[nixter]

Hi, new here. I'm 38 which is kind of young for this type of thing as I understand. I've had mild chronic neck pain for probably 20 years. I have a desk job with lots of hours. I lift weights 3-4 times per week. Last year I had a strange tingling/burning in my right shoulder and arm that would come and go depending on position. That lasted a month or so. Had some Xrays on the shoulder which revealed nothing. The pain came back this year and didn't go away. I tried some physio and that also did nothing as we were focused on my shoulder. I did some research and self diagnosis and decided to ask my doc for an MRI on my cervical spine. The results are as follows.

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MRI Cervical Spine

Indications: Neck pain radicular symptoms in right C8 dermatome

Technique: Radiculopathy protocol MRI cervical spine

Straightening of the normal cervical lordosis with some modic type 1 endplate changes at C6-C7 intervertebral disc

No abnormal cord signal seen

Multiple posterior lateral disc osteophyte complexes are noted throughout the cervical spine.

C3-C4: There is mild central canal stenosis and mild right-sided foraminal stenosis due to disc osteophyte complexes.

C4-C5: Moderate canal stenosis and severe right-sided foraminal stenosis identified due to disc osteophyte complexes.

C5-C6 and C6-C7: There is moderate central canal stenosis and severe right and left-sided foraminal stenosis again due to disc osteophyte complexes. This is likely compressing the exiting nerve roots bilaterally.

C7-T1 is normal

Impression: Multilevel degenerative changes with moderate canal stenosis extending from C4-C5 to C6-C7 and severe right-sided foraminal stenosis at C4-C5 and bolateral foraminal stenosis at C5-C6 and C6-C7.

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I am supposed to see a neurosurgeon at some point to advise me of the best course of action be that surgery or otherwise. That could take a while as I'm in Canada. Our healthcare is universal but appointments to see specialists can take months. Just thought I'd post here to get some opinions. Given my age and my love for lifting heavy things I really want to be aggressive about treatment. I don't have any ROM issues but my right shoulder suffers a little in the strength dept.

Thanks all,
Nikolai