Question
Dear Dr Park, I am an ambulance worker, and was injured while moving a heavy patient with acute breathing difficulties. This happened in June. I knew emmediately that I had hurt myself. I suffered pain to neck.Refered pain in left shoulder, arm, and left hand. Also pins and neadles in left arm and hand and fingers.

I had eight sessions of physio without success and was refered to specialist. He ordered a MRI scan which I had on September 5th. While my GP has managed to get the results she says that she is not qualified to fully interpret them, I have to wait until November 6th to see the specialist again. I am anxious to get some idea what I am facing. I am 61 years of age and if I cannot go back to work soon I could be out of work. I am now pain free, but still get pins and needles in my left hand and fingers when my head is lifted to far. e.g Shaving, swimming, looking up into sky.
The results say; C6/7 large diffuse disc osteophyte complex results in bilateral foraminal stenosis, slightly worse on left, and narrowing of central canal with the exclusion of nearly all of surrounding CSF around the cord, but no cord signal change.

It then goes on to say; No disc osteophyte complexes or foraminal stenosis at any other visualised levels. Normal cervical and upper thoracic spine alignment. Normal signal is returned from all vertebral bodies. Normal paravertebral soft tissues. Normal signal is returned from the imaged cord. Normal visualised posterior fossa structures and cervicomedollary function.

I know you cannot make a diagnosis, but I am hoping this injury is not unfamiliar to you from patient histories, and you can give an opinion on likely outcome.

Many thanks, Brian.  

Answer
In simple terms, you have less space than normal in your neck for the nerve at the C6/7 level. The disc osteophyte complex refers to a disc that has degenerated, bulged, or herniated along with arthritis in the neck bones. The disc is probably pushed out and you probably have some bone spurs that are compressing or irritating the nerve root. These changes occur over time and typically don't occur from one incident (unless it is any acute disc herniation). At any rate, try going back for more physiotherapy, and seek an orthopedic consult. Some oral corticosteroids or an epidural steroid injection are some other options you may want to consider.