Need help with MRI results please

[swatts831]

Back in April of 2009 I was rear-ended in a car accident. I sustained a neck injury from this and have been in almost constant pain ever since. The primary doctor that I had a the time pretty much blew me off and caused me to lose my case with the other party's insurance, so now I'm stuck with all the medical bills and a hurt neck and no way of getting treatment. I was in physical therapy up until 5/31/10 when my insurance decided to cancel my policy because things were getting too expensive. Anyway, my physical therapist didn't want to touch me any more becaue I began to have tingling sinsations down my left arm into my index finger and thumb when I bent my head a certain way. So she wanted me to get another MRI before she would be any further treatments on me.... So here it is:

c2-3 minor broad-based focal midline disc buldge.
c3-4 minor broad-based focal midline disc buldge.
c4-5 minor broad-based focal midline disc buldge.
c5-6 small focal midline disc buldge
c6-7 mild disc space narrowing with broad -base left paracentral disc buldge with mild to moderate broad-based left paracentral thecal sac encroachment unassociated with any spinal cord compression. minor ventral spinal cord deformity noted
c7-t1 tiny focal midline disc buldge

Findings: multilevel cervical spondylosis with disc buldges at multiple levels as described above, relatively more prominate at the c6-c7 disc level where the broad-based left paracentral disc buldge has led to mild-to-moderate left paracentral thecal sac enroachment. Minor spinal cord deformity demonstrated at the c6-c7 disc level without any spinal cord compressions.



Translation of the to ENGLISH would be most helpful :)

[swatts831]

Thank you for your post! I do have LOTS of electric sensation down the left arm when I tilt my head backwards. I also have a great deal of nausea and stiffness throughout the day. I don't like pain killers because they don't seem to 'work' on me, all they do is make me feel loopy and nauseated without alleviating the any of the pain. The PCP I was seeing has done absolutely nothing for me as far as any treatment, no c-collars, physical therapy, nothing! My condition has gotten tremendously worse within the last year and now I feel one wrong move and I face being paralyzed from the C6-C7 bulge and all that's going on there... I'm consulting an attorney now on a malpractice suit against him.      

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Your report suggests that you may have nerve irritation in the cervical (neck) spine because of cervical disc bulge at different levels. This pain may be referred and perceived as occurring in the back of head & shoulders (as electric sensation), arms or chest, rather than just the neck. Other symptoms may include vertigo, nausea (dizziness) and stiffness. It will be best that you consult a neurologist who would like to prescribe Pain killers, steroid and muscle relaxants. Other treatments could be cervical orthosis such as a soft cervical collar or stiffer neck brace to restrict neck movement till you get complete recovery. In addition, cervical traction may also be suggested by the doctor, if condition is severe. Hope this helps.

[swatts831]

The therapy that I was doing involved mild weights and range of motion. My therapist also worked with me personally doing traction, and that's when the shooting pains down my spin and the tingling in my arm / hand started.

The reason I lost my medical insurance was a long drawn out issue, way too long to post on here. I'm consulting an attorney to see if I can sue my former primary doctor, and the Geico insurance (the guy's car insurance that was supposed to be paying for my treatment).

[caregiver222]

You should not be getting "physical therapy", which will only agravate the condition.

You have swollen inflammed discs causing pinched nerves.

There are several options.

First off, you should have been on mild axial traction several times a day. And anti-inflammatories. There are range of motion and muscle tone exercises to go with the program. Keep well hydrated.

These cases are pretty slam-dunk and I find it hard to believe that you would "lose" the right to medical treatment.

You need to see a specialist in subluxion injuries.