I am a disabled veteran from the US Air Force. I have to go to the VA Hospital for all of my medical care.

I am having a lot of problems and pain in and with my back, neck, shoulders, legs (primarily including my hips and knees). I am having a hard time standing and especially sitting.

I have told my doctor. She finally ordered a MRI. I was told that they were going to be scanning my whole spine, but afterwards I was told that they only scanned my cervical spine...something about having to cut cost.

I have included the MRI results, below.
I do not know what this all means, Could someone please comment and leave me some kind of an answer.

Please be as detailed as you can in your answers.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Cervical Spine:
1. There is mild straightening of the cervical spine with loss of normal lordosis. The vertebral body height and alignment are otherwise grossly unremarkable. There is no gross bone marrow abnormality.

2. Some minimal linear artifactual signal is visualized on special on C5-6 and C6-7 otherwise the craniocervical junction and the visualized spinal cord appear unremarkable.

3. At C3-4, there is minimal disc osteophyte complex without stenosis.

4. At C6-7, there is mild disc osteophyte complex with moderate right lateral disk protrusion. There is mild left and moderate right foraminal narrowing.

------------------------------------------------------------

Now when my doctor mailed me my MRI results...she included at the top of the letter this:

The MRI of the cervical spine showed arthritic changes with the most significant changes noted at the C6-7 area. I would suggest that you see Dr. Smith in the pain clinic for evaluation for steroid injections. If you are interested in this please contact the clinic and I will make the referral.



So now, could someone please give me some professional opinions.....or any kind of an opinion? I just know that I hurt so badly. I take no pain medicine (they haven't given me anything).
I am trying to continue working a full time job where I have to sit constantly for 10 hours a day for 4 days...I get up when I can but I pay for it.
I wish they had done an MRI on the rest of my spine and my shoulders......I don't know what to do.

I know that there is no way to determine how the rest of my back and spine is, but so far is this something that I could take medicine for to help relieve the pain.

Would you say that these would be "Real Issues"
or would it be something that a doctor would just say, "Oh that's it....that's not that bad...it's basically nothing."

Thank you for your help!

CrazyKat