Question
I had a serious MVA 2 years ago when a Mack truck ran a stop sign.  Immediately upon consciousness I had a headache, my back hurt and my leg.  Leg was reinjured from a previous compound Tib/Fib fracture.  Surgery to fix that leg again was done right after accident.  Here are results of follow up MRI. Findings:  Mid-cervical straightening  may be due to position or spasm.  Mild levoscoliosis.  Preserved marrow.  Spinal cord: Normal sign and caliber.  Craniocervial junction: Unremarkable central elements and junction as visualized.  C2/3: Left unconvertebral and facet hypertrophy. Mild left exit narrowing.  C3/4  Central disc osteophte complex.  Unconvertebral and facet hypertrophy.  Mild exit and central narrowing.  Mild anterior cord flattening.  C4/5  Central disc osteophyte complex.  Unconvertebral and facet hypertrophy.  Mild exit and central narrow.  Mild anterior cord flattening.  C5/6 Disc osteophyte complex more prominent left paracentrally.  Uncovertebral and facet hypertrophy.  Mild exit and moderate central stenosis.  Mild left hemicord flattening.  Slight extension into the left neuroforamen. could effect exiting left C6.  C6/7:  Disc ostephyte complex.  Unconvertebral and facet hypertrophy.  Moderate left and mild right exit stenosis.  Mild central narrowing.  Mild anterior cord flattening.  There may be effect on either exiting C7, more likely on the left.  No significant change since the prior study.  C7/T1 facet hypertrophy. No stenosis.  Impression:  Mid cervical spondylosis with disc osteophyte complexes more prominent at C5/6 and C6/7.  Correlation for left C6 and left  greater than right C7 radiculopathies might be helpful.
Symptoms:  Constant headache starting in back of neck/bottom of head and goes over the top of head to temples.  Constant pain across both shoulders, left arm numbness, sternum area sore/sometimes hurts to take a deep breath. I find myself leaning forward to ease the breathing.  Left and right lumbar trigger points VERY sore just below the waist.  Pain all of the time typically in the 4 to 6 range on pain scale....sometimes worse which causes nausea. Cannot lay on my back, will sleep on my side and change position frequently due to hip soreness.  Drop things, balance is affected, short term memory loss, heightening irritability, depression, sensitivity to light and sound. Multitasking difficult and in last two years vision has changed more significantly than prior to MVA as well as pressure changes in the eyes.  I did  not have back problems prior to accident.  I have had my office accommodated with a good chair with lumbar support and headrest.  I also utilize a foot rest to help me lean back in chair and computer screen has been raised.  I now use a headset for phone to keep head from leaning to one side or the other during phone use. I have had physical therapy for leg, back and neck, traction was horrible causing severe pain.  I have had several types of injections (epicure,radio frequency, trigger point) cranial sacral therapy, I moderately exercise daily and do Yoga stretches. They are asking me to consider shots into the nerves between the vertebrae around C4/5/6/7 (I think this is the location.  Nothing is working.  I take a muscle relaxer Soma and Naprosyn. I use an analgesic for headaches but, it never takes it away just takes edge off.  I use Butal for pain. I am getting ready to sit down with Pain Mgmt Team and Neurologist to discuss new game plan...I have to have some relief.  What does this MRI mean and what can I ask them to consider?

Answer
Hello, Nancy,

The MRI results are inconclusive.  Simple as that.  Nothing in those results conclusively explains your symptoms.

I have a different view of the situation.

The universal response to injury and shock is the triggering of protective postural reflexes.  Your neck and upper back have gotten very tight.  That tightness causes intervertebral compression and, through brain-level protective reflex action, can, as a side-effect, cause headaches, dizziness, and balance problems, as well as pain and numbness from nerve compression (left arm).  Such protective reflex action, known as trauma reflex, is a conditioned action pattern that can and often does continue indefinitely, unless the patient undergoes a training process to recapture control of the involved muscular action from the trauma reflex.

None of the therapeutic methods you have experienced have the effect of quelling that protective reflex action, nor can they; none involves training the brain's conditioned reflex actions, but rather attempt to oppose them or mask the symptoms that result from them.

May I refer you to articles I have written on the subject at somatics.com/page4b.htm, particular those on whiplash injuries, back pain, pain management, and recovery from injuries.

If you were my client, I would anticipate immediate and continuing improvement in your condition.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold