Translation of MRI pls

[Sepe]

I have been bounced around 3 docs so far each one avoiding my questions. me regular Doc says I have to talk to the general surgeon, the general surgeon says he has refereed it to a neurosurgeon so I have to talk to him. I have an appointment with one in two weeks but was hoping I could get some idea of what I am facing. For me a total lack of information can be more scary than having bad information. Thanks in advance.

C5/6 level: Left-sided disc protrusion is present beginning from left central location and extending through the foramen.  Some associated endplate osteophyte, including uncinate spurring is present.  The left ventral cord is flattened.  Addition abnormal cord signal is seen.  Moderate left foraminal stenosis is present which may contact the left C6 nerve root although not definitive.  Mild central stenosis is present with estimated AP diameter of the thecal sac measuring 9 mm at the midline.

C6/7 level: Diffuse disc bulge is present.  Ventral cord is contacted and minimally flattened.  No abnormal cord signal is seen.  Mild central stenosis is present with estimated AP diameter of the thecal sac measuring 9 mm.  Mild/moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis is present.  No definite nerve root impingement is seen.

[Sepe]

Thanks for your response

As for the pain, well, it's kind of weird actually. For a few years I've had neck and shoulder pain, First went to a chiropractor when it was mostly neck and it helped a lot. Then the shoulder hurt mostly and went to PT for that. At the time the presumed it was a torn labrum. After a few weeks of PT strength and shoulder pain all gone. But then the neck ached an the headaches didn't stop. I also noticed a lump on my neck so I asked my doc. Thats when I started getting the referral run a round (which I understand but it's still no fun).

Right now, I'm not in massive pain but on a scale of 1-10 about a 6. It feels like Hercules has me in a choke hold but from the back and it feel like a metal rod is stuck into my shoulder and driven trough to my neck. I also have tingling sensations in portions of the lower back and the legs starting at the knees down, back side. Oh and the right arm down to the pinky finger.

I'm just glad it's not a alien radio antenna planted there to aid their take over of the world :P

I'll let ya know how it goes and thanks again.

[Kalvin]

C5/6 level: Here you have a disc protrusion (a contained herniation that hasn’t ruptured) extending through the foramen (the neural foramen is where the spinal nerves emerge from the spinal canal) Some associated endplate osteophytes refers to bones spurs (arthritis) that sometimes develop on the ends of the vertebra. Including uncinate spurring, refers to more bone spurring occurring at the uncinate process aka the unco-vertebral joints, there’s one on each side. Left ventral cord is flattened, means that your spinal cord is being flattened, probably by your disc protrusion. Moderate left foraminal stenosis is present, means that foramina is being narrowed by your disc protrusion and bone spurring. May contact the left C6 nerve root, their saying that the narrowing in the foramina may or may not be compressing the C6 nerve root. Mild central stenosis is referring to your spinal canal, sometimes bone spurring can cause the canal to narrow. You have a mild case of this.

C6/7 Another disc bulge at this level, it appears to be touching the spinal cord and minimally flattening it. You have mild central stenosis at this level, which I explained above and mild/moderate foraminal stenosis on both sides, which I also explained above. They can’t tell if the nerve root is affected by the bulge or not.

In going through this report it’s apparent to me that you must be in a lot of pain. You didn’t post anything about your symptoms so this is just an assumption on my part. Not knowing your symptoms, the things I would be concern about are, the cord flattening and foraminal stenosis at C5-6 and the same at C6-7. Surgeons don't go by the reports, they generally look at the films themselves and come up with their own conclusions, they will then attempt to correlate the findings to your symptoms.


Take Care