C5-6: Mild broad-based posterior disc protrusion, without spinal
stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing.

IMPRESSION: Mild degenerative changes of the cervical spine.


My doctor says this is common and nothing looks like is being impinged. But I have symptoms in my thumb sometimes it feels weird and shoulder (I also injured my serratus anterior so not sure if related). If my disc is bulging in my neck how can I get it back to normal? I'm only 36. Thanks in advance!

--that a finding of mild degenerative changes is very common as we age--fortunately there does not seem to be any obvious impingment on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

But--that doesn't mean you couldn't have some compressive forces that are symtomatic, and they may be coming from other areas. The nerves that lead to the hand can be impinged in the neck, but also the shoulder (you should check out the Thoracic Outlet forum here), in the upper arm, at the elbow, and even in the wrist--it may take significantly more nerve testing, partiuclarly EMG/nerve conduction studies, to pinpoint a compressed area.