Please help me with my MRI report...

After reading my MRI report of my cervical spine, a chiropractor neighbor of mine who I trust somewhat told me he thinks I have a herniated disk. My regular doctor, after reading the report, didn't seem to think anything was really wrong with my neck. I have my doubts about my regular doctor, as a doctor, so I am not really sure who to believe.

I injured my neck about 10 years ago from falling. A year after the fall, I had a MRI done and it showed a minimal bulging disk at C5-6. Over the years, I have had intermittent pain, headaches, etc... I stopped seeing a chiropractor and I started feeling somewhat better. Then, two weeks ago, some lady hit my car and my neck went into major spasm. Major headaches and muscle tightness happened again along with now radiating pain down my arms, arm numbness and tingling/pain in fingers. I just got my MRI results and here they are... any help of what they really mean and what type of doctor to go see next. Thanks...

Impression: Mild degenerative disc disease at C5-6 and minimal disk space narrowing at C6-7. At C5-6, small to moderate diffuse disk protrusion results in effacement of the anterior subarachnoid space, though without court compression. However, this combines with left uncinate hypertrophy resulting in moderate left foraminal narrowing. Small , shallow broad-based disc protrusion at C6-7, though with only minimal effacement of the anterior subarachnoid space.

[mike1105]

your MRI reads pretty mild-----it is possible your pain is not coming from the spine itself but from muscle spasm and tightness which happens often in car accident/whiplah like trauma. i WOULD suggest a good PT. MANY IF NOT MOST PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 30-35 HAVE FINDINGS SIMILAR TO YOURS ON THEIR MRIs

[High Noon]

my suggestion would be to schedule an appointment with a spinal/back surgeon. He/she would be most knowlegable as to the proper course of action. Probably will suggest some physical therapy along with anti-infammatory drugs (mobic/indicin,etc). MRI does not suggest anything near surgery.

good luck