Help with x-ray results

I have been in sevre neck pain on and off for several years. My most recent attack left me unable to move my neck in any direction.  My primary care doctor ordered a Cervical Spine X-Ray. The report states that thee AP projection shows dextoscoliosis, and the lateral projection shows reversed lordosis.  It also states that there is degenerative disc findings with reactive endplate spurs at c4-c5 and c5-c6. What does all this mean?Should I be pushing him to send me to a specialist for further evaluation.  Thanks for you help.

[star queen]

Yes, you should see a specialist.  See about getting a referral to an orthopedic neurosurgeon who specializes in spinal injuries. In normal anatomy of the neck or cervical spine, you have 7 spinal segements or vertebra called C-1, C-2----C-7.  C-1 or the first cervical vertebra is the one that holds the head onto the spine and is way up around your ear.  C-7 is the lowest of the cervical vertebra and is the large bump on your back at the shoulder level of your neck.  When looking at a person from the front, the cervical spine will appear straight.  The xray view for this is the AP or anterio-posterior (front to back) view.  This simply means that the xray beam entered your body from the front and exited at the back to enteract with the xray film.  Nothing to worry about here, it just identifies the view taken.  On the xray, your cervical spine does not appear straight, but instead curves to one side creating a kink in the spine  This kink can be a slight bulge or a spiral twisting of the spine.  This is called dextoscoliosis. Degenerative disc findings means that there are age-related changes to the bone. This finding may be "normal" or may be problematic.  Endplate spurs occur as a person ages.  This is when calcium deposits in the muscle covering the spine and hardens like bone.  They look something like little hooked fingers growing off the edge of the vertebral body of the vertebra.  Sometimes they will cause problems by pricking the muscle, but most people over the age of 40 have some and don't have any problems.  Reactive endplates means that the bone spur is "hookin" on muscle as you turn your neck and gives you some pain.  Normally when you look at your neck from the side (lateral projection or picture) the neck has a gentle curvature to it.  The curvature starts at C-7 and curves somewhat inward toward the front and then goes gently backwards again until it connects with the skull.  This curvature is called the lordotic curve. Everybody has one.  Your curve goes in the reverse direction (reversed lordosis) or instead of a gentle curve toward the front of the neck, the curve goes outward toward the back of the neck.  This can be caused by the scoliosis or from the muscles of the neck tightening (spasm) and pulling it outward. There are some treatments out there for your problem, depending on how bad all of this is.  They may do surgery to treat or stabilize the neck, or they may just watch it to see how long it will remain as it is without worsening.  Hope this helps.  Good luck

[tnkrbell]

Thank you so much for the very helpful information. I'm 38, so I guess it's a little early to be having some of these problems. Plus, I've never been told I had scoliosis. I thought you got that as a teen.

[star queen]

Scoliosis is usually present in the back from the neck down and is not common in the cervical spine.  You have probably had this most of your life without knowing it as it develops slowly.

[alierose]

is it okay to have sports like dragon boat even though the doctor found out that i have a mild dextoscoliosis of the thoracic spine?