[aberkeley]

Thank you in advance for any and all answers...i've been having increasing pain and weakness in both hands and arms, hands and arms cramping when i use them (similar to carpal tunnel but that's already been ruled out), terrible headaches and now cramps/pain radiating to my legs as well as facial pain/burning. Ortho finally called for an MRI of my C Spine and I don't know what any of this means?! It's another few days of pain before I meet with the surgeon he's referred me to...

C2-3 minimal disc bulge without central canal or foarminal stenosis
C3-4 Mild disc bulge asymmetric to the left, with small left foraminal protrusion. Mild foraminal stenosis on the left. No central canal or right-sided foraminal stenosis.
C4-5 Minimal disc bulge without central canal or foarminal stenosis
C5-6 Moderate left paracentral extrusion with measures approx 3-4mmAP by 9mm craniocaudal by 6mm transverse with inferior extension. Effacement of the anterior thecal sac. Mild central canal stenosis. No significant foraminal stenosis.
C6-7 small broad-based central protrusion, without sign. central canal or foraminal stenosis.
C7-T1 no disc herniation, central stenosis or foraminal stenosis.
T1-2 normal
T2-3 small right foraminal protrusion, without central canal or foraminal stenosis.
T3-4 Small left paracentral protrusion,without significant stenosis.

Multilevel degenerative changes, C3-4, C5-6, C6-7.

I'm in agony with piercing pain that seems to move around my back and neck. for three days my left arm was numb from elbow to fingertips, with sharp pain from neck to elbow. today it's all in my right shoulder radiating down my left arm. last week it was all the way down my spine.

[kiwi33]

Hi aberkeley

Welcome to NeuroTalk .

I don't know enough about MRI to say anything helpful but I am sure that regular contributors to this forum will be able to.

All the best.

[Jomar]

Originally Posted by aberkeley

Thank you in advance for any and all answers...i've been having increasing pain and weakness in both hands and arms, hands and arms cramping when i use them (similar to carpal tunnel but that's already been ruled out), terrible headaches and now cramps/pain radiating to my legs as well as facial pain/burning. Ortho finally called for an MRI of my C Spine and I don't know what any of this means?! It's another few days of pain before I meet with the surgeon he's referred me to...

C2-3 minimal disc bulge without central canal or foarminal stenosis
C3-4 Mild disc bulge asymmetric to the left, with small left foraminal protrusion. Mild foraminal stenosis on the left. No central canal or right-sided foraminal stenosis.
C4-5 Minimal disc bulge without central canal or foarminal stenosis
C5-6 Moderate left paracentral extrusion with measures approx 3-4mmAP by 9mm craniocaudal by 6mm transverse with inferior extension. Effacement of the anterior thecal sac. Mild central canal stenosis. No significant foraminal stenosis.

C6-7 small broad-based central protrusion, without sign. central canal or foraminal stenosis
C7-T1 no disc herniation, central stenosis or foraminal stenosis.
T1-2 normal
T2-3 small right foraminal protrusion, without central canal or foraminal stenosis.
T3-4 Small left paracentral protrusion,without significant stenosis.

Multilevel degenerative changes, C3-4, C5-6, C6-7.

I'm in agony with piercing pain that seems to move around my back and neck. for three days my left arm was numb from elbow to fingertips, with sharp pain from neck to elbow. today it's all in my right shoulder radiating down my left arm. last week it was all the way down my spine.

There is a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome(TOS) for short.... if repetitive work or such is a factor. It is like a chronic RSI but not well known in general..
If Dr sees nothing obvious , you might look more into TOS - https://www.neurotalk.org/forum24/
check the sticky threads for fastest info..
But you do have a few things in the MRI , I'll bold those so you can read up on the terminology before you see the Dr.

[John Nevro User]

Originally Posted by aberkeley

Thank you in advance for any and all answers...i've been having increasing pain and weakness in both hands and arms, hands and arms cramping when i use them (similar to carpal tunnel but that's already been ruled out), terrible headaches and now cramps/pain radiating to my legs as well as facial pain/burning. Ortho finally called for an MRI of my C Spine and I don't know what any of this means?! It's another few days of pain before I meet with the surgeon he's referred me to...

C2-3 minimal disc bulge without central canal or foarminal stenosis
C3-4 Mild disc bulge asymmetric to the left, with small left foraminal protrusion. Mild foraminal stenosis on the left. No central canal or right-sided foraminal stenosis.
C4-5 Minimal disc bulge without central canal or foarminal stenosis
C5-6 Moderate left paracentral extrusion with measures approx 3-4mmAP by 9mm craniocaudal by 6mm transverse with inferior extension. Effacement of the anterior thecal sac. Mild central canal stenosis. No significant foraminal stenosis.
C6-7 small broad-based central protrusion, without sign. central canal or foraminal stenosis.
C7-T1 no disc herniation, central stenosis or foraminal stenosis.
T1-2 normal
T2-3 small right foraminal protrusion, without central canal or foraminal stenosis.
T3-4 Small left paracentral protrusion,without significant stenosis.

Multilevel degenerative changes, C3-4, C5-6, C6-7.

I'm in agony with piercing pain that seems to move around my back and neck. for three days my left arm was numb from elbow to fingertips, with sharp pain from neck to elbow. today it's all in my right shoulder radiating down my left arm. last week it was all the way down my spine.

Foraminal protrusions can be the big problems. You might benefit from a good neck collar a few minutes (10 min.) a day, at multiple intervals (the kind that inflate, AMAZON has some good ones, cheap, don't over inflate, this happens when you buy one too small) to keep your neck stretched. You have to sit down with a Neurologist and have this explained, while you explain where you hurt, to correlate and come up with a plan. Sounds like a lot of movement from muscles pulling on areas that are not stable. Sometimes good back braces, like from Aspen, can help identify and alleviate these problems.Also, give your neck a rest when it starts to hurt. Trudging along does nothing good.

Most of the time surgery does not cure pain, but prevents it from getting worse, and prevents the loss of motor movement. Very important to keep in your head. The longer you put recommendations off, more damage, such as scar tissue and scar tissue adhesion, which starts a slippery downward trend. Get the answers now, from a good Neurologist, have all the reports available, come up with a plan.