to follow. Is there is any serious problem that i have to consult a dcotor immediately.
Waiting for your advise to have a painless days.
Thanks
Senthil
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
November 19th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
@Senthil,
I with my advice could remove the pains. But the proper and actual path goes to a specialist. You are having degenerative changes in your back and nedd to put on exercises and medication.
And you need to see an orthopedic doctor for that.
All the best.
r/sir i have been told told by my physcian that my lumbar curvature is straightened much worried tell me what should i do now
Dear Dr.
I am a 36 year old female who has had back and neck pain since i was 18 years old i had a new MRI done but dont quite understand the results i was wondering if you could explain them to me better than the printout.
IMPRESSIONS:
1.Straightening of the normal lubar curvature indicates paraspinal muscle spasms.
2. Early degenerativechange in the lumber spine in the form of ligamentum flavum and facet hypertrophu at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 Levels.
3. No focal disc pathology, central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
Please help me understand what all this means. I was told at 18 that my back would always get worse and it has all they are doing is treating me with pain medications and trying physical therapy AGAIN. Im in a tremendous amount of pain daily and its now interfering with 80 percent of my day.
Is surgery my only option? will i have to be on pain meds the rest of my life like the doctors say or is there something else that i can do?
Thank you for your time
Frustrated mother of 3 and wife.
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 7:27 am
@Colette,
In nutshell you have a back which is showing degenerative changes. It includes formation of bone spurs called osteophytes, alteration in curvature of the spine like mentioned at no1.
Good thing is that none of these changes is affecting your neural structures.
Now coming to your back pain.
First thing that you should do is use your back carefully. It means minimum bending and no weight lifting.
Avoid continuous sitting at a stretch for more tha half hour. If you are in a profession that demands constant sitting, take frequent breaks.
Keep your sitting posture straight. Do not slouch.
Start strengthening your back. First under supervision and then yourself. Do your back exercises daily.
Take medication as prescribed. As you strengthen your back, the pains would reduce and so would need for medicine.
I am sure you do not need surgery. At least that is what I can deduce from available info.
Take care.
Sir,
The result of my lumbosacral x-ray shows that:
The lumbar lordosis is still preserved.
There are marginal osteophytic lippings on L3 and L4 vertebrae.
The bone density, alignment and disc spaces are intact.
Conclusion: early lumbar spondylosis.
I want to know the meaning and causes of marginal osteophytic lippings. Also, I hope that I don’t have any straightened lumbar spine. My back pain started all of a sudden and I find it difficult to trace the cause because I have never hit my back on hard surface and I never had any problem with it.
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
March 28th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@Esther,
It is not necessary that an injury should occur to cause the back pain. Our daily routines and back strains over the time can cause this cumulative effect.
You have lumbar spondylosis and that is causing the pain. Lipping is part of this whole process.
One gets better with rest, medication and physiotherapy.
good after noon sir. my age is 21 years. i getting back pain since 1 year. in x ray report “no problem”, in MRI report “strightening of lambar spine”. using L S belt &doing exercise but no releaf. please give me treatment sir.
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 5:21 am
@rambabu,
You would have to visit a doctor in person. As noted in our policy we do not provide the treatment, only knowledge about the condition.
I hope that helps.
hello dr.
I am 38yrs. old female suffering from severe pain in both knees and right hip. It started some 8 yrs. ago with pain in my right knee and pain in right hip developed side by side. doctors took condiserable time to diagnose problem, some said meniscus tear, some called chondromalacia patella others even rule out it. X-rays and MRIs show no visible gap or deformity. The problem wd my right hip has also worsened over the years, now, I have problem wd my lower back also. lower back x-ray showed L5s1 spondylosis but orhtopeadician ruled out the same. I am nearly crippled due to intensity of problems, can’t squat, can’t climb stairs properly, can’t bend with m y back and doctors say nothing serious., I’ve constanct 24/7 pain. I live in mohali, can you suggest me a doctor who can seriously listen to me and examine my problem. I would really be grateful to you. Please help me out
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 8:31 am
@hema sharma,
It is difficult to diagnose a problem from a distance. See a specialist doctor. You might want to try PGI or GMC if you can’t understand whom to consult.