[LindaWing]

I was involved in a pretty severe car accident where I was hit by a drunk driver. It happened May 15, 2009 and I just recently had an MRI done. I received the results along with my neuro doc and he did not mention anything was wrong. So I am open to someone else to helping me understand the content.

Comparison: None

Technique: An MRI of the cervical spine was obtained utilizing sagittal T1, sagittal T2, and selected axial gradient echo images without the administration of intravenous contrast.

Findings: There is straightening if the normal cervical largest cyst. Disc desiccation is seen from C2-3 through C6-7. Disc space narrowing is seen at C5-6,C6-7, and C7-T1. tiny anterior osteophytes are present at multiple levels. The vertebral body heights and alignment are well preserved. no signal abnormality is seen within visualized marrow cavities. The visualized portion of the spianal cord appears normal. No soft tissue masses are seen.

From C2-3 to C4-5 the disc. thecal sac, and neural foramina are normal.

At C5-6 small posterior marginal osteophytes are present. The AP diameter of the thecal sac and the neural foramen are normal.

At C6-7 and C7-T1 the disc, thecal sac, and neural foramen are normal.

Impression: Minimal Degenerative Disc Disease at C5-6 with no central spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing seen.



So with all of this info CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT!

[dahlek]

make an appointment or call the doc who ordered the test and ASK QUESTIONS! I've not been in your situation, but, I've found that if I ASK, for explantations/clarity etc. I can get it...but be sure to keep a notepad in hand and write faster than you've ever done before! It's doubly hard to make notes and process the info at the same time to ask more questions! So ending any visit/call, leave the door open w/a Can I ask you more later? Once I've processed this all? Likely the doc SHOULD say yes... Any which way. Be sure you've got that copy of the 'report' in your hands and bring a copy of that to any other docs you mite go and see.
NONE of anything neuro is fun when it HURTS! I'd check out the 'spinal forums' and see if they can help you more...
Follow your instincts as to what you know is wrong, or at least...not right! Keep faith, read and learn... I know folks here and elsewhere, but mostly that INSTINCT saved my life from something likely worse.
!'s for the interim - j

[Jomar]

I'm not sure what this means - "straightening if the normal cervical largest cyst"??

Basically this part says the overall opinion of the person that reads the MRI.
[Impression: Minimal Degenerative Disc Disease at C5-6 with no central spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing seen.]

Degenerative Disc Disease = DDD for short
small osteophytes & tiny anterior osteophytes = I think fairly normal for middle age - I have some & my sis does too

What is your age?
What symptoms or pain are you having?
If you can describe them and the locations we might be able to help from that angle.

Sometimes the cause of the real pain & symptoms won't show up on the MRI - especially if soft tissue injuries.

[LindaWing]

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

I'm not sure what this means - "straightening if the normal cervical largest cyst"??

Basically this part says the overall opinion of the person that reads the MRI.
[Impression: Minimal Degenerative Disc Disease at C5-6 with no central spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing seen.]

Degenerative Disc Disease = DDD for short
small osteophytes & tiny anterior osteophytes = I think fairly normal for middle age - I have some & my sis does too

What is your age?
What symptoms or pain are you having?
If you can describe them and the locations we might be able to help from that angle.

Sometimes the cause of the real pain & symptoms won't show up on the MRI - especially if soft tissue injuries.

I am only 29 i have had so much pain in my neck and headaches out of this world. Along with my neck injury i also fractured my T3 and T5. Most of the pain in my neck is located at the right side.

[LindaWing]

I just turned 29. I have great pain in my neck mostly on the right side along with headaches that are out of this world. I also fractured my T3 and T5. I went in and had steroid injections in my neck Friday and my neck is so painful I can barely hold my head up. I am scared that I aggrevated something more severe.

[LindaWing]

i made a mistake it was sraighting of the normal cervical largest cyst

[Jomar]

I've heard of straightening of the cervical curve, but I don't know about the cyst part of it.

Hopefully someone here will have better knowledge on that part.

Was the accident a whiplash type or did you hit your head, neck, shoulders?

Is the pain in the actual neck vertebra area or in the muscles?

You are probably having some major muscle spasms, w/possible trigger points. PT / massage modalities should help with some of it.

does your chiro do c1/c2 adjustments? also called upper cervical, atlas /axis?
PS
sorry I got your post mixed up with another similar one.
Have you considered an expert chiropractor?

[Leesa]

All it says is your discs are drying out, and you have bone spurs - that's what osteophytes are. Degenerative disc disease is just a fancy word for drying out of discs. Everyone gets that as they grow older, but some of us have pain with it. It can also cause the discs to smash down, and bulge or herniate.

I don't have a clue what that largest cyst is all about. That doesn't make a lick of sense to me and I've been reading MRI's for years! I guess you'll have to ask your doc.

Best of luck! I hope your problems subside. God bless. Hugs, Lee

[LindaWing]

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

I've heard of straightening of the cervical curve, but I don't know about the cyst part of it.

Hopefully someone here will have better knowledge on that part.

Was the accident a whiplash type or did you hit your head, neck, shoulders?

Is the pain in the actual neck vertebra area or in the muscles?

You are probably having some major muscle spasms, w/possible trigger points. PT / massage modalities should help with some of it.

does your chiro do c1/c2 adjustments? also called upper cervical, atlas /axis?
PS
sorry I got your post mixed up with another similar one.
Have you considered an expert chiropractor?

I have not been to a chiro my insurance does not cover that. However I am going to a pain clinic who has started doing cervical injections. The pain is not from the muscles but deeper down. When I get active I start to hurt so bad and I get this pulsating feeling from the base of my skull to my lower back. It almost feels like my spinal cord is being squeezed. The accident was more of a whipblash i guess u could say. I was driving and i was rear ended. I was hit so hard it ripped my driver seat out and put me in the back seat. Im just thankful to be alive!

[Kathi49]

Linda, do you know what TYPE of injections the pain doc was doing? There are trigger point, facet and selective nerve root. I have had them all. And just wanted to add it is not uncommon for pain to increase after an injection. Also, how many did he do?