neck MRI- Please translate

[98greenlude]

This is copied directly from the results paper work I received from the Radiology place:

FINDINGS:
The vertebrae have normal height and marrow signal with straightening of the upper cervical lordosis.
C2-3 Level: No herniated nucleus pulposus or significant central spinal canal stenosis. The neural foramina appear essentially patent.
C3-4 Level: Disc bulge indents the anterior thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed bilaterally, most narrowed on the left.
C4-5 Level: Loss of disc hydration. Disc bulge indents the anterior thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed on the left and patent on the right.
C5-6 Level: Disc bulge indents the anterior thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed on the left and patent on the right.
C6-7 Level: Disc bulge in combination with hypertrophy of the facets and ligamentum flava indent the thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed on the left and patent on the right. c
C7-T1 Level: No herniated nucleus pulposus or significant central spinal canal stenosis. The neural foramina appear essentially patent.
T1-2 Level: Loss of disc height and hydration.
T2-3 Level: Loss of disc height with chronic appearing anterior wedging of the T3 vertebra without significant retropulsion.
T3-4 Level: Loss of disc hydration.
Cord signal, posterior fossa structures and paraspinal tissues appear unremarkable

IMPRESSION:
1.     Straightening of the upper cervical lordosis.
2. C3-4 Level: Disc bulge indents the anterior thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed bilaterally, most narrowed on the left.
3. C4-5 Level: Loss of disc hydration. Disc bulge indents the anterior thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed on the left and patent on the right.
4. C5-6 Level: Disc bulge indents the anterior thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed on the left and patent on the right.
5. C6-7 Level: Disc bulge in combination with hypertrophy of the facets and ligamentum flava indent the thecal sac. The neural foramina are narrowed on the left and patent on the right. c
6. T1-2 Level: Loss of disc height and hydration.
7. T2-3 Level: Loss of disc height with chronic appearing anterior wedging of the T3 vertebra without significant retropulsion.
8.     T3-4 Level: Loss of disc hydration.

I also received an X-Ray of my lower back (don't know why they would waste time with an x-ray) but they found that L4 had 4mm Retrolisthesis w/ narrowing, L5 had mild Retrolisthesis and the pars were no long attached (By "Pars" i am not quite sure what it is or the terminology they used. I know when my Ortho. explained it to me he said that both the Left and right sides have i guess connective tissue that connects the vertebra to the disk. and both connective tissue is no longer connected.)

What is the prognosis of these findings and what type of pain should i be in?  

I have had to deal with back pain for probably about 3 years or so and neck pain for well over 8 years both of which are getting progressively worse.  I have been just "Dealing" with it and its gotten to the point that i want someone to help but seems like none of my doctors are listening or they don't think i'm in pain...or something.  After doing hours of research into my back issue (w/o having an MRI it is hard to tell whats going on) but im reading that ppl need either surgery or pain management.  

I guess i just want to know what to do; who to talk to; where to go from here.

[Kalvin]

I went through your reports and translated most of it for you, and I was going to post it until I read the last couple paragraphs in your post. I really wish I would have read your whole post through first.

The 1st thing most people do, is describe their symptoms, read some of the other posts.

You need to describe your symptoms in DETAIL, start with your neck, and do the Thoracic and then your low back. Its impossible to tell what your prognosis is when you don’t even say how any of this is affecting you.

What type of pain should you be in, anywhere from a lot to none? MRI’s don’t work that way, you correlate the symptoms to the MRI, otherwise all this means nothing.

[98greenlude]

x-ray says:

mild lower lumbar levocurve less than 5 degrees
moderate L4-5 narrowing with 4mm retrolisthesis
mild L5-S1 interspace narrowing
appears to be a left L5 Pars defect (but my ortho said that both the Left and right show the defect)

[Kalvin]

I'll go over these reports for you later on this evening, when I have some time. Their fairly lengthy.

[98greenlude]

Well if you can’t tell from the original post, I am getting frustrated from doctors.  It seems to me that they just push it off and give me PT. I guess it’s because I’m only 28 and in complaining about pain in my back and neck.  I constantly have about a 5/10 in pain in both neck and back and have times where the pain is off the scale 13/10 (very sharp stabbing pain that radiates). When this "nerve-like" pain is in my neck it originally starts on the left side and then radiate throughout my entire neck area and with every movement I experience more intense pain.  The only way it stops is remaining VERY still for extended periods of time.  I also feel the same "Nerve-like" stabbing pain in my back & it radiate from the originating point throughout my lower back region, around sort of toward the front and also the upper part of my buttock.

While doing my own online research I stumbled across something that seems so true.  It stated that people find ways to stand/sit/walk etc. that alleviate or at least don't seem to put as much pressure on the areas affected and this makes the suffering person slouch and his/her posture is affected.  I reflect on myself and see that I have done this for years...