Spinal stenosis..... What does my MRI mean?
 

Had an MRI done on my cervical area. Haven't been to the doctor yet but was wondering what my MRI report means?

I've been contemplating getting surgery due to the pain, numbness and burning I'm getting in my arms and foot.

Results:

No cord signal abnormality is appreciated. The cervical vertebrae are normally aligned. The normal cervical lordosis is straightened. The intervetebral disks are midly desiccated. The disk heights are preserved. Marrow signal is unremarkable. There is mild left facet joint hypertrophy at all cervical levels.

Impression:

1. Small disk protrusions/herniations at c4-5, c6-7, and t2-3 without spinal stenosis or cord impingement.
2. Left paracentral disk protrusion/herniation causing mild spinal stenosis and cord impingement at c5-6.
3. Moderate narrowing of the left neural foramina at c5-6 and c6-7.
4. Mild left facet arthropathy at c7-t1.
5. Straightening of the normal cervical lordosis, which may be related to positioning or muscle spasm.

Really wondering if my results are severe enough to warrant surgery.

Hi there,

I read your other post and then this one, and although I'm by no means an expert on reading your MRI, I do have first hand experience to how you are feeling, how frustrating it is to understand it all, and how tiring and depressing the chronic pain is to handle. Please hang in there, try to stay as positive as you can, a good attitude really helps you feel better.

I have DDD which was complicated by repetive strain injury, and had 5 disc herniations in my C spine before having an ACDF on C5, C6 & C7 on March 2 of this year. I have a titanium plate and 6 screws w/ cadaver bone. My surgery went well, no complications really, but it did NOT solve my pain or issues with nerve damage. I still have a lot of pain in my cervical spine, I still have numbness in my fingers, I still have a lot of pain in my traps, shoulders and down my arms. The surgery did help with my neck, I was to the point that I couldn't move very much without being in complete agony, and my range of motion is a bit better now. I'm glad I had the surgery. But surgery will not cure you of your pain. I also made sure I exhausted ALL options before I had the surgery, and you should too.

Your MRI only shows "mild" narrowing and "small" disc protrusions, so in my opinion you should wait as long as possible before having surgery. Get many opinions and learn everything you can. The surgery is rough, the recovery is very long (I'm still off work and it's been 5 months) and once they go into your neck they disrupt nerves and muscles and really aggravate everything in your neck. Don't rush into anything.

Be careful with the pushups, find a good physiotherapist that can help you with posture and make sure you don't overdo it with free weights if you are going to the gym a lot. Take care of your body, be kind to your neck.

Try ice packs and heating pads, I alternate them, also, biofreeze can offer a bit of relief when trying to get comfortable to sleep at night. I have a hard time with the pain in my hands also when sleeping, and biofreeze helps a bit. Light massages help a bit, and if you really want to work out try doing it in a pool, much kinder on your neck and it relieves some of the pressure off the nerves.

I hope you find some answers you are looking for. This is a great forum, there are lots of others who can offer great tips, words of wisdom and support.

Take care and keep us posted on what the dr says.
Cathie

Thx for your reply.

People keep telling me to consider surgery as an absolute last choice.

I'm considering giving physical therapy and an epidural injection again.

I've stopped doing pushups. Just feel the risks outweigh the benefits.

How are you doing now?
 

Love to hear an update.

Surgery is so so so risky, and one knows what they deal with NOW, but after it could be lots worse. And surgery can't be undone. Live with as best one can, do other protocols, stretch, look into Prolotherapy and PRP/Stem Cells...there is a lot to consider.