And yes, you are showing definite possibility for nerve compression in your cervical spine, particularly of the nerve roots, which pass through the spinal vertebral openings--the foramina--on their way to other parts of the body from the spinal cord.

Fortunately, you don't seem to have "significant central canal compromise" which might thereby involve compression of the spinal cord itself, which is usually considered a more serious concern than foraminal narrowing/nerve root compression.

You should have a good spinal doctor correlate these imaging findings with your actual symptoms. Nerve root compression symptoms tend to occur in specific locations corresponding to the areas that the roots go to ennervate, called dermatomes. We have some dermatomal maps in the Useful Website section of the Spinal Disorder forums here, which would be a good place to look and post--

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

Welcome walkfordogs.

Hi Glenntaj,
Thank you so much for your help. When you say spinal doctor, how would I find the best one in the Overland Park, KS area? Right now I just have my neurologist, Dr. Kimberly Cochran at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. The next step she wanted to do based on the findings from the MRI, is for me to get a MRG of my left arm to check all my nerves. Do you know anything about this procedure? Why would she have me do another procedure? Also, would it be premature for me to have a physical therapist start helping me with some relief for the bulging discs? Thanks so much, again!!
Kathy from Overland Park, KS.

--with doctors in the Kansas/Missouri area, and don't know how far you'd be willing to travel; perhaps someone on the Spinal Disorders forum would know more.

I'm not familiar with a test called an MRG--usually that stands for microradiography, which is a lab technique--is the doctor possibly referring to a nerve conduction study (NCV) or electromyography (EMG)?

I think physical therapy may well be a good idea, though it may take some time to find one who is familiar with spinal problems and with techniques, such as gentle traction, designed to help create some more foraminal space.

Could you direct me to how to find the Spinal Disorders Forum? I'm slowly learning my way around this wonderful website!!


I will look into Physical Therapy to help with some relief, and make sure they are trained in the Spinal area. Great advice, thanks!

Thanks much,
Kathy

Here's a link to the Spinal Disorders & Back Pain Forum:


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

walkfordogs,

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene