Please Help Me!

I have severe neck and back pain. After years of complaint I finally received an MRI: with the following findings.
C2-C3 through C6-C7 spondylosis is identified superimposed on straightening of the normal cervical lordosis including patial desication of disc substance greatest at the C5-C6 level where there is a mild loss of disc space height.
C2-C3 no disc hernialtions depicted Bilateral mild facet joint degenerative arthropathy
C3-C4 no disc hernialtions depicted Bilateral mild facet joint degenerative arthropathy Mild anterior spondylosis, protrudes into the prevertebral space.
C4-C5 no disc hernialtions depicted There is a mild asymetric left C5 neutral foraminal stenosis secondary to mild uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.
C5-C6 3mm retrolisthesis relative to C6 with a moderate broad based posterior central protrusion with mild inferior angulation resulting in effacement of the dorsal and ventral subarachnoid spaces consistent with a mild to moderate central spinal stenosis w/ assoc. impingement on and deformity of the spinal cord. There is a small focus of increased T2 wighted signal arising in the left paracentral spinal cord just inferior to the level of the stenosis and impingement, representing a non specific signal abnormality, however possibly reflecting focal myelomalacia. There is a bilateral moderate C6 neural foraminal stenosis secondary to changes at the disc level and uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.
C6-C7 broad based central protrusiom w/out spinal cord impingement
C7-T1 no disc hernialtions depicted
Incidental note is made of partial visualizatiom of a shallow T3-T4 right paracentral protrusion w/ possible contact of the right ventral spinal cord and mild sphenpid paranasal sinus mucosal thickening.
I am in debilitating pain, and my Dr will not take me seriously. I need to know what this  MRI actually means, and how to get the proper treatment and pain mgmt!
Please help me!

[rattyrandi]

Your doctor must not be able to read if he/she's not taking you seriously.  Sounds like most of the  trouble lies with the C5/C6/C7 area.  Of course, I'm not a doctor, but my interpretation of this is that you have herniation in the C5,C6 and C7.  You have lost some of the nucleus of your disks in the C5-C6 level (dessication (desiccation)).  It also sounds like the C5-C 6 is bulging out far enough to impinge on the spinal cord.  Where they are talking about foraminal stenosis, I think it means there is a narrowing of the foramen (this could be the vertebral or intervertebral).  The vertebral foramen is the canal which carries your spinal cord and spinal fluid.  The intervertebral foramen are the canals that allow a spinal nerve to go through.  Either way, this would cause a lot of pain I'm sure.  If you haven't gone to a neurosurgeon, now is the time.  My doctor has impressed upon me that surgery will be required if, at any time, my disks start to press of the spinal cord - this can cause serious permanent damage.  I don't know what all of your symptoms are, but bottom line:  you need to get to a specialist who takes you seriously.  Good luck.  

[LizzieDee]

My symptoms are: severe pain in neck, behins shoulder blades, down arm, into fingertips. Tingling in fingers. Sometimes I drop everything I try to pick up. Severe muscle spasms. At times pain down my left buttocks and down my leg. Simetimes numbness in calf area. Also nausea, and headaches, starting at the base of my skull and moving up and around. These headaches cause light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting, which in turn creates more muscle spasm, pain, etc. I am so discouraged from the inability to get proper care. And exhausted from the day to day pain. If anyone has any Dr referalls in the Boston Ma area I would appreciate it. You would think being this close to the best hospitals in the country would make this debacle impossible...apparentmy not.

[Bueller02631]

I have the same exact problem - my right index finger has been totally numb for about 3 years - took 2 MRI's and EMG studies to figure it out. Anyway you asked about a specialist in the Boston area - New England Baptist Hospital specializes in this area.  I am going to see Dr. Erik Carkner on Boylston Street (he is affiliated w/NE Baptist) and is a spine surgeon - i will probably have to have surgery.

Heard nothing but GREAT things about this Doc and NE Baptist