Question
Hi, I had an MRI done back in January and am still experiencing neck and now back pain.   I just had another MRI done, and am wondering what these results mean?  

1.  Mild degenerative disc changes at the c3-4 level, causing right c3-4 neural foraminal narrowing.

2.  Mild degenerative disc changes and small right posterolateral protrusion of the c4-5 disc, causing right neural foraminal narrowing.

3.  Small left central protrusion of the c5-6 disc, causing a small impression on the left anterior cervical spinal cord contour but no significant cervical spinal cord compression or edema.

4.  Moderate degenerative disc changes at the c6-7 level.

5.  When compared to the 1/21/05 examination, the left central c5-6 protrusion has decreased in prominence and causes a smaller impression on the left anterior cervical spinal cord contour.  The other findings are unchanged.

COMMENT:  There is loss of the normal cervical lordosis.  THe cervical vertebrae are otherwise normally aligned.  There is preservation of the vertebral body height and intervertebral disc spaces.  The cervical spinal cord is normal in signal and caliber throughout.

There is a mild posterior buldge of the c3-4 disc, along with posterior spurring at this level.  The disc bulge and posterior spurring is eccentrically more prominent on the right and causes right c3-4 neural foraminal narrowing.

There is a mild posterior bulge of the c4-5 disc, along with a small right posterolateral protrusion and posterior hypertrophic spurring.  As a result, there is right c4-5 neural foraminal narrowing.

At the c5-6 level, there is a moderate posterior bulge of the disc along with posterior hypertrophic spurring.  In addition, there is a small left central protrusion of the c5-6 disc, causing a slight impression on the left anterior cervical spinal cord contour at this level.  

At the c6-7 level, there is moderate diffuse bulge of the disc along with posterior hypertrophic spurring.  Although there is a small impression on the anterior thecal sac at this level, there is no alternation of the cervical spinal cord contour.  There is no evidence of cervical spinal cord compression or edema.

Answer
Amy:

Thanks for writing!

First, get a picture of the neckbones and study it a little. The bones are made with a thick rounded part in front (body of the neck bone), A hole thru them just behind that for the spinal cord (big nerve)and coming of of the big nerve are smaller nerves (spinal nerve roots) which pass thru spaces between two adjoining neck bones.

Between the bodies are disc or cushions, like a piece of gristle.

This report indicates that three or four of these cushions in the lower part of your neck have rotted. They are sticking out in a way that could touch the big nerve and the smaller nerves coming from it. This really hurts.

I would recomend checking out your digestion with a good wholistic health doctor. A traditional medical doctor does not usually check for this type of digestive malfunction.

Also, some support for the cartilage of your body is in order, nutritional support, I mean. This could be a variety of things depending on your situation.

This requires whole body care if you want to avoid surgery and the complications of that.

Dr. Rozeboom