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MRI results are sometimes confusing, but things are written in ways to tell your treating doctor what the structural part looks like.

Protrusion is a pretty bad stage of disc problems. You have a bulge that's almost a herniation, actually a sneeze or little bump could cause a herniation. Your disc is soft tissue. Not bone. It's the cushion between your vertebrae/bone. It acts as a shock absorber for your spinal column.

A protrusion is between a bulge (like a knot on a tire) and a herniation (like an opening in a doughnut and some of the jelly is coming out, on a microscopic basis.

The stenosis is narrowing of the openings for the nerve roots to come off the spinal cord. So can cause lots of pain when inflamed.

Protrusions can cause lots of pain too.

There's not protection for the neck. The head weighs about 8 to 10 lbs. Sometimes the weight of ones head can cause pain and weakness too.

I have herniations and bulges in my discs in my neck area. Not easy to live with. Not easy to work with. I always say things could be worse. I"m still working, but self-employed. It made a difference, to be able to lay down if I needed to. I did stress my job though.

Have you had PT? I lived in therapy for 7 1/2 years. Some helped, some things didn't.

Tried all kinds of things for relief.

If it's a new injury, and not a preexisting condition, then you're new to this level of pain. You will find lots of info here to bring you up to speed with things. So many people to share with.

It's tough, so don't be a stranger. We're here for you