07/15/2026
Lumbar Spine MRI Day ✅️
Today was one of those reminders that living with chronic illness isn't just about the diagnosis, it's about navigating the system.
I arrived at 5:30 a.m. for my 6:00 a.m. lumbar MRI, only to realize my Medtronic spinal cord stimulator ID cards were in my other purse. Since I had to have my MRI at the hospital instead of my spine clinic (their MRI is a stronger Tesla unit that isn't appropriate for my stimulators), the team wanted to verify every detail before moving forward. They did admit that this should have been done on the phone intake prior.
Unfortunately, Medtronic's spinal cord division wasn't open yet, so we waited. I pulled up my records through MyChart and shared everything I could, but the MRI technologist still wanted confirmation directly from Medtronic. Honestly, I can't fault him for that. He explained he wanted to make sure everything was documented correctly and, more importantly, that I was safe. As frustrating as the delay was, I'd much rather have a provider who double-checks than one who guesses.
By a little after 7:00 a.m., we finally reached Medtronic, confirmed my device, placed both stimulators into MRI mode, and completed the scan safely.
As for the results, there was some reassuring news. My lumbar MRI did not show significant spinal canal narrowing or nerve compression, and my previous L4-L5 findings appear relatively stable. That doesn't fully explain the symptoms I've been experiencing, but it does help narrow the search.
One finding that stood out was a prominent disc osteophyte complex at T11-T12. Because this was only partially visible on the lumbar MRI, the radiologist specifically recommended a thoracic MRI for better evaluation. Considering my long history of thoracic spine issues, that's likely where this investigation heads next.
One test rarely provides every answer, but every step helps complete the puzzle. Today ruled out some possibilities, highlighted another area that deserves a closer look, and reminded me that good medicine sometimes means taking a little extra time to do things safely.
Now, we wait for the next call. 💜
