Hello, what a great forum and thanks to all who post.
I am a veteran reling on the VA healthcare system, my faith in them is somewhat questionable. I started going to VA in Aug 2012 for extreme arm/back pain, after 2nd visit to ER they finally did MRI and showed a herniated disk @ C5-C6 and would order a neuro consult. I ended up having an emergency ACDF of that disk at a local non VA hospital in October 2012 because I could barely walk, entire abdominal area numb etc. the VA finally called in Dec 2012 to finally that neuro visit, bait too late.
Fall of 2013 started experiencing same issues not as severe, finally had had my MRI last week. I have already tried PT and all the normal conservative measures. Once again the VA seems to have downplayed the situation and the only referral has been to Physical Medicine and Rehab. I just got a second opinion reading of that MRI and have listed it below.
Your thoughts, opinions, laymen terms, and stories would be greatly appreciated. I thank everyone on here for making this forum a great resource tool.
2-C3 is normal.
At the C3-C4 level, there is a central disc bulge or early protrusion resulting in thecal sac effacement without cord displacement or compression and the neuroforamen are broadly patent.
At C4-C5, there is minimal annulus bulging resulting in thecal sac effacement without spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis. There is no cord displacement or compression.
There is no residual disc space at C5-C6 and no significant effacement in the thecal sac. There is some relative bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing right greater than left when compared to the other levels.
At the C6-C7 level, there is an acquired spinal stenosis secondary to a broad-based disc protrusion with a right paracentral herniated component. This herniated disc measures 9 mm of superior-inferiorand effacement of thecal sac 5 mm anterior-posterior and is 1.3 cm in transverse diameter extending into the right neuroforamen. There is bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis severe on the right andmoderate to severe on the left. There is cord displacement without definite compression. There is still subarachnoid space seen posteriorly.
C7-T1 is remarkable for minimal central annulus bulging of uncertain significance without significant thecal sac effacement or spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read this and share your thoughts.