Good Morning,
Yesterday I picked up the official written report of an MRI. I still won't see the Dr. who ordered it for several weeks! so...was wondering if anyone could help me now what this means:

Findings:

Vertebral body height, marrow and alignment is within normal limits with mild multilevel disc desiccation.

Normal craniocervical junction without cerebellar ectopia.

Cord signal and morphology is normal throughout.
C2-C3: No significant disc protrusion, canal or foraminal stenosis.
C3-C4: ""
C4-C5: Disc desiccation with tiny right paracentral disc protrusion effacing the CSF and resulting in borderline canal stenosis. No forminal narrowing.
C5-C6: Disc disccation, with broad-based disc osteophyte ridge effacing the ventral thecal sac and results in mild canal stenosis,. Moderate left and mild right foraminal narrowing from uncovertebral arthrosis.
C6-C7: Disc desiccation, with shallow disc osteophyte ridge abuts the thecal sac with borderline canal narrowing. Moderate left and mild right foraminal narrowing from uncovertebral arthrosis.,

Impression:

1. When compared to MRI 8/3/2006, there has been minimal interval progression of disc desiccation at the C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels with no interval change in borderline canal stenosis. No new significant disc protursion. Clinical correlation advised for potention foraminal nerve root encroachment at these levels.

it sounds to me like things aren't bad, but if so..why do I hurt all the time?

Hello to you, and I am sorry you are hurting. I have severe degeneration, and facing fusion C3--7. When all this started it was with stenosis. This hurts just by itself sometimes. I cannot interperate your MRI, I don't know enough, but it seems you do have degeneration of your cervical spine below C4. You Neuro will tell you what if anything should be done about it. None of these issues are easy to deal with. I was as carefull as I could be about my neck, but it did continue with DDD and DJD. I hope you have a doctor that you like and that will tell you all you need to know, about now, and your furture prognosis. Keep posting to the list others do know more about reading the MRI and can help you ahead of time before you go in to dicuss it.

Hi, and welcome to NT! This is a great place to hang out with many friendly, caring and helpful people.

We're so glad you found us!

Below is a link that where I know you can find some answers:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

I am not by any means a doctor or have any medical training but i have have many MRIs and it sounds to me like you have some buldging disc. and the pain may be caused by those disc pressing against a nerve. I hope you get some relief from your pain soon.