“MRI Cervical spine done on 23/6/2008
Findings
Cervical spondylosis with marginal lipping is noted most at C5/6 level. No discrete focal bony lesion or abnormal marrow signal intensity is seen. Mild decrease in vertebral height of C5 and C6 is noted. Rest of the cervical vertebrae shows normal vertebral height. The vertebral endplates appear preserved. Loss of cervical lordosis with no abnormal anteroposterior slip is noted.
Los of bright T2 signal suggestive of desiccation of intervertebral disc is noted at multiple levels from C2/3 to C6/7. Mild disc space narrowing is seen at C5/6 level.
At C3/4 level, posterior disc bulge with mild anterior thecal sac indentation is noted. No definite cord compression is associated. No significant neural foraminal narrowing is seen.
At C4/5 level, mild broad based right paramedian disc protrusion with right anterior thecal sac compression and mild right anterior cord indentation noted. Mild right neural foraminal narrowing is noted.
At C5/6 level, moderate broad based central to right paramedian disc protrusion with anterior thecal sac compression and mild anterior cord compression is seen. Mild left neural foraminal narrowing is noted.
At C6/7 level, mild broad based right posterolateral disc protrusion is noted. No definite cord compression is associated. Moderate to severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing is noted.
The cervical cord appears normal in size and signal intensity. No abnormal cord expansion or intramedullary signal is seen. No evidence of myelomalacia is seen. No abnormal intrathecal mass lesion is seen. The cervico-medullary junction is unremarkable. No cerebellar tonsillar herniation is seen.
Impression
Cervical spondylosis with marginal lipping most at C5/6 level.
Desiccated intervertebral discs at multiple levels from C2/3 to C6/7. Mild disc space narrowing at C5/6 level
Posterior disc bulge with mild anterior thecal sac indentation at C3/4 level. No definite cord compression associated.
Mild broad based right paramedian disc protrusion at C4/5 level with right anterior thecal sac compression and right anterior cord indentation.
Mild broad based right posterolateral disc protrusion at C6/7 level. No definite cord compression associated.
Mild right C4/5, mild left C5/6 and moderate to severe bilateral C5/6 neural foraminal narrowing.
No abnormal cord signal or evidence of myelomalacia demonstrated.”
Those are the words on my report. Doctors are saying that the only way for me to fix my problem is to get a surgery, which is very high risked. Besides that, they said there is basically nothing that can help me. All they told me to do is to not let the problem get worse. I obviously am not a doctor and I don’t understand most of the report, but may you kind people out there let me know if my case is really that serious where there is no way to treat it. Or may I have some suggestions on my next step. By the way, I am 50 years old.