herniated disc in cerical spine

[shelly1294]

I see a Neurosurgeon next month. I received a copy of my MRI results today and do not understand some of the terms. I have been in terrible, unrelenting pain for 6 wks.

There is mild to moderate uncovertebral hypertrophy present at the C2-3 level tha results in mild to moderate left lateral recess impingement.
There is also the anterior and posterolateral extradural defect at the C3-4 level from moderate to fairly marked uncovertebral hypertrophy and probable posterior left lateral osteophytic lipping/disc complex. This results in marked left lateral recess impingement and slght impingement at the left ventral aspect of the cord. This also results in moderate foraminal impingement. There is no cord edema.

There is a mild broad-based posterior osteophytic lipping/disc complex at the C4-5 level with mild right uncovertebral hypertrophy resulting in moderate right foraminal impingement.

the C5-6 is unremarkable

A fairly large posterior right paramedian framinal extradural defect is present at the C6-7 level consistent with a large disc protrusion/herniation. this fills the right lateral recess and neural forament and results in mild impingement on the right ventral aspect of the cord. there is no evidence of cord edema. this measures approx 8mm.

C7-T1 level is unremarkable

the bone marrow signal and signal of the cord is unremarkable

Impression: degenerative changes as described, most notably with a large posterior right paramedian and foraminal disc protrusion/herniation at the C6-7 level and posterior left lateral osteophytic lipping and uncovertebral hypertrophy at the C3-4 level.

I dont know what this means

[caregiver222]

You have a right to know where my opinions come from. Decades ago I suffered severe disc injury, cervical and lumbar and was a day away from a spinal fusion (they said a laminectomy wouldn't work - and they scared the life out of me because they told me I had to have the procedure immediately or risk quadraplegia) when fortunately, I ended up in the hands of an unusual French physician who was a pain specialist. The good news is I never had to have the surgury. The bad news is the pain never goes completely away and comes back every so often. Now I am not against surgical procedures - and sometimes they are the only method that can relieve the nerve pressure...but I believe that there are often alternatives...and they should all be explored.

[caregiver222]

Bmdad has explained things nicely. I see you are going to see a neurosurgeon. He will undoubtedly suggest...surgury. In all cases such as yours, before the knife and chisel. You should have been on a program of intermittant axial traction, hydration and antinflammatories as of yesterday. NOT a cervical collar, which is contraindicated, although it is a favorite of the head witch-doctor in the village of Mubkuts-ulu in Nigeria. A cervical collar invariably causes loss of muscle tone. If your physician has not suggested axial traction, ask him how many boxtops he sent in for his medical degree.  An operation may, in fact, be necessary, but the drill should be to FIRST choose the least invasive protocol. The pain from such injuries can be so severe that you want to "eat the gun". In Europe ozone is sometimes injected into the area around the disc as an alternative to slicing and dicing.  You have my sympathies.

[bmdad]

I had the same problem when receiving my mri results for my back. When you have your next appointment tell your doctor to explain everything in layman's terms. They are extremely difficult to understand! One thing I can comment on is the herniated disc. Your discs are pretty much cushioning devices that are between each vertebrate. They keep the vertebrates from rubbing together and to cushion them. When one becomes herniated it somewhat slips out. Think of it as a balloon that is not blown up. Then think of the balloon getting once breath of air blown in to it. That balloon or disc is now protruding out a bit which is probably hitting a nerve which in turn can cause pain shooting to your extremities. I ended up having to have surgery to have the disc that was herniated cut off.
I'm sorry I couldn't help with hardly any of the other areas but thought I would share with you what my neurosurgeon explained to me about my herniated disc. Some of the other stuff sounds a bit familiar but I do not remember how it was explained to me. I wish you the best of luck and hope you are not in too much pain!