Hi, I am hoping someone is able to help me understand what my MRI results mean as I suffer sever pain but I feel I am not getting the right answers. I recently had an MRI and these were the results:

Cervical: There is flattening of the normal cervical lordosis. There are posterior disc bars present from C3 to C7. There are fatty endplate changes. Moderately severe narrowing of both right and left C4 formina. Severe narrowing of both right and left at C4 C6 and C7 exit foramina. The C3-4 disc is causing mild flattening of the anteria cord. Also flattening of the cord posteria to the c4-5 disc and more extensive flattening posterior to C6-7 where there is aome increased signal within the cord.

Lumbar: L2-L3 disc shows evidence of loss and height signal. There is a small broad based posterior disc bulge at this level which is causing mild anterior thecal effacement. The L3-L4 disc returns a relatively normal signal but there is a small disc bulge causing nild abterior thecal effacement. There is a rather dysplastic L3-L4 facet joint on the left.

I am in intense pain especially in my lower back and have a lot of numbness and tingling in my lims and left side of my body. Is there anything that can be done to help me? The above does not really make much sense to me.

I look forward to receiving a response and, I guess, talking to someone who understands my pain.

I'm very sorry you have this severe pain. I'll due my best to explain what I know. The flattening cervical lordosis means the natural curve is now more flattened or straight.
Foramen is the area where the nerves exit the cord throught the bones. You can google these terms if you want to see a diagram which may be helpful in understanding the different parts. So narrowing foramen could be putting pressure on the root nerves at these levels.C3-4 disc sounds like it's flattening the spinal cord .

Your lumbar region L2-3 3-4has some disc bulges that could be causing alot of pain. Have you seen a neuro or ortho for a full neurological check up after thet they can orfer a plan of action such as nerve test (emg) injections for testing and pain or you may need surgery. Just try to look up what you can and Make sure you have questions ready for them it's your body and you have a right to understand what's going on and what can be done for you. Just hang in there it can take sometime for them to figure it all out.

I never cease to be amazed that people such as yourself, having undergone an expensive MRI, are left to searching on the internet to have the results explained.
I'd have thought that whoever authorised the MRI procedure would take an interest in the results and what they mean to you.
Have you followed this up with your prescribing doctor?
I know with the humble x-ray they analyse the pictures in relation to what the stated medical problem was, and you are then able to see how you are affected.
I can't believe this is not also part of the MRI process.

Personally, I'd be hot footing it to a good physiotherapist who can examine the spine and muscles very carefully and would be able to ascertain immediately where the problem areas are.

So sorry you are having all the troubles with your back and cervical area. The post you had following is correct about the "flattening" However I too am amazed your doctor did not explain each and every term to you, so you can understand the problem. My first neruo dr. did this, and I had no idea that after my first fusion at C6-7 there was more problems in that area not addressed. I got ahold of my medical records with the notes and MRI and started to investigate. It would be helpful if you looked up each word regarding your MRI, and then when you go to the doctor, you will be familiar with the terms he uses in describing your condition. He really should have sat you down with a full explaination, and possible treatments. If you can possibly avoid the EMG test I would ask him. It is not one I chose to have, and I got by with other less painful tests. I hope there are other treatments available to you before you decide on a surgical route. In my case I had no choice as there was nerve compression in both my surgeries. I sincerely wish you the best of results, and that you can find a neuro surgeon, patient enough to tell you all the possible treatments and options. ginnie (fused C3-7)

Hi Kate, thank you for your response. I have also been using the internet to gain a better understanding of my condition and results. I have just had some cervical injections. One was into the epidural space and the other 6 were in the facet joints. Although this has helped ease some of my pain, my neck cracks really loudly like it is snapping. I still have pain in my lumbar region even though I have also had the same injections repeated. I still also have weakness in my limbs just on the left side. I was supposed to have received a call today from my consultant who was to explain my results but that call never came. It seems everyone is happy making money but when it comes to explaining results, you need to make a face to face appointment. I am wondering if maybe I need a disc fusion? Thanks for your help.

Hi Ginnie, thank you for replying to my thread. I have been googling most of my results and it does help but it does not seem to inform me much about nerve compression. When I told my consultant about all my pain, tingling and numbness including a crawling feeling in the back of my head, he said I may have fibromyalgia. I looked this up to see what it is and there were not many matches to this condition. Surely the injections wouldn't help if I did have this? I have also been suffering with bladder weakness which can be a symptom of DDD. You say you had a 4 disc fusion - wow that must have been tough to go through. Does this mean you are unable to move your neck? Has it helped a little? I wish you all the best.

Hi, thanks for replying. I completely agree this should be explained fully, especially with private healthcare but we all have a right to know what is happening to our bodies and if there is anything that can be done to stop the condition progressing. I have a physio session tomorrow evening so will take my results with me.