Can anyone translate (MRI)

[todpod]

I had an MRI done and have been to the DR, but he seemed real unsure of what was going on, he was going to have another Dr look at so we will see. I have had 2 neck surgeries and not looking for a 3rd, but who knows, and probably be looking for a second opinion down in Pittsburgh at some point, but here is the mri report.


MRI OF THE CERVICAL SPINE 10/2/09- Usual sequences were obtained. Spinal alignment demonstrates mild reversal of the curvature at the site of the patient's cervical fusion from C5 through C7. Spinal cord is normal. C2-3 is unremarkable.
 
C3-4- There is marked right foraminal narrowing at this level secondary to very prominent uncovertebral hypertrophic change. This is also causing significant impingement upon the right anterior thecal sac.
C4-5- There is mild disc space narrowing and primarily uncovertebral hypertrophic change. Findings are causing mild to moderate foraminal narrowing.
C5-6- There is cervical fusion at this level. There is at least mild right foraminal narrowing and mild to moderate left foraminal narrowing secondary to uncovertebral hypertrophic change.
C6-7- There is marked right foraminal narrowing secondary to uncovertebral hypertrophic change. There is minimal left foraminal narrowing.
IMPRESSION- Significant degenerative disease is present as described above.

Not looking for a real diagnosis, but just some idea what this means

Todd

woohoo first thread in vBulletin

 

[StageLeft]

Only thing of relevance I can add is that if you take an MRI of anybody older than probably 20 you'll see narrowing, discoloration, etc. and a vast number of totally asymptomatic things going on, so try not to get too emotionally involved in issues that are not actually, nor more they ever, cause you a problem.

 

[eits]

I had an MRI done and have been to the DR, but he seemed real unsure of what was going on, he was going to have another Dr look at so we will see. I have had 2 neck surgeries and not looking for a 3rd, but who knows, and probably be looking for a second opinion down in Pittsburgh at some point, but here is the mri report.


MRI OF THE CERVICAL SPINE 10/2/09- Usual sequences were obtained. Spinal alignment demonstrates mild reversal of the curvature at the site of the patient's cervical fusion from C5 through C7. Spinal cord is normal. C2-3 is unremarkable.
 
C3-4- There is marked right foraminal narrowing at this level secondary to very prominent uncovertebral hypertrophic change. This is also causing significant impingement upon the right anterior thecal sac.
C4-5- There is mild disc space narrowing and primarily uncovertebral hypertrophic change. Findings are causing mild to moderate foraminal narrowing.
C5-6- There is cervical fusion at this level. There is at least mild right foraminal narrowing and mild to moderate left foraminal narrowing secondary to uncovertebral hypertrophic change.
C6-7- There is marked right foraminal narrowing secondary to uncovertebral hypertrophic change. There is minimal left foraminal narrowing.
IMPRESSION- Significant degenerative disease is present as described above.

Not looking for a real diagnosis, but just some idea what this means

Todd

woohoo first thread in vBulletin

your neck curve is reversed, which means that your neck is straight or going the opposite way (typically happens with people who've been in a car wreck before).
the picture on the left is more like your neck and the picture on the right is more like a normal neck

c2-3 is perfectly fine without anything wrong with it

C3-4- There is marked right foraminal narrowing at this level secondary to very prominent uncovertebral hypertrophic change. This is also causing significant impingement upon the right anterior thecal sac.

this means that the hole that the nerve exits between c3 and c4 is narrow because of a big bone spur. it's also causing some pinching in the right front part of your spinal cord covering (which causes tension on the spinal cord).

C4-5- There is mild disc space narrowing and primarily uncovertebral hypertrophic change. Findings are causing mild to moderate foraminal narrowing.

your disc has degenerated and has caused some arthritis in your neck. the arthritis is causing a mild narrowing of the space that the nerves come out of your spine at c4-5 (c5 nerve root).

C5-6- There is cervical fusion at this level. There is at least mild right foraminal narrowing and mild to moderate left foraminal narrowing secondary to uncovertebral hypertrophic change.

for some reason, someone thought it'd be a great idea to speed up your degeneration and arthritis throughout your neck by fusing your c5 and c6 together. there isn't too much degeneration and arthritis at this level because of the fusion, but there's some.

C6-7- There is marked right foraminal narrowing secondary to uncovertebral hypertrophic change. There is minimal left foraminal narrowing.

you have a narrowing of the hole that the nerve exits at c6-7 because of the arthritis at the in your neck.

based on what i've read, here's my radiographic impression:
1. postural changes as described above (reversed neck curve)
2. multilevel discogenic spondylosis (degenerated discs between the bones in your neck)
3. multilevel uncovertebral arthrosis (neck arthritis, which is caused by #2 on this list)

this is why chiropractic care is important.

if i were you, i'd go to a good, respectable chiropractor in your town and see if he can help you. he won't be able to get rid of the arthritis or degeneration, but he might be able to take some of the pressure off the nerves. try it out for a couple weeks... if it doesn't work, then forget it.

if he tells you he can cure your neck, forget it. if he says he can take away the degeneration and arthritis in your neck, forget it. run out and don't look back, then find a chiropractor who knows what he's doing and isn't trying to cheat you.

 

[todpod]

Thanks, actually c6-c7 is fused as well he didn't note it in his report however you can clearly see it as well, c6-c7 has been fused twice the first fusion failed.

I am trying to figure out the pain management at this point, vicodin doesn't do much but anything I do makes it bad for a couple of days

 

[eits]

trust me, go see a chiropractor.

where do you live?

 

[todpod]

Actually saw a chiro a couple of years ago, he felt he could help me after about ten sessions. N Western PA

 

[eits]

Actually saw a chiro a couple of years ago, he felt he could help me after about ten sessions. N Western PA

was this before or after the surgeries? also, did he help? do you trust him?

 

[todpod]

it was after, last surgery in 2001, saw him 2006. He's a good guy, if he thought he could help he would. The mri is new and so is the new pain

 

[SociallyChallenged]

MRI Stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging; once call Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The "Nuclear" was dropped off about 15 years ago because of fears that people would think there was something radioactive involved, which there is not.
MRI is a way of getting pictures of various parts of your body without the use of x-rays, unlike regular x-rays pictures and CAT scans. A MRI scanner consists of a large and very strong magnet in which the patient lies. A radio wave antenna is used to send signals* to the body and then receive signals back. These returning signals are converted into pictures by a computer attached to the scanner. Pictures of almost any part of your body can be obtained at almost any particular angle.
* These "radio wave signals" are actually a varying or changing magnetic field that is much weaker than the steady, strong magnetic field of the main magnet.
MRI scanners are good at looking at the non-bony parts or "soft tissues" of the body. In particular, the brain, spinal cord and nerves are seen much more clearly with MRI than with regular x-rays and CAT scans. Also, muscles, ligaments and tendons are seen quite well so that MRI scans are commonly used to look at knees and shoulders following injuries. A MRI scanner uses no x-rays or other radiation. A disadvantage of MRI is it’s higher cost compared to a regular x-ray or CAT scan. Also, CAT scans are frequently better at looking at the bones that MRI.

Ah, the spam. I see you've posted in several posts. Read the thread before copy/pasting a response to a question that wasn't asked.