Mri Report Looks Scary Please help! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Magnum4x · 09-12-2003, 12:31 AM

Please help me with my MRI report as I dont see my Doctor until Sept 25th. Its a long one and scary but I will type it and hope You can bear wth me.Findings:At C3-4 there is a small right paracentral disc herniation which is without mass effect. At C4-5 there is a right sided uncovertebral and facet joint spurring creating severe foraminal stenosis on right side. At C-5-6 there is a moderate sized right paracentral disc herniation with associated spurring causing a moderate degree of cord compression. There is also bilateral uncovertebral joint spurring causing moderate bilateral forminal stenosis.At C-6-7 theres a small left paracentral disc herniation with associated spurring causing mild impression upon the sac but no cord compression. also stenosis at this livel. The cervical cord appears intact without abnormal signal. No abnormal enhancement identified on the post gadolinium images. Impression: There is moderate size right paracentral disc herniation at C-5-6 with associated spurring causing moderate cord compression. There is a small broad based left paracentral disc herniation with associated spurring at C6-7 causing mild impression upon sac. Multi level degenerative formaminal stenosis, most severe at right C4-5 where there is a facet joint contibuting to formaminal stenosis. Some of my symptoms are weak arms and biceps but my most worrysome one is i get vertigo or dizziness when my neck is turned in a certain position mostly when im laying down. Before I knew about my neck disease I went to the emergency room 3 times thinking i was having a stroke? I dont hear to many people saying there neck problems are assosiated with my terrible room spinning and dizziness is it possible this is why im having these symptoms? Ive had neck problems for many years I just never went to get it checked out till I got scared. Please help with your thoughts and thanks for taking time for me. Bless You all and I like this forum thanks

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"Definition Of insanity is doing the same things over and over again exspecting different results" Magnum4x

[This message has been edited by Magnum4x (edited 09-12-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Magnum4x (edited 09-12-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Magnum4x (edited 09-12-2003).]

juju-bee · 09-12-2003, 07:22 AM

dear magnum:

wow! you got some major problems. my sister had 3 levels of nerve impingement on the left causing her dizziness, weakness, tingling in her arms and massive headaches. she had lost all use of the left arm. her herniations were not as bad as yours.

she had a four level fusion with cadaver bone with great results, in 1998. she returned to her job as a ups driver. however.... after that she has had two surgeries an the shoulders as both rotater cuffs were shot and she had huge bone spurs in both. she has also developed herniations in the lumbar now. she can no longer work. she is only 50 years old.

i feel so badly for you. all the things you are going thru are the pits! hang in there.

Magnum4x · 09-12-2003, 08:59 PM

thanks for responding juju its nice to know someone in todays world can take time out to support another person. Peace and God Bless You too thanks Magnum

NYFUSED · 09-12-2003, 09:18 PM

HI,
Wow, your results sounded similar to mine. Do you have alot of pain??? I don't want to scare you but Spurs can be very painful and they do not go away on their own. I had c4-5 herniated, c5-6 herniated and c6-7 herniated with spurs causing stenosis. I had ACDF C5-6-7 AND then post. laminectomy-foraminotomy c6-7 to remove the spur. It as not a success. I wish you luck and pray that you can take care of this without surgery.
Lori

laminectomy L4-5 2001 MVA 1990 & 1992
ACDF c5-6-7 10/2002 MVA 2/2002
post. laminectomy-foraminotomy C6-7 6/4/2003
STAPH INFEC. back in hosp. 7/4- 7/9/2003

Magnum4x · 09-12-2003, 10:03 PM

thanks for sharing with me I already have a failed L3-4-5 fusion with titanium rods and was scheduled for surgery 23rd of sept. I cancelled as I was having vertigo and severe like room spinning and getting sick. I went to a ENT Doctor and they checked my ears out as most people say ear problems will affect your balance and cause dizziness. I checked out ok but the dr. was good enough to be concerened and ordered a brain mri and a neck mri with and without contrast. Well i was shocked and feel like things are over for me after getting this report back. Looking back at it now i do have weak arms and biceps and neck pains but I just figured it was vascular or due to my inactivity. I can live with the weakness in the upper arms ect. but the vertigo attacks are life threatening to me. I should be a little better now atleast i know what is involved is my discs. It seems for something this severe that they would have me into the surgereon immediatley but I am scheduled to se NS sept 23. The same one that did my lower back. I am glad you share and comment with me as it gives me some hope and some Idea what to expect. Please excuse the spelling and typing. Thanks for sharing Mag