Hello every body. Im the new guy here. I have a stabbing back pain under my right shoulder blade. It was caused by a car accident a year ago, yet it hasn't gone away. I finally got an Mri done and need help figuring out what it all translate to.

Here is What is said for the thoracic area.:
FINDINGS:
There is some straightening of the normal curvature of the thoracic spine, likely positional. Minimal disc dessication changes are noted. Small left paracentral disc protrusion at T2-3 which mildly effaces the ventral thecal sac. No spinal canal or neural foramen narrowing at any level. No hyperintensity on STIR images.

IMPRESSION:

1. Mild degenerative changes with a small disc protrusion at T2-3 mildly effacing the thecal sac.

and for the cervical:
FINDINGS:
There is straightening of the normal cervical lordosis.
The C4-5 intervertebral disc space demonstrates mild right foraminal stenosis.

soo, I am guessing my disc in t2-3 is bruised? any help is appreciated!

Have you had any phys therapy for it at all?
Maybe some sessions would be helpful, they can show various stretches & exercises to help relieve the pain and possible restore the lost curvature.

Hopefully your dr will suggest that.

There are spinal PTs and /or expert chiropractic care if you are open to that.
I had very good care from the DC I went to. He used pain relief modalities as well as gentle adjustments.


Also that pain under the shoulder blade could be a trigger point -here's a thread about those- it's something you can try your self -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread125577.html

I will be going to a physical therapist starting next week. The chiropractor i was seeing was very helpful in relieving the pain, But I still had relapse pain. I just found out about the thoracic disks bulging, because of the MRI.

thanks for the trigger points message. hope it helps me!

I'll try to help you with the MRI report

There's a disc protrusion (herniation) at T2-3 mildly effacing the thecal sac. The thecal sac is the membrane of dura matter that surrounds the spinal cord and the cauda equina. The thecal ssac is filled with cerebral spinal fluid.

There is a straightening of the normal cervical lordosis -- in other words, your neck is straighter than normal.

C4-5 disc space demonstrates mild right foraminal stenosis. The foramen is the hole that the nerves pass thru to the spinal cord. Stenosis means narrowiing, so the foramen is narrowing.

Dessication means drying out -- discs dry out as we age. When the discs dry out they tend to flatten, and that makes them bulge or herniate. It also makes the "disc space" narrower because the vertebra get closer together because the discs flatten.

There is NO bruising here . If you have any other question, just let me know, ok?? Hugs, Lee

Thank you for explanation of the MRI portion. My injuries are starting to make sense! I can make more inform decisions about my health and understand what doctors is going to tell me.


I am glad others are helping explain life"s little mysteries.

Do me a favor and DO NOT GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR anymore! My Neurosurgeon told me that any spiinal patient with problems should NEVER go to a chiro unless they want to end up in a wheelchair & paralyzed. He said one wrong manipulation and that's it. So i'd advise you not to go again. Just a word of warniing, ok? Also, I had a chiro break my sternum!!! Be careful!! Hugs, Lee

loss of normal curvature can be a symptom or a cause.....or a response to injury/pain. PT to address posture, especially repetive issues, may help. check out the trigger point issue, but also check out where the nerves that originate out of that disc space (where the herniation is) go...just because there is no problem where the nerve exits, doesn't mean there is no problem with the nerve, just less likely.

Sometimes these muscle/spine issues are chronic , and take repeated sessions over time to fully resolve.

Did the chiro use any E stim, ultrasound, and/ or Low level laser therapy to see if that resolves some of the pain for you?

If the low level laser prices come down, I'll be buying one. It was that awesome for my issues. Chronic RSI/TOS/myofascial pain.

The chiro didn't use the E stim. I stop seeing a chiro for lack of resolution and over charging. I will be going to a PT after I get full explanation from the neurologist today.