[ber237]

I am new to the forum and cannot figure out how to reply to messages that I have received. There is no reply button anywhere that I can see. Am I missing something? I have befriended a few people and have received messages from some, but cannot answer them. Also, I would like to post my MRI report in order to get your opinions before I see the neurosurgeon, but want to know if I should do that here or some place else. Thanks for any help you can offer.

[mrsD]

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[mg neck prob]

Originally Posted by ber237

I am new to the forum and cannot figure out how to reply to messages that I have received. There is no reply button anywhere that I can see. Am I missing something? I have befriended a few people and have received messages from some, but cannot answer them. Also, I would like to post my MRI report in order to get your opinions before I see the neurosurgeon, but want to know if I should do that here or some place else. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hi Ber ---feel free to ask anything you want ---i know there a little waiting period--i struggled too when i joined last year -- but u can reply in here for now .

p.s if u look at this thread ---you will see a reply button in the bottom right corner

[ber237]

Hi! I must be off probabtion now.
Thanks for the info.

[mg neck prob]

Originally Posted by ber237

Hi! I must be off probabtion now.
Thanks for the info.

LOL--i think u have to post a couple times --is all. If u have your MRI u can post it in here if you like. If u have anything u want to ask feel free.

[ber237]

I apologize for the length of this and thank you in advance for your help. A little background: I injured my neck in a water skiing accident at 16. I think it was just a bad sprain, but my parents didn’t take me to the doctor. I've had neck problems ever since with degenerative disc disease since my 20's. In 2010 I started having severe muscle spasms in my upper back with cramps in my hand and was referred to a neurologist. After an MRI and nerve conduction test, I was diagnosed with ulnar nerve impingement. He gave me a Prednisone dose pack, prescribed gabapentin and ordered physical therapy. That combination pretty much eased my pain except for the normal periodic neck soreness and stiffness. Then in late January of this year, I started having a stabbing pain in my upper back between my shoulder blades with burning nerve pain down my arm, numbness in my last two fingers and what feels like jolts of electricity running down my arm and hand. I’ve lost strength in my hand and I drop things frequently. I get the headaches that come from neck problems (I’ve also had a ringing in my ears this whole time). My neurologist quit practicing to teach at a local medical school so they assigned me a new one. She prescribed another Prednisone dose pack, physical therapy and flexeril. Flexeril knocks me out so I can’t take it while at work. The prednisone helped with the pain some, but not the numbness. Within 3 days of finishing the dose pack the pain was back just as bad as before. I have been through a total of four Prednisone dose packs since February of this year. The doctor ordered another MRI last month and when she got the report, referred me to a neurosurgeon. My appointment is Monday. I understand the medical terminology in the MRI report, I just don’t know how likely I am to need surgery. I really do not want to have surgery unless I’m at risk of paralysis or permanent nerve damage. I also want to make sure I ask all the right questions, so if you can guide me in any way, please share your expertise. It wouldn't take the MRI as an attachment, so I'll post it next.

[ber237]

I've typed it just as it was on the report:

EXAM DATE: 04/12/2013
EXAM: MR – Cervical Spine Without Contrast
REASON FOR VISIT: 723.4 Cervical Radiculopathy
INDICATION: 723.4 Cervical Radiculopathy
TECHNIQUE: MRI of the cervical spine without IV gadolinium with MRI the cervical spine on 09/07/2010 for comparison.
FINDINGS: There straightening of the cervical lordosis with a degenerative retrolistheses of C5 on the body of C6, and C6 on the body of C7. There is normal craniocervical and atlantoodontoid alignment. Normal marrow signal seen on T1 and T2 sequences. The spinal cord signal is unremarkable.
C2-C3: No significant spinal canal or neural foramen stenosis.
C3-C4: There is a mild broad posterior disc osteophyte complex with small bilateral uncal spurs. There is minimal narrowing of the spinal canal. There is mild bilateral neural foramen stenosis.
C4-C5: There is a mild to moderate right paracentral disc osteophyte complex that abuts the spinal cord. There is mild ventral flattening the cord and minimal narrowing of the AP dimension of the spinal canal. There bilateral uncal spurs and degenerative changes of the facets with mild to moderate right and mild left neural foramen narrowing.
C5-C6: There is loss of the intervertebral disc height with degenerative changes of the endplates and a large broad posterior disc osteophyte complex with bilateral uncal spurs and degenerative changes of the facets. There is ventral flattening of the spinal cord without abnormal cord signal. There is moderate to severe stenosis of the spinal canal. There is moderate to severe bilateral neural foramen stenosis.
C6-C7: There is a moderate broad posterior disc osteophyte complex with resulting minimal ventral flattening of the cord and mild to moderate stenosis of the spinal canal. There bilateral uncal spurs with resulting moderate bilateral neural foramen stenosis.
C7-T1: There is a mild broad posterior disc protrusion with small right uncal spurs. No significant spinal canal stenosis. There is moderate right and no significant left neural foramen narrowing.

IMPRESSION:
1. Straightening of the normal cervical lordosis with a degenerative retrolisthesis of C5 on the body of C6, and C6 on the body of C7.
2. Multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine, as above. There is moderate to severe stenosis of the spinal canal at the C6-C7 level.
3. Multilevel neural foramen narrowing, worst at the C5-C6 level with moderate to severe bilateral neural foramen stenosis. Correlate clinically with radicular symptoms.

[mg neck prob]

HI Ber!

Im going to let Leesa breakdown your Mri --- does a very good job!!! IMHO --I know some --- but I think you are at very high chance of needing a fusion from c5 thru c7 which would be considered 2 level fusion. Im not a DR its just my gut feeling. I was told by my surgeon when your start to have nerve damage u have 18 months from the onset of symptoms for the neves to heal. I had neck issues for several years but ignored them until it got very bad and chronic. Your symptoms are classic too. In 7-2010 I got fused c4 thru c7---I was in horrible pain prior to surgery. I did seek 3 consults but all 4 disc pressed my spinal cord. Surgery was my only option. The rule of thumb with us neck patients is usually try 12 weeks of conservative treatments--- if symptoms don't improve --surgery is done. Seeing your symptoms are going down your arm into fingers if very telling of nerve problems. Honestly-- there are several of us on here who are doing very well from this surgery. I dont regret it it gave me my life back. I will be here if you have any more ?--let me say --- I know and understand your pain and I remember it like it was yesterday . Im sorry your going thru this but your on the right track. If surgery is offered I would inquire about your c4 --as well if you can avoid surgery down the road if that disc seems to be ok but may become more vulnerable in time.

[ber237]

That's what I was afraid of. I think I've actually been having nerve involvement quite a bit longer than I've been having severe pain. I have a high tolerance and I practice yoga so I think that has let me get by longer than I should have. I appreciate your input.

[mg neck prob]

Originally Posted by ber237

That's what I was afraid of. I think I've actually been having nerve involvement quite a bit longer than I've been having severe pain. I have a high tolerance and I practice yoga so I think that has let me get by longer than I should have. I appreciate your input.

Being fit will help you alot --Im very active too-- and always been --to be honest if u do have to go thru it for me the surgery part was not bad at all your home in 24hrs. Sore throat for a few days pain wise I was much better then prior to surgery. I work 10 hr days now and at night Im working on flipping a house . When i say it gave me my life back it really did --prior to surgery i was going parlyzed on the right side morphine wouldnt touch the pain. I think mine may have been caused from accident when I was young --after that I would get flare up a couple of times a yr but by 2010 it got so bad 2 month before surgery I never slept couldnt lay flat ---it became mind numbing. I wish you the best and let me know how the DR apt goes please.