Thanks for your informative reply philnoir. I actually go to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow . It would sure be nice to think my PT could get me to a point where I didn't need surgery. The arm pain, weakness and finger numbness and tingling is really becoming a bother. It's been two months without much relief. I hope everything turns out okay in the end. Be nice to think I could get away without surgery. Thanks again.
I don't generally interpret MRI reports here -- it's inappropriate.
Let me say that your MRI is consistent with your arm, neck, and shoulder pain.
Some physical therapists are aces in treating this kind of condition, without surgery. You'll neeed medical management, but if you can find the right PT, he/she will help extend your range of movement so that normal movements will no longer hurt.
I'll also advise this is a temporary fix. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a progressive spine disorder that lasts a lifetime.
The discs are not the only problem with DDD, but the facet joints on either side of the spine also can cause pain. Arthritic scaring, called osteophytes, that when located in spaces normally reserved for the nerve roots, also cause problems. They call this foraminal occlusion.
Surgery is often offered as a solution to DDD. Be wary and obtain second or third opinions. Surgery can exacerbate pain without improvement.
Educate yourself on DDD using some of the spine sites available on the web.