Anybody on here good at deciphering scan jargon please?

[Angelsmummy]

Morning everybody,I am pretty sure there are a couple of you that know a bit about anatomy!A long standing problem of mine has been neck problems,,dr ordered a scan but I opted for private because of the wait and the awful discomfort I am in Doc said not much on the scan that gives him concern but would like to know if this is the reason for my symptoms that mimic GCA pain?Slight loss of normal cervical lordosis.Small osteophytic disc bars at C4 C5. C5 C6 and C6 C7.Disc bars contact the anterior cord in places but no cord compression.Mild foraminal narrowing on left at C5 and C6 but no nerve impingement…..When I am sitting it feels as if my head is far too heavy for my body,when laying down I cannot stand pressure on back of neck hence side sleeping.Any suggestions welcome please!xx🌼😜

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"Slight loss of normal cervical lordosis" - the normal curvature in your neck region is straightened

"Small osteophytic disc bars at C4 C5. C5 C6 and C6 C7.Disc bars contact the anterior cord in places but no cord compression"

"Disc Degeneration with Osteophyte Formation is a condition that may affect the spine. Osteophytes, or spurs, form on the spine, and are signs of degeneration in the spine. This is commonly referred to as arthritis. Osteophytes usually limit joint movement and typically cause pain.

In most cases, the spurs are not the source of back pain, but instead are the common symptom of a deeper problem. However, bone spurs on the spine can impinge on nerves that affect other parts of the body."

In some cases the osteophytes/spurs can actually squash the spinal cord and lead to spinal sternosis but that isn't present on your case.

"Mild foraminal narrowing on left at C5 and C6 but no nerve impingement" - this is narrowing of the canals where the nerves to the body leave the spinal cord but it is only slight and the nerves aren't being squashed.

Basically - you have an ageing spine like all of us and it is letting you know. This is a good article with pictures showing what is probably going on.

totalhealth.co.uk/clinical-...

I don't THINK anything there is likely to mimic GCA though it is difficult to say. That can be due to the arteries in your neck being squashed and narrowed so blood flow is restricted but if they weren't asked to look at that, they may not have found it. Do you have dizzy spells? Especially if you turn your head suddenly? Though neck problems like that can also lead to muscle tightness and that can squash the arteries too I suppose.

[Angelsmummy in reply to PMRpro]

Cheers PRO,don’t get dizziness through that,just if I work too fast( reminder to oneself must slow down!)Nothing major as suggested but oh so painful as I said when sitting and laying slightly propped up on sofa to watch tV.The pain goes up into sides of head and sometimes get tingling and ear painwhich worried me which is why I asked for a scan.As you say,ageing,but painful ageing,just like many others on here !Hope your weather is better than ours..Damp ,drizzly but quite mild really for Dec. 1st.Many thanks.xx💐😜💦

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Angelsmummy]

That sounds as it it COULD be a trapped nerve - due to muscles and position. Are your shoulder muscles hard?

It is utterly glorious - not a cloud in the sky which is very blue so uninterrupted sunshine. Minus 8C first thing, still below freezing but will be lovely in the sun so I shall go for an icecream later 🍧🍨 That makes me go out for a walk to get the train to the nearest stop ...

[Angelsmummy in reply to PMRpro]

Started a reply and the I pad ate it!Ice cream.,.,.,😱The thought makes me shudder,hot tea for me!Yeh,shoulder muscles hard and it doesn’t take much to make them hurt.Normally lay on sofa with wheat bag in centre of neck to help with the pain.Do you reckon I should see osteopath and see if it would be of any help?I do my normal exercises of a morning and evening and one of them is turning head to left shoulder and then right and holding for a while,,plus chin to chest.Am I aggraving it? Enjoy your walk and train ride,LOVE watching Michael Portillo on his train journeys!xxx💐😜

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Angelsmummy]

Might do - you can't exercise muscles that are in spasm. Mine are now happy muscles - I can't carry a bag on my shoulder any more, it just slips off!!! My shoulders used to be up round my ears ...

If the village pizzeria weren't closed for their pre-Christmas break I'd be sitting in the sun in the village with a prosecco ... They provide blankets and with a winter coat it is fine in the sun.

[Angelsmummy in reply to PMRpro]

Love the idea of a Prosecco,that is on my Xmas list,forgot the last time I had a drink!I cannot believe just how much whiskey I downed in the days before diagnosis of GCA,just to help a little with the awful pain that went on and on!Surprised my liver didn’t do cartwheels!Right,sounds like a plan,shall see if I can see about getting an appointment to see if neck can be sorted.!Many thanks again PRO,enjoy your outing!xxx💐💐😜🍨🍨🍦🍨🍾🍾🍾

[powerwalk]

Oh hope you can get some relief. As someone who had very severe neck pain for years i know what its like. I was injected with steroids every few months. Funnily enough when i was put on my PMR steroids it went and never came back. Touch wood!!!! Its probably the only bit of me not paining now🤨. Best of luck .

[Angelsmummy in reply to powerwalk]

Cheers Powerwalk,it is a pain in the butt I don’t mind telling you!Everything I do aggravates it!Short of cutting my head and neck off,think the pain will go on and on and on…..Feel as if my head weighs a ton!Still,when I think of poor pixix and the poor lady now wearing a corset ( sorry her name eludes me,pred brain.,! I really should count my blessings eh?OA everywhere,don’t even think a dog would like my bones!xxxx🦴🦴🦴🦴!So sorry to hear about all of your pain,horrid ain’t it?Lucky you that the pred eased your neck!Have found that the lower I get on the pred the nasty old OA gets worse., !xxx🌼😜🤬🙄

[powerwalk in reply to Angelsmummy]

Do let us know how it goes. Xx

[Angelsmummy in reply to powerwalk]

Cheers,will do,MORE MONEY,am wishing for Santa to bring me a money tree for Xmas!In one hand and out the next!xxx🌼😜😱🎄🎄🎄

[Confused01]

Hi,

cervical loss of lourdosis…

‘ the neck's natural inward C-shaped curvature is lost, causing the cervical spine to become unnaturally straight and introducing adverse spinal tension.’

I have this, severely, dead straight neck, but now with a lot of other spine issues too.

This puts a lot of extra downward pressure on your spine (your head being very heavy and forces weight down) and will less or no cervical neck spine curve to take the weight pressure, it causes pain and possibly further lower spine issues over time.

I now have a two way curved thoracic spine, quite possibly as a result of severe loss of cervical lourdosis.

I would also push for thoracic spine mri (and always with contrast as much clearer pictures) to check if any further damage/issue.

Physio cannot fix a loss of cure in the spine but would have to be very bad to consider other treatments.

X

[Angelsmummy in reply to Confused01]

Many thanks Confused,you know your stuff don’t you?Perhaps I will have a word with doc in New Year to see what he says.Cant keep forking out for private scans!I have lower back problems was offered an op for SI problems ,compression etc which I turned down ,waiting for jabs instead.Guess as PMRpro said “ ageing spine”Hope you keep well,and thanks again for your help.xx💐😜

[Confused01 in reply to Angelsmummy]

Your welcome.

Agree, private scans are expensive. Push your gp, MRI’s aren’t usually taking as long as consultants appointments (nhs).

Perhaps your cervical and lumbar would be best discussed again with whoever suggested lumbar surgery. Must be nasty lumbar to be offered surgery.

Meanwhile..sleeping and your neck. I use a plump feather pillow which I push into shape until my head is central and pillow sides upwards to my face. This gives my neck stability and support and comfort as no curve. Of course it rarely stays in place all night 🙄

[Angelsmummy in reply to Confused01]

Here goes about back scan.,multi level moderate degenerative discs and facet jointsL3 4 far right lateral disc bulge displacing rightL3 nerve.L4 5left facet joint degenerative change and disc fragment causing left lateral recess narrowing.Displacement of left L5 nerve.L5 SI asymmetric posterior elements with severe degenerative change,right foramen narrowing.Not as bad as lots of you no doubt but painful!Regarding pillow,Inuse a butterfly pillow that cradles neck all I can use.Oh,the joys of getting old eh??🤣🤣🌼😜🎄😱