greenacres
08-20-2008, 10:18 AM
Well, here again, I woke up this AM with my neck in severe pain. My back of neck is swollen a bit (again) and my left upper back and arm hurts all the way down to my fingers (back side of arm) and I should not be driving although I had to drive to work cause my ROM is horrible. Last time this happaned in march. I could not get out of bed without help from my husband and I cried I wasi n so much pain there and at chrio's office. I went to my chiro and after about 3-4 weeks he fixed me up but never ordered an MRI to see what had happened. NOW, it's not an amergency, so I don't feel like I should go to ER - should i go to my family physician or go to urgent care? Or should I do nothing? If you look at my past posts, youc an see my history - SIGNIFICANT for neck problems - herniations/bulges throughout C3-C6. Last MRI was in October of I think 2007. What should I do? It hurts to sit here at mydesk.
Ugggh, I don't even know what I did. I'm 38 years old. THanks.
Here's my MRI from 10/07.
Here's October 2007 MRI: - MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast.
The vertebrae are normally aligned. Stature of the vertebral bodies is maintained. Spinal cord is of normal morphology with exception of ventral impression on the cord in the left paramedian location at C6-7 secondary to moderate protrusion of the nucleus pulposus.
There is mild/moderate broad-based bulging in the disk/endplate complex at C5-6, but this finding does not cause impression on the spinal cord, there is no spinal or foraminal stenosis at this level.
Impression: Significant protrusion of the nucleus pulposus at C6-7, finding is positioned in the left paramedian location and causes mild ventral impression on the spinal cord. It is also possible that this finding may impinge the traversing left C8 root. Otherwise unremarkable MRI of the cervical spine.
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Ugggh, I don't even know what I did. I'm 38 years old. THanks.
Here's my MRI from 10/07.
Here's October 2007 MRI: - MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast.
The vertebrae are normally aligned. Stature of the vertebral bodies is maintained. Spinal cord is of normal morphology with exception of ventral impression on the cord in the left paramedian location at C6-7 secondary to moderate protrusion of the nucleus pulposus.
There is mild/moderate broad-based bulging in the disk/endplate complex at C5-6, but this finding does not cause impression on the spinal cord, there is no spinal or foraminal stenosis at this level.
Impression: Significant protrusion of the nucleus pulposus at C6-7, finding is positioned in the left paramedian location and causes mild ventral impression on the spinal cord. It is also possible that this finding may impinge the traversing left C8 root. Otherwise unremarkable MRI of the cervical spine.
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feelbad
08-20-2008, 12:49 PM
the first thing i would do if this were me is speak to your primary about obtaining another follow up MRI. given what was found with that c 6-7 area with cord contact in the 07 MRI,alot can change in even a matter of months let alone a whole year almost,you know what i mean? that finding was stated as a "significant protusion" of the inner part of your disc affecting your cord,tho mildly,even mild contact that has had about a year to progress can really be affecting much more now than it was a year ago. you simply need to know what is going on up there NOW,today not just one year ago.
were you ever actually referred to a neurosurgeon back a year ago even for a consult and eval of your overall situation? if not,getting that new MRI and then seeing one for his impression of your current status and the risks of not doing anything to stop what will be a continued progression further onto your cord really is a must right now. i saw where they noted a possible involvement of your c 8 nerve? are you having any symptoms at all in the last two fingers of the involved side hand? your c 8 nerve is also whats called the ulnar nerve. i have extensive damage to mine in my left hand,so i do know that particular nerve very well unfortunetly. i am also kind of curious as to what you were actually told about this finding at the time it was found? what did your doc say about it?
i just think this has really gone on way too long already and something needs to be surgically fixed in there to keep that disc from continuing to exert more and more compression upon your cord. it will occur if it has not already,its just the nature of most spinal issues to progress,not get better at least not with what you actually have going on up there. i just shuddered here when i read that you actually were having chiro adjustments with this actually just being there? that was kind of risky.
while some situations can be made alot better with certain chiro adjustments,they should never ever be done on the c spine without the benefit of at least getting that MRI first. there are just sooo many different type of spinal problems that can occur up there that could be made much worse or even cause devistating results if they were not aware of what was actually going on BEFORE those adjustments were made. they are basically 'blind' adjustments when you simply have not gotten a good look at what is actually causing a persons real symptoms.
just what are your exact symptoms right now? have you actually felt anything new pop in since that last MRI was done? i really do think your best course of action right now would be to just obtain that new MRI,with contrast and then get your primary to actually refer you to a good neurosurgeon for that eval consult and see what he says. you just have kind of a precarious situation going on up there that REALLY needs some attention sooner vs later,ya know? you also need to find out just how much further that compression has become since a year ago,that really IS my main concern for you right now. how much real cord contact do you have and if a condition called myelomalacia has set in yet. just make an appt with your primary to speak to him about that new MRI. the rest will kind of dictate itself to you depending upon the findings of that MRI. but this really needs evaluating by a neurosurgeon at any rate.
please keep me posted as to what you find out,K? good luck sandra,marcia
were you ever actually referred to a neurosurgeon back a year ago even for a consult and eval of your overall situation? if not,getting that new MRI and then seeing one for his impression of your current status and the risks of not doing anything to stop what will be a continued progression further onto your cord really is a must right now. i saw where they noted a possible involvement of your c 8 nerve? are you having any symptoms at all in the last two fingers of the involved side hand? your c 8 nerve is also whats called the ulnar nerve. i have extensive damage to mine in my left hand,so i do know that particular nerve very well unfortunetly. i am also kind of curious as to what you were actually told about this finding at the time it was found? what did your doc say about it?
i just think this has really gone on way too long already and something needs to be surgically fixed in there to keep that disc from continuing to exert more and more compression upon your cord. it will occur if it has not already,its just the nature of most spinal issues to progress,not get better at least not with what you actually have going on up there. i just shuddered here when i read that you actually were having chiro adjustments with this actually just being there? that was kind of risky.
while some situations can be made alot better with certain chiro adjustments,they should never ever be done on the c spine without the benefit of at least getting that MRI first. there are just sooo many different type of spinal problems that can occur up there that could be made much worse or even cause devistating results if they were not aware of what was actually going on BEFORE those adjustments were made. they are basically 'blind' adjustments when you simply have not gotten a good look at what is actually causing a persons real symptoms.
just what are your exact symptoms right now? have you actually felt anything new pop in since that last MRI was done? i really do think your best course of action right now would be to just obtain that new MRI,with contrast and then get your primary to actually refer you to a good neurosurgeon for that eval consult and see what he says. you just have kind of a precarious situation going on up there that REALLY needs some attention sooner vs later,ya know? you also need to find out just how much further that compression has become since a year ago,that really IS my main concern for you right now. how much real cord contact do you have and if a condition called myelomalacia has set in yet. just make an appt with your primary to speak to him about that new MRI. the rest will kind of dictate itself to you depending upon the findings of that MRI. but this really needs evaluating by a neurosurgeon at any rate.
please keep me posted as to what you find out,K? good luck sandra,marcia