Need Help - MRI Spine Cervical - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

tingu73 · 05-21-2008, 10:22 PM

Hi,

I just got my MRI done today after having pain in neck, shoulder all the way till the arm. I need help in understanding the same if anyone had similar problem and what was treatment that followed.
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MRI FINDINGS

The Cervical Vertebrate are normal in signal intensity and alignment. There is loss of the normal cervical lordosis
C2-3 is normal
C3-4 is normal
C4-5 is normal

There is moderate sponylosis at c5-6 with central disc osteophyte complex. This results in effacement of the thecal sac and mild impingement on the cord.

There is moderately large left sided disc herniation at c6-7. This results in effacement of the thecal sac and mild compression on the cord. The left Neural foramen is also compromised

c7-T1 is normal The cervical cord and craniocervical junction are unremarkable

No Paraspinal abnormality is seen

IMPRESSION
1. Moderately Large left sided disc herniation at c6-7
2. Moderate Spondylylosis at c5-6
3. Straightening of the cervical spine which can be seen with patient positioning and or/muscle spasm.

PNo · 05-22-2008, 02:04 PM

Hello -
lordosis is the curvature of the neck and loss of the curve can be most likely caused by muscle spasm. It is a common finding on MRI with people with neck problems.

Spondylosis is a degenerative process aka spinal osteoarthritis.
which results is osteophyte (bone spur) growth and most of the time pain.

The thecal sac surrounds your spinal cord and a bone spur is pressing on the cord at C5-6.

A disc herniation is when the contents of the disc bulge out and leak.
The Neural foramen are like tiny canals where the nerve roots leave the spinal cord to go to your body - like arms

Usually conservative care follows this diagnosis, like PT, injections and stuff, but because your cord is impinged they might want to do surgery like a disc removal (acdf) and fusion. Recommend that you seek 2nd opinion about minimally invasive surgery as you might be a candidate.

tingu73 · 05-23-2008, 11:58 AM

Thanks Neck Patient for the information. I have also scheduled an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon.

Linda100 · 05-23-2008, 02:27 PM

Tingu 73
It sounds a lot like mine, to me I also have all of the arm and neck and shoulder blade pain and also I am having both legs involved, all four limbs are so weak, numb burning and muscle cramps galore..

I am trying to find out what all of mines means.
here is mine:

Findings:
The Alignment is Slightly Abnormal Now with a grade1 Retrolisthesis at C4-5. This is a new finding. Dorsal annular fissure and hypertense on this clearly demonstrated within the C3-4 disc which is a new finding as well and potentialy could be a source of discogenic pain. Minimal dorsal hypertense zones are seen within C4-5 through C6-7 levels as well. Disc space narrowing is found at C6-7 definitely and also to some degree C5-6. There are no discrete vertebral or cord lesions otherwise though there are some degenerative endplate changes which are now new at C5-6 and C6-7 all indicative of progressive degenrative disc disease.

At C3-4, there is a posterior central Protruding disc herniation which again abuts the cord. The cord is not significantly deformed but slightly flattened as seen before as well. The mid canal sagittal diameter is about 9 mm with very mild spinal stenosis change.

At C4-5, posterior central disc herniation again indents the cord slightly. Spinal stenosis changes with the mid canal sagittal diameter of 7-8 mm again is demonstrated and this is a stable finding.

C5-6 again shows bilateral uncovertebral joint spurring with some degerative bulging causing cord flattening. The mid canal sagital diameter at this level is about 10 mm with borderline to mild stenosis present.

C6-7 there are new findings. Prominent left sided spurring from the uncovertebral joint now causes compression of the left C7 root which is a new finging. There is probably some mild cord compression as well and the mid canal sagittal diameter is about 11 mm though without overt mid canal sagittal stenosis.

Impression:
Overall, Progressive disc disease changes are found with persistent stenosis, a fairly mild degree at C3-4, C4-5, and C5-6. however, there is markedly progresive left bony forminal stenosis at C6-7.

Linda