I have been having neck pain for some time, i am 57 and my MRI i just had shows this......my doctor is sending me to a neck/back doctor. but put me on something called "gabapentin"? Anyways, i read some of your comments/questions before i signed up......Am i looking a surgery?
Scared on Hat Island, Wa.


MRI OF THE CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST

EXAM DATE: May 7, 2015.

HISTORY: Persistent neck pain for 3 months.

COMPARISON: No prior MRI.

PROCEDURE: MRI of the cervical spine without contrast per routine.

FINDINGS:
No acute vertebral body height loss. Slight degenerative retrolisthesis of C4 on C5, C5 on C6, and C6 on C7. No acute marrow edema or prevertebral soft tissue thickening. No acute edema or asymmetric fatty atrophy of the posterior paraspinal muscles.

Normal MRI appearance of the cervical spinal cord. As far as partially visualized near the midline, posterior fossa structures are intact.

C2-C3: Moderate foraminal stenosis on the left from prominent asymmetric left side hypertrophic degenerative facet arthropathy with anteriorly directed spurring impinging the left neural foramen. Patent central canal and right foramen. No disk
herniation.

C3-C4: Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis mainly from facet degenerative hypertrophy. No disk herniation. Patent central canal. No significant disk space narrowing.

C4-C5: Moderate degenerative disk disease. Minimal ventral thecal sac indentation by posterior disk/osteophyte complex, no significant central stenosis or cord impingement however. Mild to moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis from uncinate process
spurring and facet arthropathy.

C5-C6: Moderate degenerative disk disease. Minimal ventral thecal sac indentation by shallow posterior disk bulge. Mild central stenosis. No cord impingement. Bilateral degenerative foraminal stenosis from uncinate process spurring and facet arthropathy,
mild to moderate on the right and moderate to severe on the left.

C6-C7: Moderate degenerative disk disease. Shallow broad-based posterior degenerative disk/osteophyte complex without significant central stenosis or cord impingement. Bilateral foraminal stenosis, mild on the left and moderate on the right from uncinate
process spurring, potentially accompanied by shallow intraforaminal disk bulge.

C7-T1: Unremarkable.

IMPRESSION-
1. No significant-appearing central stenosis, cord impingement or focal cord lesion.
2. Prominent multilevel degenerative foraminal stenosis, most evident on the left at C2-C3, left greater than right at C4-C5, bilaterally at C5-C6, and right greater than left at C6-C7.
3. Degenerative disk disease with slight subluxations is most prominent at C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7.

Hello Laura,
Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

I am guessing that you've been reading on the Spinal forum. Here is the link below.
Spinal Disorders & Back Pain Forum

In one of the 'Sticky' threads at the top of that main forum is a thread that may help you decipher your results.

Medical Dictionary & MRI/CT Terminology

I'm sorry you're feeling scared about your results and are worried if you need surgery or not. The best person to talk to about that is your doctor. Hopefully you don't have to wait very long. I also hope that you get some relief in the meantime from the Gabapentin.

Hi Laura

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Like you, I am a fairly new member but one thing that I have learned is that the community is a very supportive and knowledgeable one.

All the best.

Hi Laura,

It is normal to be scared of the unknown and, as Lara says, the best place for interpretation/dx is your Doctor. However, there ARE knowledgeable Members here who may be able to give you clues as to what this all means. Just follow Lara's Link.

While you are at it, if you would like personal experiences about Gabapentin, Post on our Medications Forum, here:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html

Or use the Keyword Search function.

While learning about your condition and possible outlook is a positive step, I would also suggest calming Breathing exercises, Meditation or even gentle Yoga, if you can manage, to relieve stress and strengthen the mind.

Of course, you also have the support of the Community here for anything we can offer.

Dave.

I am not a doctor and so take whatever I say with a bucket of salt. Having said that, your MRI report is nothing remarkable for your age. Detail your symptoms and speak with your doctor about PT. PT can affect posture and fix tight muscles that impinge on nerves elsewhere causing your nerves to flare up and over and above beyond the impingement mentioned above.
Its like a few kinks in the garden hose. Straigten a few out and the rest may not matter as enough water reaches where its supposed to.
Best of luck.

Welcome laura4258.

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.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene