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I have my MRI report for cervical and thoracic and it looks like a whole lot of bulges. I was wondering if this many is typical for normal wear and tear or what? I know it is long sorry. I am in a great deal of pain.

MRI Reports: Cervical

1. There is straightening of the normal Cervical lordosis.

2. C2-3, a mild broad - based disc bulge is appreciated causing minimal effacement of the anterior CSF space.

3.  C3-4 disc space level, a broad based disc bulge is appreciated causing near complete effacement of the anterior CSF space and moderate - to - mildly severe thecal sac stenosis.
The broad-based disc bulge demonstrates lateralization to the RIGHT and LEFT with narrowing and what appears to be encroachment upon the exiting nerve root sheath with possible exiting nerve root compromise as well as possible compression particularly on the RIGHT.

4.  C4-5 level, similar finding are appreciated. A broad-based disc bulge is appreciated with lateralization, RIGHT greater than LEFT. There is associated moderate-to-mildly severe thecal sac stenosis as well as neural foraminal narrowing. Mass effect upon the exiting nerve root sheath on the RIGHT is identified as well as possible compromise and compression.

5.  C5-6 level a broad-based disc bulge is appreciated with near complete effacement of the anterior CSF space and associated severe thecal sac stenosis. The broad-based disc bulge demonstrates laterallization with what appears to be mass effect upon the exiting nerve root sheath on the RIGHT and LEFT, LEFT greater than RIGHT. Exiting nerve root compromise is appreciated on the LEFT as well as possible compression. NOTE, there also appears to be hypertrophy of the posterior longitudinal ligament along the C5 vertebral body.

6.  C6-7 a broad-based disc bulge is appreciated causing near complete effacement of the anterior CSF space and again severe thecal sac stenosis. The broad-based disc bulge demonstrates lateralization to the RIGHT and LEFT with what appears to be resulting mass effect upon the exiting nerve roots. Compromise of the nerve roots on the RIGHT and LEFT with possible compression on the LEFT appreciated.

IMPRESSION:

1. Multilevel degenerative change within the cervical spine as described above. This appears to be most severe at the C6-7 level. There is severe thecal sac stenosis as well as bilateral neural foraminal narrowing and mass effect upon the exiting nerve root sheathes bilaterally with compromise and what appears to be possible compression secondary to lateralization of the disc bulge on the LEFT.
2.  At the C4-5 disc space level, moderate to mildly severe thecal sac stenosis is appreciated as well as exiting nerve root compromise and possible compression on the RIGHT secondary to a broad-based disc bulge.
3.  At the C6-7 level, a broad-based disc bulge is appreciated with resulting severe thecal sac stenosis and lateralization which causes mass effect upon the exiting nerve root sheath, RIGHT greater than LEFT, as well as what appears to be exiting nerve root compromise and possible compression, particularly on the RIGHT.


Thoracic MRI Report

1.  There are ventral impressions made upon the CSF-filled thecal sac at T3-4, T5-6, T6-7, T7-8, T9-10 and to a lesser extent, T10-11.

2.  T3-4 there is a Left paracentral herniated nucleus pulposus producing mass effect upon the anterolateral border of the thecal sac and mild mass effect upon the LEFT neural foramen at this level.

3. T5-6 level there is a milder LEFT lateral disc bulge not producing significant mass effect upon the thecal sac but producing mild mass effect upon the LEFT neural foramen.

4.  T6-7 there is extruded disc material secondary to herniated nucleus pulposus. This produces mass effect upon the anterior border of the CSF-filled thecal sac.

5.  In the midline, the AP dimension of the CSF-filled thecal sac is reduced to approximately 10mm.

6.  T7-8 there is annular disc bulging. The AP dimension of the thecal sac measures approximately 11 mm. There is mild encroachment upon the neural foramina, especially on the LEFT.

7.  T9-10 there is annular disc bulging with an asymmetric LEFT-sided disc protrusion. The AP dimension of thecal sac measures in the midline 12mm, but this decreases rapidly as one moves toward the LEFT. There is neural foraminal encroachment bilaterally.

8.  T11-12 mild annular bulging is seen.

IMPRESSION:
  
1.  There is multilevel degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine with herniated nucleus pulposus as described. These are producing moderate degrees of encroachment upon the neural foramina, especially on the LEFT, and mild degrees of AP dimensional spinal stenosis.

[mike1105]

many findings on your MRI report. please describe your age, weight, your occupation, and especially your pain. any numbness or weakness?

[agent99]

My age is 48 female, weight is 270 and occupation is 13 years at a clerical position. I have pain so bad in my left arm elbow area, left shoulder back and front area. Numbness in left  thumb, pointer, index finger. I did lose my muscle in the triceps. My doc is checking back in 2 weeks to see if I get that back.  My neck in the back hurts and I have a hard time turning my neck.I alternate a heating pad from my neck to my arm so I can at least get around 4 hours of sleep. The pain is so bad it pulls me out of my sleep to take 2 percocets and I watch a little tv and wait for it to kick in and then I try to lay down and get a few more hours of sleep before I get ready for work. I have only missed 2 weeks of work since this has been going on. But I don't know how much longer I can keep doing it.
I have not been able to lay on my back flat since May without hollaring. I can only sleep on my right side. My neuro has had me on methylprednosolone for the past week and I thought I was getting better until the medicine run out Friday night. Now I am back up hurting every 4 hours again. I have to take 2 percocets every 4 hours to even deal with the pain.  Most times it just eases it and it doesn't make it go away 100 per cent.

Thanks for any info you all can give me back. This is really scaring me, I am scared I might be in a wheel chair or lose use of my arms or not be able to get up one day.

[mike1105]

i believe you may have UPPER CROSSED SYNDROME. It is quite common and almost always misdiagnosed. You get it from poor posture --rounded back and forward head. I have posted on this syndrome many times before so if you search thru the site a bit you will find it.  The fix involves PROPER exercise and stretching (tight muscles of the neck and chest area and steengtheneong the weak muscles of the mid back and scapular stabilizers. Yopu probably (considering your weight) also have a forward tilt to your pelvis that needs correction. this is done by by strengtheneing your core and strengthening your hip flexors. Then there is the issue of your weight. You may get SOME relief by doing the proper upper body exercises and stretches, but even with a decent core you are taxing it with all that extra weight.
Yes there are many MRI findings, and indeed it is possible that you have a pinched nerve in the spine that is causing pain, but unless a surgeon or neurologist can be absolutely sure, I'd be hesitant to do surgery unless as a last resort-- which to me means you have lost over 100 lbs and have tried the PROPER physical therapy for a long time. Drugs are not an answer-- and there are for sure no guarantees with surgery. IF you can get your body to behave and look like God intended, you cant NOT get beeter.

[KimistryClass]

Im 44yr old white female. Unemployed by choice after spending 14yrs in airforce. I raise a lil boy and take care of grandbaby while my daughter is in iraq. I had a simple (what i thought was ) diskectomy done. I was then diagnosed with MS, due to neurogenic bladder yaddo......
Prayed about it, got a new doctor and wala........come to find out i have severe neural encroachement on the foramne (root nerves)...he has some neuro experience as well as chiro and bone degrees. He totally feileved my pain in 1 visit (neck area/arm/shoulder). He showed me how the metal plate was laying on the root nerves, but unfortunately not just the plate but the bones now. So he will be putting me in hospital to give epidural numbing shots, even says it will give me back my bladder, which thru prayer i had gotten to where i dont have to self cath anymore. He also explained my right sided headache: IMPORTANT: pinched nerves can do crazy things to ur body and even ur memory.

One thing has me stumped tho. If i fall asleep sitting up,,,when i wake up all of my joints are frozen..........for like 5 minutes. I dont mean stiff, i  mean unable to move them until about 5 minutes. Anyone heard of this?


Also,,,,,does anyone know why when a person has spinal probs the pain increases when laying down? is it becuz its pressing on the spine itself?

thanks,
kim