MRI results losing feeling in my arms and legs and bladder
 

I have been having problems with my left arm for a few years now and it has finally gotten to the point where I am unable to open a bottle of water. I have done physical therapy, strength training for my neck and back, pain meds that I hate taking, steroids both orally and injected in my neck. Last year the "pain specialist" wanted to burn off the nerve roots. I refused. I had another MRI last week (my 4th since 2008) and just got the results.
Findings:
There is straightening of the cervical lordosis. Preferential tissues normal. Cerebellar tonsils are normally situated.
C2-3 and C3-4: Normal
C4-5: Annular bulge. No central or foramina stenosis
C5-6: Moderate to marked right foramina narrowing by disc osteophyte complex. Posterior disc osteophyte complex indents the spinal cord. Left neural foramen is mildly stenosis.
C6-7: Left central protrusion contacts the spinal cord and anterior rootlets. Protrusion spares the left neural foramen. Moderate right for animal narrowing by uncinate spurring.
C7-T1: Small left central protrusion without impingement. Foramina are adequately patent.
T1-2: Annular bulge. No significant central or foramina stenosis.
T2-3: Disc bulge and mild right uncinate spurring. No significant central or foramina stenosis.
T3-4: Normal
I just celebrated my 50th birthday and was told by the "pain specialist" to chalk it up to old age and arthritis. My guts tells me that this isn't true, I'm apprehensive about my upcoming appointment with this man.. I want to ask for a second opinion. The loss of feeling is getting worse now effecting my walking. I hurt to sit, stand out lay for any length of time. Is this something I must learn to live with? Someone help my understand what is happening in layman's terms please. It would be most appreciated. I'm running out of coffee mugs and the laundry is piling up.

C6-7: Left central protrusion contacts the spinal cord and anterior rootlets.

So this is the main one that I see , contacts cord L side..
Has a spinal surgeon seen the images & report?

Do you do repetitive tasks or desk job that might cause added arm pain?

I'm not sure. I have an appointment with my family practice dr tomorrow morning. My daughter is coming with to make sure I am not sent back to the"pain specialist" (he is the same one that wanted to burn off my nerve roots. I guess that was his idea of dealing with me. I'm not sure what I'm dealing with or just how serious this is. I'm tired of being left in the dark. I just want someone to tell me what is going on and if it can be fixed or if I just need to accept what is happening. Any information would be appreciated. Questions I could ask or additional tests that should be done...
I have noticed a numb patch on my chest now, I just wish I knew what was happening to me. I'm scared.

I'm sorry, yes I do some desk work at a computer. I also work in the child care field. However since the symptoms have gotten worse and the strength in my hands arms and legs have decreased I have stopped working, I won't compromise the safety of the children. They mean the world to me and I couldn't bear the thought of something happening. I have now made the decision not to go back to see the"pain specialist" I have been dealing with this for 8 years the pain comes and it goes, but the loss of feeling and weakness is not improving it's just getting worse and spreading. I now have a numb patch on my chest by my collarbone. I just want answers and for someone to treat me like a person who has feelings and not just some words in a file on a computer screen. I am not going to just roll over and give up, I have way too much to do in life. Just point me in the right direction and what questions to ask and what type of Dr to see. Please... I have a horrible feeling in my stomach that getting the answers without knowing what to ask and so on just won't happen.

Good News (I hope) I think...
 

Okay, so I went to see my family Dr this morning. He told me that he would not send me to the, "pain specialist" because of his review of the most recent MRI. (My family Dr was on vacation and just got back, he was unaware of what was happening. I had to see a different Dr who ordered the MRI). My family Dr was shocked at the progression of the loss of feeling and strength, he felt bad about listening to the arrogant"pain specialist" in the first place. I'm now waiting for a neurosurgeon from Abbott to call with my appointment time. My Dr told them he wants me in there ASAP. I'm scared and still unsure of what questions to ask him. Surgery scares the heck out of me, but I can't go on like this. What do ask him, what can I expect???:Help: please... I understand everyone's super busy, if anyone has suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much for your assistance and support!!!

The neurosurgeon told me today that my MRI scan is "normal for a woman my age that has arthritis" and that there's "... nothing I see that worries me."
Then he tells me that I need to go see a neurologist. Because a neurologist deals with nerves, that he is a "neurosurgeon".
I left with no answers, more questions and was briskly shown out the door in shock,not knowing if I should be upset or angry or insulted.. So, now I feel like a complete fool for bothering this important man with my insignificant concerns about losing the feeling in my arms, legs and chest. I have decided that I will just live with what is happening to me and attempt to come to terms with the fact that either my insurance isn't good enough or my pockets aren't deep enough or something else needs to happen like losing the ability to walk before anyone will do anything. Thank you for your time.

Is there any way to seek out a spine specialist , thru the local hospitals??
or asking at Phys therapy clinics?
They should know name of good spine docs..
You should be able to get a CD of the MRI & the report to take for other opinions.

If the arms are the longest ongoing issue, some of that could be posture /job related..
one of our other forum areas that relate to RSI/TOS -
http://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-ou...les-polls.html
http://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-ou...rps-short.html
main page -
http://www.neurotalk.org/forum24/

Sorry I had to remove the links
I messaged my Dr and told him what the neurosurgeon told me, he asked me if wanted a second opinion. I said that if the numbness is nerve related then I guess I should go see a neurologist to find out what he tells me. I explained the entire visit with the neurosurgeon and how I voiced my concerns about surgery and the fact that I have RSD, and that and I was worried about surgery causing a flair or worse actually cause the RSD to spread; the neurosurgeon promptly became visibly upset. When he asked me to describe the symptoms, I said that I have these areas that feels like... like when you get a Novocain shot and the Novocain starts to wear off, you can feel it but it's still numb. I told him how the neurosurgeon sat up very straight in his chair and started speaking to me in a very condescending tone after I told him I have RSD from a broken little toe. He stared at me and said, I am a neurosurgeon, I do surgery, do you understand? It was almost as if I was wasting his time. I didn't mean to, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to make things worse by having surgery.
My family doctor told me that he would put in a referral to the neurologist if I wanted or I could get a second opinion from a different neurosurgeon. I told him that I would see the neurologist first and start PT while I wait. So now I have an appointment on August 10th to see a neurologist and I start PT on the 8th.
I guess what upsets me is the fact that I have been complaining about the numbness NOT pain. I'm use to pain, I have been dealing with that for 12 years. I don't want pain meds, I have two scripts that I have not filled because I don't need them, I told the neurosurgeon that I wouldn't fill them and he goes well you said that you have some burning in your neck I finally just said whatever. I wasn't getting any where with him. When a Dr I trust tells me to do something I do what I am told, I exercise daily, I don't slouch and I still have these issues with my neck. The MRIs are progressively getting worse and I feel like I am being shuffled around between Drs. I'm tired of not being listened to by these specialist. my family doctor knows me and knows what to ask me to understand what I am trying to say. I trust him and his opinion. I'm not sure what else to say. I just know that everything I have seen in the MRI scans and read in the findings, it is getting worse and fast.

I didn't know you had RSD also.. that is a tough one..