Hi I am new to this forum and I have some question's and I hope anyone here can help. I have had 2 herniated disk surgeries, 1 done about 4 years ago by an Orthopedic Surgeon and the 2nd one done 1 1/2 years later by Neurosurgeon. After my second surgery I began having numbness, tingling, stinging pain, and stiffness in both hands. It got so bad that in the morning's I could not move my finger's. This has been going on for 4 years and I had an MRI done for the back and neck 2 weeks ago because the pain started to radiate to my arms. My left arm had all the symptoms I stated above 3 days ago and any place I tried to move it the pain increased and I could barely lift my arm. I saw an Orthopedic Surgeon assist. and she said nothing is wrong with my MRI report. I don't know if anyone here can actual tell me what is going on by what my MRI report says because I can't. All I know is I'm in such severe pain I literally want to die.

It says in the MRI report: There is multi level disc bulging in the lumbar spine. There is a shallow smallish, broad left L5-S1 disc protrusion. There is mild to moderate left foraminal narrowing at this level. There are some arthritic changes of the L5-S1 apophyseal joints, probably osteoarthritic. Disc protrusion at T12-L1, Disc Bulging at L1-L2, L2-L3, L-3-L4,and L4-L-5.

For the neck the report said: Mild C3-C-4 and minimal C7-T-1 central canal stenoses due to generalized disc bulges. C4-C-5 Minimal right C5 neural foraminal stenosis secondary to uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.

My primary care doc. couldn't tell me much of anything, can anyone tell me what all that means in simple terms? Would this be the source of my hand and arm pain? Thanks so much for what ever you can share.