Question Title: MRI Result

I am 39 years old, never broken or sprained anything in my life. I had an MRI done and here is the result. Doctor says try 2 weeks in home traction gadget before considering surgery. I cannot imagine how 2 weeks can make a difference. What do you think?

A straightening and reversal of the curvature consistent with muscle spasm. Body alignment is otherwise normal. The skull base C1-2 relationships are intact. The posterior elements appear intact with no evidence of spondylolistehsis. There is mild degenerative change at the apophyseal joints with slight marginal end plate osteopatic spurs causing impingement upon the anterior subarachnoid space at C3 through C7 levels.

The C2-3 disc is dehydrated and shows moderate bulging but no evidence of protrusion or extrusion. The C3-4 disc shows dehydration and early degenerative change with moderate protrusion and small to moderate central extrusion appearing to cause slight impingement upon the cervical cord but no evidence of cord edma or flattening.

The C4-5 disc is dehydrated and shows early degenerative change with mild midline protrusion but no evidence of extrusion. The C5-6 disc shows moderate protrusion and small to moderate extrusion, mostly in the midline toward the left side causing impingement of the left C5 descending nerve root. The C6-7 disc is dehydrated and shows early degenerative change with mild broad based bulging but no evidence of protrusion or extrusion.

IMPRESSION: Findings consistent with mild protrusions and small to moderate extrusions at C3-4 and C5-6 as described above. Multilevel disc desiccation with early degenerative change, as described above.

I have constant pain from fingers to elbow on left side and am losing grip capability.

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Dear Donna,
The most dramatic finding on this MRI is the reversal of curvature caused
by muscle spasm, the disc findings while the may read as being quite
major are in fact the sort of things which can be seen on the spinal MRI
scans of many people your age.There is evidence only of early degenerative
changes with out marked inpingement on the cord or roots.
I think it is wise to try conservative measures initially and you are in
good hands if your physician did not "charge-in " and try surgery immediately.
This muscle spasm may be causing just enough misalignment to cause you
symtoms and two weeks of traction might help, I suggest you give it your
best shot.

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