My MRI Report for my neck
 

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I have been on Gabapentin and Tramadol for several months now. Had gone thru almost 6 months of Epidural Injections and still having pains Dr recommended Spinal Cord Stimulator but Health Insurance got canceled before I get to the appointment.

PROCEDURE:
MRI OF THE CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST
KNI - SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN IMAGING, MR, MRI SPINE CERVICAL WO
CONTRAST, 1 1 10812012, 19 :l 4.
Neck pain radiating to the right upper extremity.
A variety of imaging planes and parameters was utilized for visualization of the cervical
spine.
None.
FINDINGS: Motion artifacts are present.
CRANIOCERVICAL AREA: Normal.
PARASPINAL TISSUES: Normal.
CERVICAL CORD:
BONES:
Normal in size. No evidence of a syrinx or cord mass.
Mild anterolisthesis from C4-5 through C7-Tl. No bone mzurow edema, fracture,
or mass.
CERVICAL DISC LEVELS:
C2-C3: Degenerative change of the facets and uncinate hypertrophy resulting in moderate left foraminal
stenosis.
C3-C4: Broad-based disc osteophyte complex and uncinate hypertrophy resulting in mild spinal stenosis and
severe bilateral foraminal stenosis likely impinging on the exiting C4 nerves.
C4-C5: Broad-based disc osteophyte complex, uncinate hypertrophy, and facet degeneration resulting in mild
spinal stenosis and severe bilateral foraminal stenosis likely impinging on the exiting C5 nerves.
C5-C6: Broad-based disc osteophyte complex, uncinate hypertrophy, and facet degeneration resulting in mild
spinal stenosis, severe right foraminal stenosis, and mild-to-moderate left foraminal stenosis. Likely
impinging on the right C6 nerve.
C6-C7: Broad-based disc osteophyte complex and uncinate hypertrophy resulting in moderate right foraminal
stenosis. Mild spinal stenosis.
C7-Tl:. Moderate right foraminal stenosis.
CONCLUSION:
l. Exam is suboptimal secondary to motion artifacts. Mild spinal stenosis from C3-4 through C6-7. No cervical
cord compression, syrinx, or mass.
2. Multilevel foraminal stenosis likely impinging on the bilateral C4 nerves, bilateral C5 nerves, and right C6

Well I have discussed it with a surgeon and they recommended Spinal Cord Stimulator for treatment and stated i was not a candidate for surgery. I was very confused, but when I was about to go to see the Dr for the stimulator. My health insurance got canceled. SO i was stuck and I am still stuck and looking to the state for some help. I keep thinking to myself I am only 42 and this happening. had 3 emotional breakdowns already from it. I gained alot of weight. I went from 220 to 325 lbs. from taking medications and everything. also nearly almost broke my neck when i got out from bathing and slipped and fell and that is when another emotional breakdown. I couldn't get up off the floor everything hurt so bad. Call me a big sissy but real men do dry. and my wife god bless her she has been very supportive. And this my friend i think is only the beginning. I even have trouble typing because it causes pain to run from neck to my hand. hope this explains some of the issues I am having.

Your pain
 

I have all this degeneration in my back and neck so always dealing with pain. Right now I am having emotional break-downs as let a chiropractor touch my neck which I did once before and ended up in agony and here I am again. If you can take a methypredisone pack, it may help. Therapy usually helps Also use heat and ice. My pain is burning pain which I did not have with the last few bouts of pain down my arms. I don't have severe stenosis but it probably is on its way since I have moderate areas of stenosis. I sure wish I knew why life has to be so rough for some of as we age. I had no clue till hit my 50's that my lower back is in such a mess. Now I am dealing with other painful issues on top of the neck. Try and stay healthy. I know it is hard as right now I am pretty much unmotivated to do anything. Depression sure can take hold. Hope in time some of the pain eases up. I know how hard it can be.

yup i did that yesterday it was a total bad idea. Now I am suffering in pain.

There are degrees of suffering, and some people do not use words lightly. Because he is suffering now does not mean he wasn't in pain prior to seeking help. I infer his meaning to be that he is in substantially more pain now than before.

Doc

reply
 

thank you for your kind words

initially I went to this office to try and get my back in better shape. Deep Tissue and PT at the chiro office then I went to see a different PT who I thought might give me suggestions to keep me out of back spasm I have a slipped veterbrae and more low back he did a lot of pushing on my neck that gave me pain because I had been dealing with it a few wks and talked to this chiro I trusted him and should have not as have had problems before with chiro yrs ago He did deep tissue and used an adjustment on me-- I did not want and stretched me. The burning pain won't go out of my arms now. I fear he started neuropathy there. I have had feeling of vibrations there before but never the burning. So that is where I am at. I tried 100 mg of neurotin last night and was in bed most of the day. I just can't take these drugs and not feel so sedated. It is very distressing knowing the PN can get worse drugs and I just don't do well... I wanted Tramadol which some seem to use but the dr would not give me any... at least I can still function but be very sleepy guess I need to find a dr will help...

My spine is the opposite; degeneration/pain began in the neck (and headaches) in my mid-40s, and the lumbar problems began a few years later. I'm not sure I could have done anything differently; I didn't abuse my back/body to have this happen, and there is no known family history. 'Tis a puzzlement, but it's what I have to deal with, so we try to make the best of things.

I'm extremely motivated, but unable to do, which leads to anger & frustration, which turn into depression. Somehow I've been able to fight/fend off/ignore the depression, though the anger and frustration remain. Awareness of the Kübler-Ross model applied to chronic illness and the Vicious Cycle of chronic pain and what-have-you have helped me considerably. I've learned how to channel the anger in positive ways; the frustration however endures and seethes... :mad:

Doc

What I meant to say was it made it worse. He was working on my lower back. But was doing some kind of thing on my neck it made a popping sound and it really hurt when he popped it on my neck with it. But however If you're calling me a fraud But I rest assure you that not the case. I went to chiropractor for help But he stated to me that there was nothing he can do for my neck but he can do something for my lower back. But after dealing with 1 week of really bad pains I couldn't even walk or get out of bed or anything. After that I told myself I wasn't going back. Does the pain ever go away? Will god ever answer my prayers? going on 2 years of pain and suffering and it's getting worse. Several Moments where I just sat here started crying but it hurts even more when i start crying. had pain in my back that made me felt like I was having seizures. right hand last 2 fingers keeps going numb and tingling spent numerous times in bathroom Nauseated and throwing up But don't have the Flu or stomach virus.. Just when is enough is enough!

Nope, not calling you a fraud; I would never do that. If I went for back pain and someone adjusted my neck and created a problem, I'd be ****** too.

****** ok, I'll change that to "upset"

Hello walterinpain
 

Welcome to Neuro Talk. Yes this does sound like what many of us have had to go through. You found a good site for information. I am in no way a professional. Over the last years I have learned a bit on the general language to tip a person off on just what is going on. When an issue says mild, or moderate, that is usually not an issue for surgery. However anything that says severe, and "nerve impingement" on the exiting C4-5 nerves, That is an issue. No matter what your neurologist wants to do, make sure you get another opinion. This really is important, to have two fields of medicine on the same page for your options. All conservative treatment should be tried first. Surgery is always a last resort.
I have had two cervical fusions, currently at C3-7. None of the spinal issues are fun to go through. I came here for the same reason as you. The folks here got me through my last surgery with a better attitude. Will be here to listen any time. I wish you all the best in what ever you chose to do. Hope your doctors treat you well. ginnie:grouphug:

What did he pop on your neck with?:confused:
his hand, some sort of tool (activator) or something else?

you can look up chiro adjustments on your tube and you may see what it was that he used... I'm just curious about that part, it shouldn't matter what it was.. whatever did happen, should be able to be reversed..

I wonder if you seek out a very highly skilled DC or two, and request an evaluation only, take your MRI report with you, and tell what happened and ask if the increased pain can be returned to where it was before the other chiro adjustment was done..

But i know it is scary to consider letting another do any adjusting..so I do suggest talking with & interviewing quite a few to find the best and one you feel is trust worthy..
They should require fresh or very recent imaging or x rays I would think..to maybe see what is going on now as opposed to the time of MRI - unless it was very recent.. and was MRI before or after that chiro adjustment?

Have you done web searches to learn more about these terms used in your MRI?
Broad-based disc osteophyte complex, uncinate hypertrophy, and facet degeneration resulting in mild
spinal stenosis, severe right foraminal stenosis, and mild-to-moderate left foraminal stenosis. Likely
impinging on the right C6 nerve.

I have done my research and it shows me that it is a serious condition. I do apologize at times i am dumbfounded about what some of these things really mean and I get confused because it is all related to my spine.

I found this at healthtap.com

A foramen (meaning "window") is an opening that allows a nerve root from your spinal cord to pass through. At each level of your spine, you have two foramina -- one on each side -- that permit the nerves from that particular level to emerge from the spinal canal and travel to whatever structures they supply. The uncinate process is a hook-shaped bony lump that protrudes upward from each side of the upper surface of the vertebrae in your neck. The uncinate process normally forms one edge of a foramen; when the uncinate process becomes hypertrophic (enlarged) -- usually due to arthritis -- it narrows the foramen, thereby providing less room for the nerve root to pass through. In some cases, uncinate hypertrophy can cause pinching of the nearby nerve root. In short, then, "foraminal stenosis from uncinate process hypertrophy" means the opening for one of the nerve roots in your neck is being crowded by an enlarged bony projection (a bone spur, if you will).

https://www.healthtap.com/user_quest...hy-on-the-left