Degenerative disc disease C5-6

[beachgirl44]

I am 44 and had a MRI 4 years ago. I would like to understand what the findings actually mean as I recently applied for a new insurance policy and they will not cover for the life of the policy anything having to do with my cervical spine. Findings: C5-6 intervertebral disc is narrowed. There is approximately 2mm of retrolisthesis of C5 on C6. There is mild posterior spurring of the endplates. There is associated slight bony narrowing of the right C5-6 neural foramen.
Is this that bad? I do not have and have never had severe neck pain. Sometimes a stiff neck - if I sleep with too many pillows or I strain it in exercise class. Don't have any numbness or tingling. Is this going to keep getting worse as I get older? How bad could this get?

[Kimnall123]

Well where to start Around 5/23 I had pain in my right shoulder where I felt like I was carrying around another human being on my shoulder all while at work and home I started to have muscle spasms going up and down my right shoulder and arm  I went to my doctor and they said I may have pulled a muscle given ibuprofen and muscle relaxer and vicodin that didn't work most time it just made me high went back to doctor cause meds didn't work he gave me more meds eventually I when to er cause pain got so bad I had a regular X-ray and they told me I had mild arthritis I tried to just deal with it but I'm a medical assistant and a hair stylist so I went back to a different doc and she order a different type of X-ray with a MRI . X-ray showed mild degenerative arthritis in neck and upper back and the MRI showed  c-3 c-4 mild spurring of joint and mild annular bulge slightly indenting the anterior cervical cord and c4 c5 small posterocentral disk protrusion  and c5 c-6 grade1 retrolisthesis secondary to  degenerative disk disease And c6. C7 mild grade 1 retrolisthesis secondary degenrative disk disease going to see doc cause after I was told this it made pain worst how do I sleep can I still work out I don't no how this happen I haven't had a injury to either area please tell me , now I no why med didn't work in pain from 5/23 til now sometime I wish I didn't no this at all

[canadianpride]

Well you are not alone. I have been diagnosed with L5-S1 degenative disc disease with severe arthritis and c5-6 degenerative disc disease as well. I have a specialist apointment tomorrow and should find out more information then. I am so very sorry you have been rejected for insurance. There has got to be another way. I will say a prayer for you!! I was wondering and thought aching in my back and sometimes neck was stress but now wonder.  Feel free to let me know how it goes!!

Aaron