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MRI interpretation

What are your initial thoughts on this MRI impression? Could these bulges be causing pain even after a year of physical therapy and manipulations?

1. C3-4   2mm focal posterior central disc bulge indents the ventral surface of the spinal cord. Cord signal remains normal at this and all other levels.
2. C4-5 small posterior disc bulges without visual impingement on the spinal cord, spinal canal or foraminal narrowing.
3. Cervical formina are widely patent at all levels.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for commenting!
I am a 34 year old woman, and have had symptoms of numbness, tingling, burning and fatigue for almost 3 years.

I have an appointment for a 3rd opinion on June 29th
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7721494 tn?1431627964
Normal depends on a number of factors, including age.

Degenerative changes in discs are rated on a scale from mild through moderate to severe. Your report shows a mild degree of DDD at multiple cervical levels with osteoarthritic changes from C3-C6, and no sign of stenosis of the cord or nerve roots. Cervical osteoarthritis can be painful, but can also be treated with physical therapy, NSAIDs, and the techniques of interventional pain medicine.

Most humans of 50 years or more have some degree of degenerative changes in their spine. Some of this group is asymptomatic, while others complain of pain.

There are many aspects and diagnoses that may be associated with DDD -- spondylosis, facet syndrome, spinal and/or foraminal stenosis, loss of normal curvature, scoliosis, etc.

I suggest that you do some research to learn the meaning of these diagnoses, and how they may or may not apply to your condition, beginning at spine sites like SpineUniverse.com or Spine-Health.com

DDD is a chronic, degenerative condition of the spine. In my long experience with this disease, I've found education to be my greatest ally in fighting this disease. The more one knows about their chronic disease, along with the risks and benefits of all possible treatment options, the better able one becomes to work with their doctors in making appropriate decisions about care.

Best wishes.
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Avatar universal
I'm wondering if my above mri is normal
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Avatar universal

Technique: Sagittal T1-weighted and T2-weighted and axial T2 and T1
weighted images of the cervical spine were obtained without
intravenous contrast. Following intravenous administration of
gadolinium, axial and sagittal T1-weighted images with fat saturation
were also obtained.

Contrast: 9.0mL Gadavist

Findings:
The cervical vertebrae are normally aligned. There is diffuse
desiccation of discs from C2 down to C7 without disc height narrowing.
There is normal signal within and normal contour of the cervical
spinal cord. There is no abnormal contrast enhancement within the
cervical spinal cord, thecal sac, or vertebral column. A focal area
of nonaggressive appearing T1 hypointense and T2 hyperintense avidly
enhancing lesion at the posterior aspect of the C7 vertebral body,
most likely an atypical hemangioma.

The findings on a level by level basis are as follows:

C2-3: No spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

C3-4: Facet arthropathy resulting in mild left neural foraminal
narrowing without spinal canal or right neural foraminal stenosis.

C4-5: Mild asymmetric posterior disc bulge with annular fissure. No
spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

C5-C6: Mild uncovertebral hypertrophy and facet arthropathy,
asymmetric to the left, resulting in mild left neural foraminal
narrowing. No spinal canal or right neural foraminal stenosis.
Bilateral perineural nerve root sheath cysts.

C6-C7: Mild asymmetric posterior disc bulge and bilateral
uncovertebral hypertrophy without spinal canal or neuroforaminal
stenosis.

C7-T1: No spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.

No abnormality of the paraspinous soft tissues.

Impression
Impression:
1. Mild multilevel degenerative changes without spinal canal or
neuroforaminal stenosis.
2. No cord signal abnormality.

I have personally reviewed the examination and initial interpretation
and I agree with the findings.
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Avatar universal
They are one year after the therapy.
Thanks
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Avatar universal
I have a question...
The MRI findings you note, are these from a recent MRI (after theyear of PT And CHIRO) ?
Or are these the results a year ago before the theapy?
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Avatar universal
thank you
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Avatar universal
Yes I believe the bulges could be your problem.It doesn't take a whole lot of pressure on your spinal cord sac to cause discomfort on  nerves.
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