MRI report help pretty please :)

[Absc]

MRI report help please

Hi i am a 24 year old female with numbness down left side..I managed to get a copy of my report (after a lot of nagging ) see my gp tomorrow but I need help understanding so I can ask questions

Summary
1) Spondylosis throughout cervical spine
2) broad based posterior disc hernia of c6/7 disc touching the spinal cord and c8 bilaterally

Brain
No significant abnormalities detected

Cervical spine
All intervertebral discs from c2/3 to c6/7 are degenerate with desiccation mormal cervical lordosis has been lost. Changes are slightly more marked  at c6/7 with mild broad based posterior hernia of the disc which  virtually touches spinal cord and c8 nerve roots within the bony canal.

[Londres70]

Uggg...the UK.  I definitely agree with you that you need more answers than just the patronizing responses.  

Well...all I can say is keep trying to encourage your GP to send you to a specialist.  

See if this Physiotherapist has any suggestions as well.  

[Absc]

I'm in uk and we all know what the nhs can be like sometimes. My private medical insurance won't cover anything  until I have been to see a consultant and  my gp won't do that yet :( I just need more answers than "life can be **** sometimes" from my doctor.

[Londres70]

Yes, I was shocked as well why you haven't been referred to a Specialist as well as your Physiotherapist was.  As I stated in my initial post this is NOT common for a 24 year old to be experiencing.  

Do you need your GP to do the referrals?  If you don't know the answer to that question I would recommend you contact your insurance company and find out.  I am not sure what country you live in or what medical system you are dealing with.  

Hey, I would even have the Physiotherapist talk with your GP and recommend a referral to a Specialist.  

[Absc]

Sorry it should of said 6 weeks not months . I phoned the physiotherapist and she was also shocked of my age and was confussed to why im not with a specialist.I didn't realise how uncommon this is for my age. Just a bad roll of the dice I guess :(  how do you go about going to a teaching hospital? Do you need to be refered as its so hard to get anything out of my gp.

[caregiver222]

The answer is not, respectfully, "try pain killers and wait six months".  At least not with a consult from a team at a teaching hospital.  One issue to be determined is whether the condition is progressive. As Londres70 suggested it is an absolute necessity you see a specialist(s) to evaluate the problem and attempt to determine the cause, as this condition is highly unusual for someone your age without some sort of identifiable time and place of injury. This is way beyond the pay grade of a GP. I am a great fan of teaching hospitals. You have one thing in your favor. They like interesting cases and you have one.

[Londres70]

Try his recommendations and see what happens.  I am not sure why the "wait for at least six months" deal was recommended as a GP is NO Spine Specialist or Ortho Specialist or Neuro Specialist.  An expert on such matters SHOULD be consulted.  

[Absc]

Thank you for responding. Yes only 24 :and no injury or fall ( started of with numbness and tingling down left side 2 weeks ago then pain in neck 1 week ago.  went to my gp today who said I need physio and has giving me some pain killers. He won't refer me to anybody he said try this first and wait at least 6 months until he will consider it. Is the this the best way?  

[Londres70]

And you are only 24 with all these issues with your cervical spine?   Have you ever injured your neck in the past?  i.e. car accident or a fall?  Have you done heavy lifting; any heavy lifting in the past (for an occupation)?  Your neck is a mess basically.  

You have a herniated disk at c6/7, your cervical spine is straightening (should have curvature) and from c2/3 to c6/7 your cervical spine is weakening (degeneration).  

I would recommend you consult with an Ortho Specialist who deals MOSTLY with spinal issues/disk issues or a Spine Specialist.  

If you are having alot of symptoms especially pain and weakness, I would recommend you consult a Neuro Specialist; a Neurosurgeon.