Does this or doesn't this cause pain?

[xmelax35]

I have been through the wringer with different doctors, a few which state that even though my readings are all say mild of everything I have, can indeed cause great pain & some say it doesnt cause pain so I must be making it up! The MRI's came after I complained of pain. I do know that the nurse told me one of the things on it said I have bulging discs. A few of my symptoms are (there are more) - headaches, sometimes falls eg gives out, numbness/tingling in arm, both legs, severe pain in upper/lower back, legs, & shoulders, burning in arm to fingers, slurring of speech, etc... the list goes on.  The worst being the pain in back and legs.
MRI Cervical Spine without contrast
Clinical Indication: Neck, pain, radiculopathy
Comparison: There are no prior studies.
Findings: Alignment and vertebral body heights are within normal limits.  Within the T4 vertebral body, there is a 1cm mass, high in signal on T1 and T2 –weighted imaging, consistent with hemangioma.  There are low-lying cerebellar tonsils with extend approximately 6 mm below the level of the foramen magnum. Caliber of the cervical spinal  cord is unremarkable.  Signal is unremarkable.
At C2-C3, there are degenerative disk changes.  There is poterior disk and osteophyte, somewhat eccentric to the left. Canal measures approximately 1.0 cm.  There is minimal left-sided stenosis.
At C3-C4, there are mild degenerative disk changes.  The canal measures 1.0 cm.  There is no foraminal stenosis.
At C4-C5, there is no canal stenosis. There is some unconvertebral point change resulting in mild left-sided forminal stenosis.
The C5-C6, C6-C7 and C7-T1 levels are unremarkable.
Impression:
There are degenerative disk changes at C2-C3 and C3-C4. This results in minimal central canal stenosis.
There is mild left-sided foraminal stenosis, C2-C3 and C4-C5.
Low-lying cerebellar tonsils consistent with Chiari I.

[xmelax35]

I tried PT & it made me 2x worse.  They still have a  lumbar mri to do. Found some buldging discs thus far. The other day I had a pain going up my neck, into my face, to my eye area w/ facial numbness. The ER didnt examine me, they just sent me home saying nothing wrong w/ me. I have upper/lower back pain, leg pain, arm burning/stinging, numbness in legs, leg drops, slurring of speech, neck/shoulder pain, etc.. I have days where the pain is at a steady 7 then the days it is 8 then where I end up in the ER at a 9 - 10 +.  Does it sometimes take a lot of testing to find the answers? Where is the best place to go to find out what is wrong with a person? What facility is the best but goes by financial needs?

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

It sounds like you suffer from diffuse pains and other symptoms and are wondering if your MRI findings explain your symptoms. Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history and review your images, I can not definitively answer your question, and this would be best answered by your neurologist. However, just based on the description you have provided of your MRI, it seems unlikely.

Arthritis of the spine (degenerative disc changes) can cause pain when the arthritis causes narrowing of the spinal canal and impingement on the nerves that are exiting the spine. This does not sound like it is occuring in your case.

A chiari is when the back part of the brain slides down slightly. The incidental finding of a Chiari on your MRI is likely just that: incidental. The degree you have (type I) is very unlikely to be a cause of any of your symptoms. I can not over-emphasize this enough.

Another possible cause of diffuse pain is fibromyalgia. It may benefit you to be evaluated for this, as there are medications that are useful for this condition. It may also benefit you to undergo physical therapy which can improve your range of motion and your pain.

Thank you for using the forum, I hope you find this information useful, good luck.