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Not sure what to think about my cervical spine MRI results.

I am only 35 years old and had a single level fusion 8 years ago at C5/6. All of my previous symptoms have returned including pain, numbness and tingling in my left arm and sever shoulder pain in right arm. I am nervous about having to have surgery again. My Insurance provider is referring me out to a Neurosurgeon but they can't see me for another month. Going crazy thinking what they might tell me. I don't know how bad this is but everything I read online says these kinds of things are found in older people. I believe this all may have been caused by the previous fusion.

FINDINGS:
The visualized posterior fossa contents, brainstem, and cervical spinal cord are unremarkable. Mild straightening of the normal cervical lordosis with anterior discectomy and cervical fusion of C5 and C6. The vertebral bodies are normal in height, marrow signal, and alignment. The craniocervical junction is unremarkable.

C1-2: Normal atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial articulation.

C2-3: Normal disc height and hydration. Mild bilateral facet joint arthropathy. The central canal and foramina are adequately patent.

C3-4: Disc desiccation loss of disc height. No disk bulge or protrusion. The central canal and foramina are adequately patent.

C4-5: Disc desiccation loss of disc height with anterior endplate spurring and 1-2 mm central disc protrusion. Mild bilateral facet arthropathy greater on the right. Minimal bilateral uncovertebral joint spurring . Mild central canal stenosis of 9 mm. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis right greater than left.

C5-6: Intact ACDF with anatomic alignment. Left prominent uncovertebral joint spurring resulting in moderate to severe left foraminal stenosis. Correlate clinically for left C6 radiculopathy. No central canal or right foraminal stenosis.

C6-7: Disc desiccation with preservation of disc height with anterior endplate spurring. 4 mm broad-based central disc extrusion with minimal caudal extension mild hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum . Bilateral uncovertebral joint spurring and mild facet joint arthropathy resulting in moderate to severe bilateral foraminal stenosis left greater than right. Moderate central canal stenosis of 7 mm in AP dimension

C7-T1: The disk is normal in heights. Minimal 1 mm posterior disc bulging. The central canal and foramina are adequately patent.

No paravertebral soft tissue abnormality.

IMPRESSION:
1. Straightening of the cervical lordosis with intact ACDF of C5-C6.
2. Moderate central canal stenosis of 7 mm at C6-C7 and mild central canal stenosis of 9 mm at C4-C5.
3. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis right greater than left and C4-C5.
4. Left uncovertebral joint spurring resulting in moderate to severe left foraminal stenosis at C5-C6. Correlate clinically for left C6 radiculopathy.
5. The moderate to severe bilateral foraminal stenosis at C6-C7 left greater than right. Correlate clinically for left C7 radiculopathy.
6. No paravertebral soft tissue abnormality.
1 Responses
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973741 tn?1342342773
Argh.  Hey, I totally get it and feel you about anxiety over this!  You've been through one surgery and all surgeries are traumatic.  That is certainly going to cause you to be nervous about this especially since you are suffering symptoms you are familiar with.  At least you have insurance that is providing for you to see a specialist.  

In looking at your results and findings, much of it is normal and fine!  Let's look at the positives!!  :>)  There are a few concerning things but a lot of what those results are saying is that it is mild in nature.  Perhaps . . . and this may be wishful thinking . . . you will be able to handle with a good physical therapist?  If not, please do not fear. I know you will and that is easy for me to say. But, any surgery you would have is to give you relief.  I will tell you that my husband was scheduled for surgery by his neurologist and he recovered before the surgery.  His situation was a pinched nerve that released somehow through stretching and exercises he was given.  That 'could' happen?  (really, not just saying that).  

I am sure if you are a young person it would be a good question about the why's that this would be occurring!  

Again, in looking at your report, there is a lot that is normal or non remarkable or no evidence of an issue.  So, keep that in mind.  

Let me know how you are doing!!  There is a pain management community here too that is pretty great for support if you are interested.  hugs and let me know what you think of what I've written here!
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