NaeNae

I got some copies of my last few appointments at my Orthopedic Surgeon. I figured it might be good to get copies of my last few appointments at any Doctor I see outside of my Family Practice, just in case I need to update my PCP at any time, or if I'm out of town, I'll have it all in place. Anyway, that's besides the point!

My question is, I'm not too familiar with medical jargon and I'm trying to figure this out and see if anyone can help me. It mainly has to do with my
X-Ray results. Partially because I can't seem to get a straight answer from my doctor, it always seems to be changing (he's older, so I think he confuses me with someone else, but he really is a nice guy). I also had another story from my PCP when I first started seeing him for the back pain, and I saw a horrible PM Doc for a while, too, that had yet, a third story.

I know I should be more knowledgable with this, but I've already got a million things on my mind. I know you count up (or down) the spine, each plate has a number. I know "L" is Lumbar, right? Basically lower back? I know "T" is Thorasic, but don't remember what part of the back that is. The rest is just foreign to me.

So this is what I need explaining:

• What is HNP? It says -x- (which will be my name now) was seen for HNP's at C5-C6 and C6-C7.
• What is 'Facet Arthrosis'? It suggested my lower back pain might be related to that. All I know if my lower back pain started after I had my first son and they tried a million times to get my epidural in and it never worked, but my lower back's been weak ever since. Of course it got worse after my fall (which is why I'm here in the first place! Plus, I've always had a weak lumbar area, had back labor with my kids, and it just got worse lugging them around.
• Says: "X-Rays were taken today including an AP and later and lateral for lumbar spine and the films look fine. Which, of course, I'm thinking "FINE"? HUH?
• Diagnosis: 1) HNP at C5-C6 and C6-C7. (722.0)
• 2) Low back pain (724.2).

So on that appointment alone, my questions are what is HNP? What are these numbers like 724.2?

Second appointment, states a very similiar report, with HNP at C5-C6 and C6-C7, plus low back pain. It of course goes on to state I'm still have persistant pain in my neck and lower back, but my neck is bothering me more. That is half true. It's all up and down my spine from my neck to my lumbar area, but if I picked one area to fix, it would be my lower back. Then again, the same old foriegn language: HNP at C5-C6 and C6-C7 (again), (722.0) and low back pain (724.2).

The numbers and some abbreviations are what's confusing me. And I know there is alot of people on this board in serious, chronic pain, but is mine that big of a deal? He's already talking about surgery starting at the neck. I'm not wanting to do that just yet.

Thanks to anyone that can help!

P.S. Sorry if there is also some typos. It's 4am and I'm soooo tired!