MRI CERVICAL SPINE

[rhonda969]

I am a 41-year-old female.  I recently had an MRI of the cervical spine.  I am trying to understand the results.  The Impression is as follows:

"Cervical spondylosis, with abnormality at multiple levels. This includes moderate spinal stenosis at C5-C6. Borderline spinal stenosis is identified at C6-C7. Neural foraminal changes are noted bilaterally at multiple levels as detailed above, most significant at C5-C6."

What does this mean exactly?

[rhonda969]

Thank you again for this helpful information. Your input is very much appreciated.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

One approach that may help you is enrollment in a chronic pain program which attempts to use a variety of medications and non-pharmacologic measures like temperature therapy (hot or cold packs), stretching and controlled physical therapy and  muscle relaxants to control your pain and at least make it bearable to help you function. Other medications that can be used for neuropathic pain (pain coming from nerves, which may partially be caused by the arthritis and other spine problems) combined with fibromyalgia pain, can be treated with such medications as neurontin and lyrica, and also medications such as elavil which is an antidepressant but has been found to be helpful with neuropathic pain also.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[rhonda969]

Thank you for this information.  Is Spondylosis the same as osteoarthritis?  Also, I have had a microdiscectomy at L5-S1 in 2009 for a pinched nerve...I have been told that surgery to the spine can cause problems elsewhere in the spine.  So if surgery is required, does that make it more of a risk?  I was hesitant to have the surgery to my lumbar spine.  But I am even more terrified to have surgery to the  cervical spine.  I do have pain every single day.  Mostly at night.  I also have pain, numbness and tingling down my left arm.  I can do very little before I can't do anymore.  I am allergic to most pain meds, but I can take Vicoden.  However, I don't want the addiction, so I try to just take Motrin.  I am also seeking alternative (non-narcotic) relief for the pain.
Again, thank you so much for this information.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The report states that there is narrowing of the spinal canal at the cervical level (neck region). The cervical spine extends from C1-C7 and narrowing is visible at multiple levels more pronounced at the C5-C6. Neural foramina are the openings where the nerves come out from the spinal canal. If there is narrowing of these openings it can compress on the nerve and cause symptoms like pain or weakness of the part innervated by the nerve. The compression needs to be removed for the symptoms to resolve.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.