I have been injured at work. I am out on WC right now and am having a really hard time convincing any of the medical ppl I see that I have an injury. I have fought for an MRI of neck/back, which are the areas I was injured. I was granted a cervical MRI only.

The results are:

FINDINGS: there is generalized absence of cervical lordosis with element of cervical kyphosis being centered at C5. Vertebral body heights are well preserved. Mild 2 mm retrolisthesis at C5 relative to C6. Diffuse disc space dessication with early narrowing, most prominent at C5-6. Marrow signal is well preserved. Cord maintains normal signal throughout its cervical extent. The visualized posterior fossa unremarkable.

C2-3. Normal.

C3-4. Diffuse disc osteophyte complex with right paracentral predominant protrusion component causing cord contact and flattening at this aspect, AP cord dimension of 6mm. Uncovertebral involvement resulting in mild left and moderate right neural foraminal stenosis.

C4-5. Diffuse disc osteophyte complex with anterior CSF effacement, approaching, but not clearly contacting the cord. Early uncovertebral involvement resulting in mild right neural foraminal stenosis. Left neural foramen remains widely patent.

C5-6. Diffuse disc osteophyte complex with slight right paracentral predominance resulting in cord contact and flattening. Central canal stenosis with AP thecal sac dimension of 6 mm. Early uncovertebral involvement with mild right and moderate left neural foraminal stenosis.

C6-7. Diffuse disc osteophyt complex with left paracentral predominance. Early uncovertebral involvement with mild left neural foraminal stenosis. No right neural foraminal stenosis. Anterior CSF effacement with no cord contact.

C7-T1. Normal.

Impression: multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine, most prominent at C3-4 and C5-6 where there is significant central canal stenosis with cord contact and flattening. Multilevel neural foraminal stenosis as described above.


Now, I am a 44 year old female who is feeling that all the "insurance doctors" are saying that my injury is because I have arthritis. I have told all of them that I have lived with arthritis for many years and I have NEVER felt this kind of pain. I am losing bladder control. I have pain radiating from my neck to my shoulders and down my arms. I am starting to drop things occasionally from my hands. I have had carpal tunnel surgery bilaterally, so this was ruled out as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what this MRI actually says?