What does my MRI impression tell you?

[Firestarter26]

Impression seems so right yet so wrong

The doc says a little bit of arthritis

Im in agony all the time

any one have a different opinion ?

Im 36 years old _ my infuries occured in 2000

MRI SPINE CERVICAL WO CONTRAST 72141, Jan 28, 2014 08:32:30 AM

MRI of the cervical spine: 1/20/2014.

History: Headaches. Hemicranial continua. Bilateral neck pain. Left

upper extremity radiculopathy.

Technique: MRI of the cervical spine.

Comparison: Radiographs dated 10/4/2008.

Findings:

C2-C3: Normal.

C3-C4: Normal.

C4-C5: Slight bulge and spurring at most slightly flattens the thecal

sac. This is eccentric to the right. The right ventral surface of the

spinal cord is touched and it may be minimally posteriorly displaced

although is not flattened. The neuroforamen are patent.

C5-C6: There is moderate loss of disc height and disc signal. There is

a disc bulge and spurring. Overall there is at least moderate and

possibly severe narrowing of the right neuroforamen with at least

moderate narrowing of the left neuroforamen. The central canal is

only mild to moderately effaced.

C6-C7: There is disc disease with spurring and a bulge eccentric to

the left with possibly a left paracentral protrusion. These changes

plus facet hypertrophy are causing no more than moderate central canal

and left neuroforaminal narrowing. The left ventral surface of the

spinal cord is touched and is displaced without definitely being

flattened.

C7-T1: Essentially normal. There is no acute bony abnormality. There

is at most mild straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. The

spinal cord is in normal position, signal and caliber. No definite

posterior fossa or paraspinal abnormality is appreciated.

IMPRESSION:

Fairly mild multilevel spondylosis as better described above. The

overall greatest mass effect is likely upon the right C5-C6

neuroforamen which have at least moderately narrowed. However, given

the left-sided symptomatology, the greatest left-sided mass effect is

likely at C6-C7 where there is spurring and a bulge in the left which

is causing at least moderate narrowing of the left neuroforamen. Given

these findings, the main correlation would likely would be the left C7

radiculopathy.

[Hidden]

From what I can understand your C4/5 disc is out of place and is pressing on and moving your spinal column nerves out of place.

C5/6 disc has lost some height and the spinal column is narrower here. This disc is touching the nerve column but has not moved it out of place.

Both have slight abnormal bone formation.

The impression is gobbldeegook and diffgicult to understand but here goes.

He is saying that there is a bit of spondylodis (abnormal curve of the spine - very common, though usually at shoulder level).

The right C5/6 foramen is slighly narrowed.

Your symptons are on the left, the C6/7 is probably causing it because there is a spur (like a bony wart) and disc bulging causing the neuroforamen to narrow.

In simple language a couple of discs are bulging and touching the nerves, and you have an abnormal boney growth on one of the vertebrae. Worse on the left. There is also abnormal curving of the spine (which may be a result of all this happening).

I have the same problems but in my lower spine. I got them manipulated back into place by a chiro. Absolute agony during the treatment process but worth it long term, as he treated my whole body. I then explored other alternative therapies too to keep my body mobile.

Hope this helps.

[Calceolaria]

Who interpreted the scan results with you? Your gp?

[Heorte]

There can be gross under estimation of cause and effect when interpreting scans. Often, they are only looking at damage that can be surgically corrected and anything else is below consideration. My spine problems started in my thirties and kept being off handed until everything fell apart at once. Have you had DDD suggested ad a complication of the trauma? Also, no one has mentioned the effects of inflammation around the spinal column and nerve roots. Also, arthritis aggravates bone/scar areas so prevention is essential.

Personally I would be extremely hesitant to accept surgery as there will always be additional effects buyt zanna suggestions good _ as are my drugs

[Hidden]

If you are considering surgery, read up on here about other peoples surgery experiences. It's not always the perfect solution. And ask the surgeon about the success/failure ratio, and why they failed and how that relates to you. Then ask what happens after failure. This is what you need to know, not that Mr Smith was unable to walk but can now play tennis while riding a bike.

Having worked in the NHS, I believe surgery should always be the last resort unless you have something life threatening.

Also look at what other contries are doing for your condition. It may be that their specialists are more advanced, or their procedures have significantly less failure rates. Or they may have different solutions that work.