Thank you very much for you information and help

Anything less than 8mm AP canal diameter is termed absolute stenosis and is definitely potentially surgical. You should be following up ASAP with a spine ortho or neurosurgeon (not necessarily because you need surgery; but you are in the ballpark)!

Oh, and you don't have to worry about a chiropractor munching you. Absolute stenosis is a contraindication to manipulation.

Leesa....fractured sternum....really??? Never heard of such a thing from manipulation. Fractured rib here and there on rare occasion. Oh, FYI....Neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon referrals to me made up 50% of my practice so there is not resolute agreement with the ole goat you went to. And yes, we do have access to MRI....I ordered hundreds over 20+ years of practice. And one last thought...it wasn't a chiropractor that took me out of practice and disabled me; it was an orthopedic surgeon

Dubious ~ Are you doubting he actually broke my sternum? Cause he DID. I know the difference between broken ribs & the sternum.

And I meant that Chiro's didn't have "in-house" MRI's - sure, any of them can order them.

I didn't even KNOW you were disabled, so why the remark about the Chiro & Orthopedic surgeon? I thought you were still practicing.

And why do you dislike me so much? You're always picking on me. Leave me alone, will ya? Sheeesh.

Hi leesa, you were right about that report. You always do a very good job of explaining things to people. I also agree, the dear person needs a second opinion. You research carefully, and I for one value your knowledge. ginnie

Thank you dear Ginnie. I appreciate your words of support.

Personally I think Dubious is upset that I have a little knowledge -- maybe jealous. HE probably wanted to be the only one who could read MRI's or answer questions. Beats me why he gives me grief.

Again, thanks Ginnie. YOU are always very helpful around here too! God bless. Hugs, Lee

Actually Leesa, I rarely respond to questions on MRI report interp. And I just spoke nicely about you in my last post so I am confused by your post???

Jealous? naw, I am more than grateful for you and your knowledge and to leave all radiological interp to you and others (personally, I feel that it is the responsibility of the one who ordered the study to do so as only they posses the clinical information that led to ordering the study in the first place).

But in circumstances, like "Checker," when radiologically, there may be an issue of clinical degredation and permanent harm in a short period of time do I chime in. Otherwise, I usually don't even read those posts; I've read way more than enough reports (and scans) in my day; they are all yours!

DUBIOUS:We were posting at the same time the last time, or I wouldn't have added that last post. Sorry.

The reason my sternum got broken, is because the idiot made me lay on my stomach, and he pushed HARD on the theracic part of my back, trying to LOOSEN the facets, or so he said, and there went my sternum!!! To compensate me, he offered a "free visit." Are you kidding?? What a joke! I never went back. LOL

I am awaiting an appointment with a Neurosurgeon and a Nerve conduction test as well. Seems like my issues in my neck are an issue, but all my other symptoms of numbness are not of my neck. A Neurologist told me nothing in my MRI should be causing me numbness on my left side. My left arm,hand,left leg to foot go very numb like a Novocaine type feeling. I am being sent for thoracic outlet syndrome nerve testing. I think I am having multiple issues. Is anyone familiar with TOS making your leg and foot go numb? My left side along with the right is sore, my neck and face also go numb.
Thank you!

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. And no, I don't doubt your experience base and I don't dislike you; I just have never heard of such an adverse event from manipulation in a couple of decades of practice or in the literature. It was shocking but interesting to hear, clinically. But I suppose I am tired of you picking on chiropractic every chance you get. I can relate when you say I "dislike " you or am "picking on" you, I guess!

As far as "in-house" MRI's, those would be office based units? If so, they are very low-Tesla units (low powered) for which the images would be very substandard compared to larger (1.5-3T) units. I wouldn't personally advise someone to utilize them unless thre were no other options. Besides, it gets into that whole "self-referral" thing!

Believe me when I say there is absolutely nothing personal. You seem like a very nice and caring person and I think your posts reflect that! This is a forum I think, so it contains an exchange of sometimes opposing thoughts or ideas. Sort of like, you don't like chiropractors, and I was a chiropractor for 20 years. But I am good with that. We all have different prisms that we look through. I am sorry if you thought I was picking on you - I was not!

I just want to tell you Chiropractics are fine when people have just an ache or two. However, without all the tests, including MRI, this is a bad route to go. My doctor did a little chiropractic manipulation, that sent me through the roof. He was a almost retired doctor, and was pulling up on my neck. He didn't believe me when I said how bad I hurt, and how bad that hurt. I now am fused C3-7, my second. Am I the uneducated patient at the time, submitting to this, responsible? Or should I have been told, lets see what the true condition of my neck is, before we proceed? I see this through my own eyes, and I always try to direct folks, to DX before engaging in chiropractic manipulation, because of what happened directly to me. I do respect the profession. I just would want all the tests, had I known better at the time. ginnie