New member but haved lurked NT the past year.

Please

I need assistance understanding the before and after MRI tests reports to do a comparative analysis for new injury 2014 or old injury 2007. In a nut shell I'm caught in the conundrum of IME exam denial of benefits. Any explanation in laments terms would be much appreciated.


2007
At C2-C3, there is mild posterior midline convexity of the disc which appears grossly degenerative. No spinal stenosis. No focal protrusion or nerve root impingement.

2014
At C2-C3, there is no disc protrusion. There is no spinal stenosis, lateral recess or foraminal narrowing.

2007
At C3-C4,there is small focal spondylosis eccentric to the right of midline encroaching on the thecal sac. Ossification along the posterior longitudinal ligament above the level of the disc space is suspected. mild posterior convexity of the discs otherwise appears grossly degenerative. Early arthrosis at the uncoverebral joints is present.

2014
At C3-C4, there is a tiny posterior and central disc protrusion. there is some minimal attenation of the anterior CSF. There is no lateral recess or foraminal narrowing appreciated.

2007
At C4-C5, Convexity of the disc at and minimally eccentric to the right of midline and prominence of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Small protrusion may be present. The AP diameter of the canal measures 10.5 mm, there is mild deformity of the anterior spinal cord and mild effacement of the CSF signal. Arthrosis at the left uncoverebral joint is suspected as well.

2014
At C4-C5, there is diffuse disc bulging. There is a broad-based posterior and eccentric towards the right disc protrusion. There is attenuation of the anterior CSF. There is some flattening of the cord wit spinal stenosis. There is lateral recess narrowing on the left. There is bilateral foraminal narrowing left greater than right.

2007
At C5-C6, there is posterior convexity of the disc traversing the misline, partially effacing CSF signal and flattening the anterior spinal cord. The AP diameterof the canal is narrowed to 9.5 mm Stenosis is mild. There is encroachment on neural foramina secondary to uncovertebral arthrosis and disc disease.

2014
At C5-C6, there is diffuse disc bulging. There is uncovertebral and hypertophic change with facet hypertophic change and posterior ridging. there is no focal disc protrusion. There is spinal stenosis with attenuation of the anterior and posterior CSF and some flattening of the cord. There is bilateral foraminal narrowing left greater than right.

2007
At C6-C7, there are minimal posterior degenerative changes. No spinal stenosis or nerve root impingement.

2014
At C6-C7, there is diffuse disc bulging. There is probably a tiny posterior and central disc protusion. There is minimal attenuation of the anterior CSF. There is no spinal stenosis, lateral recess narrowing. There is minimal foraminal narrowing on the right.

Hello,
I moved your post here to the spinal forum, so the members here will see it.

I bolded the parts you might want to learn more about, I may have overlooked something that another might notice..

MRI's are nice , but often they don't show where or if pain and symptoms are occurring..

Have you made a list of where & what your symptoms & pain are located?

Better yet do your drs have an ongoing history from appointments documenting those? A good clear drs report is really good for claims and shows a time lime for ongoing or new pain & symptoms..

Since you mention IME is this is a work comp claim?

Welcome ronr.

Can you tell based on the report whats new and whats the same at each disc?
ronr

ronr,

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

What kind of symptoms were you having in 2007 and what symptoms are you having now in 2014?

Is this a workers comp issue or something else?

I'm 55 years old and it not work comp related.

2007 intermittent neck pain,numbness and tingling in neck to left ear. Pain left shoulder blade depending on activity.

2014 Pain in the neck,arms,and both shoulders that I can only describe as paralyzing when they occur. These spasms/cramps last about 2-3 minutes sometimes as long as 7 minutes, 2-3 minutes seem like a eternity when all I can do to make it go away is relax and breath easy.

Regarding two different MRI's 7 years apart, so many issues...software changes on the scanners, different radiologists reading, different scanners maybe, your body changes.....it's really hard to draw hard line changes this way, let alone what those changes mean if anything. It's really more about how your most recent MRI correlates with you current problems and exam findings. Comparing it to a 7 year old study doesn't help you so much for your current problems, even if it were a litigated issue! Whether you are seeing an ortho, neurologist or neurosurgeon, you really need to discuss all of this with them and how this all fits into your current clinical profile!