Good Morning - New here - Recently had a MRI again and I can not understand the results - Is there anyone that can translate them into plain English for me.

I have shoulder and neck issues since Jan 2008 and seem to be getting no answers. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Here is what the report states:

INTERPRETATION: Images reveal straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. The cervical cord displays normal signal characteristics and morphologic features. The cerebellar tonsils are normal in position and morphology.

At C7-T1, there is mild uncinate spurring but no significant canal or foraminal stenosis. Dorsal disc margin is normal.

At C6-7, there is a 6 mm right paramedian caudally migrating extrusion impinging on the cord (axial image 7, series 7; sagittal image 8, series 3). Uncinate spurring results in mild left foraminal stenosis.

At C5-6, there is spondylosis eccentric to the left with a broad-based 3 mm protrusion and bordering osteophytes abutting the ventral cord resulting in contouring and mild dorsal displacement (axial image 12, series 7). Uncinate spurring results in moderate right and mild to moderate left foraminal stenosis (axial image 11, series 7).

At the C4-5 level, there is mild uncinate spurring bilaterally, and mild spondylosis without significant canal or foraminal compromise.

At the C3-4 level, there is mild right foraminal stenosis due to uncinate spurring but no neural compromise and no canal or foraminal stenosis on the left.

The C2-3 level is unremarkable.

CONCLUSION:
1. 6 mm right paracentral caudally migrating HNP with cord impingement at C6-7. Mild left foraminal stenosis.
2. 3 mm protrusion with adjacent osteophytes at C5-6 with cord contouring and dorsal displacement. Moderate right and mild to moderate left foraminal stenosis.
3. Mild spondylosis and uncinate spurring at C4-5 without significant canal or foraminal stenosis.
4. No evidence for intrinsic cord pathology, neoplasm or infection.

--it appears that at several levels of your cervical spine, specifically the C5-C6 and C6-C7 (lower cervical spine), you have both a good amount of disc bulging and arthritic spurring (the uncinate is the term for the bony protrusion from the vertebrae). The bulging seems to be more serious, in that at those levels there seems to be some pressure on the spinal cord itself, as opposed to the nerve roots, which connect the cord to the nerves in the rest of the body and pass through vertebral openings called the foramen (plural foramina). You do also have some "closing off" of space (stenosis) in the foramina due to the arthritic spurring, which might also be contributing to symptoms by compressing the roots.

Most doctors/surgeons would agree that frank spinal cord compression is a more urgent concern than nerve root compression.

Many of us have somewhat similar findings as we age, especially as regards arthritic spurring; indeed, most people over fifty show some degree of spurring and often a degree of foraminal compromise. The extent of symptoms from this is very wide-ranging, though.

What exactly are your symptoms, and has a surgical consult been recommended?

Well... Let's start out that I am only 42 years old... I have severe headaches almost on a daily basis, Constant bilateral shoulder pain - feels almost like shoulders are going to be dislocated on a daily basis. One doctor thought shoulder pain was coming from Severe Carpel Tunnel so did the surgery to see if that relieved pain and it didn't. That surgery actually caused my 3rd and 4th digits to be constantly numb and lost about 50% of strength in hand. Both shoulders and arm go numb frequently.

Every doctor I have seen is stating that my shoulders are from Chronic Pain Syndrome - Very frustrating. Been told there is not surgery that will fix my shoulder pain and to find a different line of work

Help - I am too young to be disabled

That's a very big stretch--shoulder pain is far more likely to stem from cervical spine problems and/or musculoskeletal problems in the scapula area, and you certainly have the former . . .sorry you had to go through that surgery.

I'm surprised that with such symptoms, including headaches, you hadn't had head/neck MRI's more promptly (any reason for that)?

Nevertheless, with the spinal cord impingment, you certainly should be having a surgical consult, or two. I'm not saying surgery is the only option, but spinal cord compression is generally potentially more debilitating than nerve root compression, as the latter tends to be symptomatic only in a specific anatomical range (called a dermatome) and spinal cord compression can cause symptoms at any level of the body.