This is my first time here. Having neck and shoulder pain. Got my MRI done and got the results but i don't see my doc until Monday. I wish I knew how to read these things.

1. Bilateral enlarged neck lymph nodes- indeterminate etiology. Cannot distinguish between hyperplastic reactive lymph nodes and malignancy on the basis of this examination. Consider soft tissue neck computerized tomography with and without intravenous contrast enhancement as clinically indicated in this patient.

2. Cervical spine intervertebral osteochondrosis and spondylosis- mild as described.

3. Bulging annuli fibrosus C4-C5 and C6-C7

4. Borderline right neuroforaminal stenosis C5-C6 secondary to #2.

5. central, subligamentous herniated nucleus pulposus C5-C6 with secondary borderline acquired cervical spinal canal stenosis

Shoulder MRI results

1. Distal infraspinatus tendonosis

2. Os acromiale

Any help because i been dealing with low back pain for last 3-4 years and now this...

Hi ~ This is pretty complicated, and I'll explain WHAT I CAN, but there's some I don't understand.

1. This, you'll have to have more testing done. As is stated here, you need to have computerized tomography done with contrast material. Talk to your doctor about this.

2. This is your cervical spine (neck) - This shows osteochrondrosis. This is a disease usually found in children and animals and it is in which an ossification center (bone formation) in the epiphyses (a part of process of bone that ossifies) of lone bones undergoes degeneration followed by calcification. It also shows spondylosis, which is any degenerative disease of the spine which can cause pain, tiingling, numbness, lack of coordination, as well as many other symptoms.

3. C4-5 and C6-7 Bulging annuli Fibrosus ~ The way I'm understanding it, the Annula is a fluid filled sac that the disc sits in, and it is becoming fibrous and is bulging.

4. C5-6 Borderline right neuroforaminal stenosis. The foramen are the holes that the nerves pass thru to get to the spinal cord. Stenosis means narrowing. So this means that the Foramen are being narrowed due to what's going on in #2.

5. I'm confused on this one. It states a herniated nucleus pulposus -- but the way I understand it, the nucleus pulposus is almost obliterated in the adult of higher vertebrates as the vertebrae develop! At any rate, at C5-6 yours is herniated with borderline cervical spinal stenosis. This means that your spinal canal is narrowing.

All of the above have to do with your neck. I wish I could help you with your shoulder, but I don't know a thing about that. And since you didn't have a lumbar (lower back) MRI, I can't answer any questions as to why your lower back hurts. You probably need an MRI of your lower back too.

I hope I didn't confused you too much. Take care & God bless. Hugs, Lee

Hi WorknThruDPainGuy;

I had acdf surgery back in 7-2010. for c4 thr c7. I will say c5 -c6 usually affects your biceps and upper arm and forearm. If c4&c5 are involved-- it affects the shoulder and deltoid muscle with major weakness. Also c5-c6 affects your thumb with numbness, c6-7--fingers would be middle finger and ring and pinky. C-7 will affect your hand shake.You really do need to get into a good neuro or ortho spine surgeon asap. You need to know whats going on because weakness from spinal compression is way more serious then from nerve compression. Let us know what happens at your appointment. Wishing you all the best of luck!!

No more confused than I already am. Thank you for trying though. Got my lower done 2yrs ago. I got herniated at L5-S1. L1 has deteriated and i got Severe Sciatica and nurophaty in my legs.
My wife said I got to find me another job before it kills me but i love labor working.

Thanks again

if you had an MRI of the lumbar 2 years ago, it's time for another one!!! I'm sure it's changed by now! Ask your doc to run another MRI with and without contrast material. Better safe than sorry! Take care. Hugs, Lee

Ok guys, went to the Ortho guy yesterday to go over my results.
Well, I go to the Ear,Nose and Throat doctor today to rule out cancer for my enlarged lymph nodes.
I go Wednesday to the spine doctor where he's going to tell me i got to have surgery.
Just keeping yall updated.....

Jeepers!! PLEASE let us know what the ENT doc says, will you??? We really want to know, big time!

I'm praying the news is GOOD. Prayers coming your way. Hugs, Lee

Hi,
I had an MRI of the cervical spine on Friday. The report states:

cervical vertebrae are grossly normal in height and signal. There is minimal retrolisthesis of C4 on C5. Discs are narrowed from C3-C7.

C3-C4 disc is unremarkable. spinal canal and neural foramen are well maintained.

C4-C5 disc and osteophyte are seen greater to the right side causing mass effect on the cervical cord and narrowing of the right neural foramen.

C5-C6 midline disc and osteophyte are seen causing minimal central canal narrowing. uncovertebral joint hypertrophy causes narrowing of the left neural foramen.

C6-C7 central disc and osteophyte are seen without significant central canal or foraminal narrowing.

cervical spine cord is normal in size and signal. there is no posterior fossa anomaly or neck mass.

IMPRESSION: significant degenerative disc and joint disease causing narrowing of central canal or nneural foramina at C4-C5 and C5-C6, please see above.

Will I have to have surgery? if so, what is the surgical procedure called? How long do I have to stay in the hospital? Thank you for any help deciphering mu MRI.
Thanks, Cindy in Delaware

Hope all turns out OK for you. Don't sweat the biopsy if that is what the ENT guy wants. I had it done, nothing to it. Hope cerival issues do not have to have surgery. Get a second opinion if you can, no matter what his prognosis is. Lessa was also spot on with my MRI. I did have the surgery and it turned out OK for me. Wish you all the best. Ginnie

Hey ginnie, got my CT done and ENT doctor said he still sees a little lynphoma and wants to see me in 3 months to test again. As far as my spine, I got to have a ACDF surgery for C4-5 & C5-6. A little scared, but I need it. The only problem I will have is the surgery and recovery time will pass my FMLA date and they will most likely let me go, after being there 18yrs. I wife saids don't worry, we will make it through it like we always do and I will be in better shape and not hurting, Hopefully.