MRI report terms
Everyday explanations of the words radiologists use — foraminal narrowing, Modic changes, Pfirrmann grading, and more.
Browse MRI terms
Spine and MRI education
Plain-language answers to spine MRI questions.
Surgeon-written guides to MRI terminology, spine conditions, and treatment options — so you can understand what the words on your report actually mean.
Where to start
Three ways in, depending on what you're trying to figure out.
Conditions
Surgeon-written guides on disc herniation, spinal stenosis, sciatica, cervical radiculopathy, and other common diagnoses.
Browse conditionsTreatments
What patients should know about physical therapy, injections, microdiscectomy, fusion, disc replacement, and how surgeons think about choosing between them.
Browse treatmentsWhy MRI reports are so hard to read
Spine MRI reports are written for doctors, not patients. They often contain terms like foraminal narrowing, disc protrusion, stenosis, Modic changes, and nerve impingement — but the report usually does not explain which findings matter, which are common age-related changes, or how they relate to your symptoms.
SpineClarity translates those terms so you can understand your report and walk into your appointment ready to ask better questions.
If you want help applying this information to your own MRI report and symptoms, SpineClarity also offers a written MRI Review.
The written MRI review
Want this applied to your own report?
Dr. Ohiorhenuan personally reads your MRI report and your symptom story, then writes you a plain-English review — what each finding means, whether it may line up with your symptoms, and what's reasonable to discuss with your own doctor.
A named neurosurgeon, not a service
Every review is written personally by Dr. Ifije Ohiorhenuan, MD, PhD — board-certified, fellowship-trained, University of Kansas. Not a chatbot, and not an anonymous panel.
Independent by design
A flat fee and a written deliverable. No procedure to sell, no sales call afterward. It prepares you for your appointments — it doesn't replace them.
$299 · within 72 hours
A written PDF review with your specific questions answered, delivered within 72 hours — wherever you live.
Comparing options? See what a spine MRI second opinion costs in 2026 →
A finding only matters if it matches the patient
An MRI describes anatomy — it doesn't prove what's causing pain. These guides explain how spine surgeons weigh imaging against symptoms and exam, the context that's usually missing from patient information online.
- Level Level matters. A finding at L4–L5 affects different nerves than the same finding at L5–S1.
- Side Side matters. A right-sided finding rarely explains left-sided symptoms, and vice versa.
- Symptoms Symptoms and exam matter. Imaging is one input. The pattern of pain, weakness, or numbness is another.
"Almost every spine MRI past a certain age shows something. What I actually care about is which finding, if any, explains what the patient is feeling."
About the author
Written by a spine neurosurgeon
Ifije Ohiorhenuan, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery and complex spine conditions.
SpineClarity is designed to help patients understand the language of spine MRI reports before or after a clinical visit. It does not replace evaluation by a physician.
Board-certified
Fellowship-trained
Academic spine surgeon
Questions or feedback? Email contact@spineclarity.com.
More about Dr. Ohiorhenuan and how to verify his credentials →
Written MRI review
For a personalized, plain-English review of your own MRI report and symptoms — written personally by Dr. Ohiorhenuan and delivered within 72 hours — see the written MRI review ($299).
Learn more about the MRI review →Common questions
Who is SpineClarity for?
Patients with neck or back symptoms, patients who have just received an MRI report, and family members trying to make sense of one. The articles are written for non-specialists and assume no medical background.
Will the articles tell me what is wrong with me?
No. The articles explain what terms and findings mean in general, not what they mean for your specific case. Imaging findings only have meaning in the context of an in-person history and exam.
Does using SpineClarity replace seeing a doctor?
No. It is meant to help you prepare for a clinical visit and ask sharper questions. SpineClarity does not diagnose or treat.
When are spine symptoms urgent?
Some symptoms need urgent evaluation regardless of what an MRI report says: new weakness in the legs or arms, loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or saddle area, fever with severe spine pain, recent major trauma, or rapidly worsening neurologic symptoms. If you have any of these, seek emergency care.
Do you offer a paid service?
Yes — the written MRI review. Dr. Ohiorhenuan personally reviews your MRI report and symptoms and writes you a plain-English report within 72 hours. It costs $299.