Hi,
I have neck pain and spasms, pain that radiates from neck down right arm pain, upper left back numbness, and a tremor in my left hand. The doctor ordered a cervical mri. After getting the results she referred me to a neurosurgeon. I am looking for opinions on MRI results below. Do you think surgury will be necessary?

Thanks,
Melissa T.

HISTORY: Neck pain for several weeks, shooting pains down right arm.

PROCEDURE: Multiplanar, multisequence images of the cervical spine was done.

FINDINGS: There is straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. Anterior
spondylosis is seen at C4-C5, C5-C6. This is confirmed on the plain films of
11/23/2011 showing anterior spondylosis at C5-C6. Disk space height loss is
seen at this level with degenerative disk.

On transaxial images C2-C3, C3-C4 there is no neurocanal or neuroforaminal
stenosis or focal disk protrusion.

C4-C5: Diffuse circumferential bulge is seen that is asymmetric to the right
with right paracentral disk protrusion. This abuts the cord, but does not
flatten it. The neuroforamina is patent.

C5-C6: Disk osteophyte is seen with asymmetry to the right that effaces and
flattens the cord. This extends partially into both neuroforamina right greater
than left.

C6-C7: Small right paracentral disk protrusion is seen without an abutment of
the cord. The neuroforamina is patent.

C7-T1: There is no neurocanal or neuroforaminal stenosis or focal disk
protrusion.

IMPRESSION:
1.) Degenerative disk seen at C5-C6 with anterior spondylosis. Diffuse disk
osteophyte is seen with asymmetry to the right with flattening of the cord.
2.) At C4-C5 there is a right paracentral disk protrusion seen that abuts the
cord.
3.) Straightening of the normal cervical lordosis seen with small right
paracentral disk protrusion at C6-C7.

JOB: 166802[/I]