Hello and thank you for allowing me to join. I am a 52 yr old female that is having trouble understanding my recent MRI results. I am hoping there is someone here that can explain it in lay men's terms to help me understand it better.
First of all, I am Type 2 diabetic that is being successfully controlled with medication and diet. Last year I developed a severe case of shingles which in my doctors words was the worse case she had seen in her 30 years of practice. I have dele oped severe nerve damage as a results. The shingles were located from the middle of my back which then encircled around my left side to the middle of my stomach. I was nothing but a solid rash ring in this area. I had to refrain from where anything that fir the slightest bit tight under the rash healed. The deep scars serve as a reminder on just how bad it was. Since the shingles, I have quickly developed severe lower back pain near the scars which radiated down my left thigh. I am unable to walk, stand, or even sit for more than 5 or 6 minutes at a time without the numbness and weakness taking over. My physican ordered an lower and cervical back MRI for a better look. I have received the results from the cervical and they are as follows. C5/6 There is severe degeneration of the disc with near complete loss of disc space height. There is a large right para central disc osteophyte complex compressing the right aspect of the cord and the right C6 nerve root. There is severe right neural foraminal stenosis. No left neural foraminal stenosis. The facet and uncovertebal joints are mildly degenerated. IMPRESSION. There is severe degeneration of the C5/6 disc with a large right paracentral disc osteophyte complex compressing the right aspect of the cord and the right C6 nerve root.
I have recently developed right arm pain that begins at my shoulder and radiates down my right arm with trigger finger syndrome in my right thumb and right index finger.
Please help me understand what this means. Is this something serious that will require surgery. I have yet to return to work due to the pain and my LTD carrier is now requiring me to file for social security disability due to not being able to be released for duty at my 8 hour a day desk job. Any insight is very much appreciated as this is too confusing and the techs explain agin wasn't very helpful. Sorry for the long post.