Have you ever looked at your MRI report and had no idea what all those medical terms meant?
We explain some of the most common medical diagnosis terms, like disc bulge, disc protrusion, spinal stenosis, nerve root compression, and degenerative disc disease in simple, everyday language.
Understanding your MRI report can make it easier to have informed conversations with your healthcare provider.
Lumbar radiculopathy
Lumbar radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the lower back becomes irritated or compressed.
It can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels from the lower back into the buttock, hip, thigh, leg, or foot.
Cervical radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy is the clinical description of when a nerve root in the cervical spine becomes inflamed or damaged, resulting in a change in neurological function.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition where one vertebra slips forward over the vertebra below it, which can cause back pain or nerve compression.
Posterolateral Disc Herniation
A posterolateral disc herniation occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc protrudes backward and slightly to the side, frequently compressing an adjacent nerve root and causing pain, numbness, or weakness down the affected path.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space within the spine, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through it.
Lumbar Facet Joint
The lumbar facet joints are small joints located at the back of the spine that connect adjacent vertebrae.
Cervical Disc Herniation
A cervical disc herniation occurs when the soft inner material of an intervertebral disc in the neck protrudes or leaks through its outer layer, potentially irritating or compressing a nearby cervical nerve root.
Sciatica
Sciatica describes pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or its contributing nerve roots, usually in the lower back. It typically affects one side and can travel from the lower back or buttock down the leg.
Spinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure that permanently connects two or more vertebrae in the spine to eliminate motion between them.
Disc Replacement Surgery
Disc replacement surgery is a procedure that replaces a damaged or degenerated spinal disc with an artificial implant designed to relieve pain while maintaining natural flexibility and motion in the spine.
Should I get Spinal Fusion or Artificial Disc Replacement?
Motion preserving disc replacement surgery is always the best option instead of fusing the vertebrae if possible.
According to top spine surgeon Dr. Karsten Ritter-Lang, If you are suffering from chronic back or neck pain caused by damaged spinal discs it is likely that minimally invasive procedures like discectomy, laminectomy or discseel will only delay the need for surgery.
These delays can interfere with and eliminate you as a candidate for Disc Replacement Surgery in the future and leave you with spinal fusion as your only option.
You may have a spinal disc problem, such as a torn or damaged disc.
Torn spinal discs can progress into degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated discs, sciatica, or numbness in the legs and feet.
Where can I get more information about disc replacement surgery?
For Dedicated Patient Portals & Remote MRI Reviews go to betterdiscreplacement.com
Where can I get more information about the top disc replacement surgeon Dr. Ritter-Lang?
Because a significant portion of Dr. Ritter-Lang’s patient base travels internationally for total disc replacement (TDR), his team maintains dedicated international educational and consultation portals:
Better Disc Replacement: betterdiscreplacement.com
Features: Detailed background on multi-level cervical and lumbar disc replacement techniques, patient case studies, and comprehensive guides comparing motion preservation against fusion.
Professional Background & Credentials
Clinical Focus: Over 30 years specializing in intervertebral disc prosthetics, complex multi-level reconstructions, and anterior/abdominal approaches to the spine.
Surgical Experience: Has completed thousands of motion-preserving spine procedures utilizing advanced implants such as M6-C, M6-L, ProDisc, and Mobi-C.
Early Foundations: Trained under Prof. Kurt Schellnack and Dr. Karin Büttner-Janz at Charité University Hospital in Berlin—the research team credited with developing the original Charité artificial disc.
People go to Germany for back surgery primarily to access advanced motion-preserving procedures, artificial disc replacements, and dynamic stabilization systems that may be newer, less restrictive, or harder to find in North America.
Where can I learn about the best alternatives to spinal fusion and disc replacement surgery?
The surgeons at
BetterDiscReplacement.com have the experience and the skills required for complex multi-level lumbar and cervical disc replacement surgeries and other advanced spine solutions.
“Advanced disc replacement implants have allowed us to achieve a success rate of 99%”