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Cervical Disc Bulges at C3-4, C4-5,C5-6 and C6-7
I have been a passive, yet loyal reader of this forum for awhile and decided today is the day that I post my question. I have learned much from others' questions, but I do have issues that I haven't found addressed so far. I am asking for help and guidance...
In May 2008, I experienced right side numbness in my arm while driving home from work. The numbness continued to the point that I lost use of the arm and it extended down into my right foot and leg and eventually into the right side of my face. Thinking that I was experiencing a stroke, my primary MD transferred me to a larger hospital where I underwent an MRI of my Head and Carotid U/S, and nothing was found at that time that could explain what was happening to me. My symptoms seemed to come and go without explanation, and I returned to my primary MD still seeking answers in Sept. 2008, and she ordered an MRI of my Cervical Spine.
This is the results of my MRI:
C2-3: No disc bulge or protrustion.
C3-4: Mild diffuse bulge is present. No focal protrusion is seen.
C4-5: Mild diffuse bulge is present. There is mild flattening of the anterior aspect of the thecal sac. There is mild narrowing of the neural foramina bilaterally.
C5-6: Mild broad-based left posterolaterally disc protrusion is present. There is mild compromise of the left lateral recess.
C6-7: Mild broad-based right paracentral disc protrusion is present. There is minimal compromise of the right lateral recess;
IMPRESSION;
1. MILD BROAD-BASED DISC PROTRUSIONS ECCENTRIC TO LEFT AT C5-6 AND CENTERED TO THE RIGHT AT C6-7. ASSOCIATED COMPROMISE OF LATERAL RECESSES AT THESE LEVELS.
2. BROAD-BASED MIDLINE DISC PROTRUSION AT C4-5 WITH MILD SPINAL STENOSIS. AGAIN, CORRELATION WITH DISTRIBUTION OF RADICULAR SYMPTOMS IS RECOMMENDED.
This MRI report was six months ago, and my primary MD felt that this was due to some type of trauma that I may have experienced as a young child that is now causing me problems, I am 43, and recalled an incident of being hit in the back of my head with a bat while participating in softball. At the time of this diagnosis,I elected to just wait and deal with the symptoms as they arise.
I have been experiencing increasing symptoms for the past month or so, with increasing fatigue and migraines, then last week while sleeping, I felt an odd feeling of a "squishiness" in the back of my neck, then experienced the feeling of some liquid running down my neck, I was lying on my side at the time. Since this occurrence, I have been in constant pain and discomfort with my neck and my head feels so "heavy" and I am just exhausted most of the time. I was prescribed Elavil to help me sleep, but I experienced so much grogginess with it the next day, I only take it when I have to. Lately though, with the help of Tylenol PM, I am able to rest some, but within an hour of rising, those recurring symptoms of my head feeling heavy and pain in my neck now extend into my upper back through to my mid-chest. I also experience pain under my right arm and I have this feeling of a stick or poker-like pain in my right armpit.
I have been referred to a neurosurgeon and will be seeing him for the first time on March 24th. Does anyone have any experience with the above symptoms, and what would be your opinion about what I might be expecting to hear from the neurosurgeon? I am wondering about PT or epidural injections, or will he recommend surgery? The one thing I keep reading is the recommendation to wait on surgery until the last resort, and I can understand this, yet I am in pain now most of the time. How much more must I endure before I will know that it is "time"? Any and all opinions would be welcome right now!
In May 2008, I experienced right side numbness in my arm while driving home from work. The numbness continued to the point that I lost use of the arm and it extended down into my right foot and leg and eventually into the right side of my face. Thinking that I was experiencing a stroke, my primary MD transferred me to a larger hospital where I underwent an MRI of my Head and Carotid U/S, and nothing was found at that time that could explain what was happening to me. My symptoms seemed to come and go without explanation, and I returned to my primary MD still seeking answers in Sept. 2008, and she ordered an MRI of my Cervical Spine.
This is the results of my MRI:
C2-3: No disc bulge or protrustion.
C3-4: Mild diffuse bulge is present. No focal protrusion is seen.
C4-5: Mild diffuse bulge is present. There is mild flattening of the anterior aspect of the thecal sac. There is mild narrowing of the neural foramina bilaterally.
C5-6: Mild broad-based left posterolaterally disc protrusion is present. There is mild compromise of the left lateral recess.
C6-7: Mild broad-based right paracentral disc protrusion is present. There is minimal compromise of the right lateral recess;
IMPRESSION;
1. MILD BROAD-BASED DISC PROTRUSIONS ECCENTRIC TO LEFT AT C5-6 AND CENTERED TO THE RIGHT AT C6-7. ASSOCIATED COMPROMISE OF LATERAL RECESSES AT THESE LEVELS.
2. BROAD-BASED MIDLINE DISC PROTRUSION AT C4-5 WITH MILD SPINAL STENOSIS. AGAIN, CORRELATION WITH DISTRIBUTION OF RADICULAR SYMPTOMS IS RECOMMENDED.
This MRI report was six months ago, and my primary MD felt that this was due to some type of trauma that I may have experienced as a young child that is now causing me problems, I am 43, and recalled an incident of being hit in the back of my head with a bat while participating in softball. At the time of this diagnosis,I elected to just wait and deal with the symptoms as they arise.
I have been experiencing increasing symptoms for the past month or so, with increasing fatigue and migraines, then last week while sleeping, I felt an odd feeling of a "squishiness" in the back of my neck, then experienced the feeling of some liquid running down my neck, I was lying on my side at the time. Since this occurrence, I have been in constant pain and discomfort with my neck and my head feels so "heavy" and I am just exhausted most of the time. I was prescribed Elavil to help me sleep, but I experienced so much grogginess with it the next day, I only take it when I have to. Lately though, with the help of Tylenol PM, I am able to rest some, but within an hour of rising, those recurring symptoms of my head feeling heavy and pain in my neck now extend into my upper back through to my mid-chest. I also experience pain under my right arm and I have this feeling of a stick or poker-like pain in my right armpit.
I have been referred to a neurosurgeon and will be seeing him for the first time on March 24th. Does anyone have any experience with the above symptoms, and what would be your opinion about what I might be expecting to hear from the neurosurgeon? I am wondering about PT or epidural injections, or will he recommend surgery? The one thing I keep reading is the recommendation to wait on surgery until the last resort, and I can understand this, yet I am in pain now most of the time. How much more must I endure before I will know that it is "time"? Any and all opinions would be welcome right now!
Welcome to the Back and Neck Community. Members are here to provide assistance and support to individuals experiencing symptoms related to possible abnormal conditions of the cervical and/or lumbar spine. Advice given is non-professional and is based primarily on personal experiences. Please post on the Expert Forum if additional medical advice is needed and one of the medical doctors will assist as appropriate.
I am sorry to hear of your continued discomfort. Neck pain and associated symptoms such as head heaviness/headache can be very disabling.
Your MRI was done approximately six months ago and the clinical findings reported can be directly related to your present symptoms. Since your MRI, it is possible that there have been interval changes which could correspond to the increased intensity of your symptoms.
The areas of concern are C4-5: protrusion of disc causing mild stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal (through which the spinal cord travels)
C5-C6: two disc protrusions located on right and left sides which are causing compromise of the area where the nerve roots (from the spinal cord to your extremities)
travel. C6-7 has a broad based disc protrusion which shows mild compromise on the right side.
When there is compromise (pinching) of the nerve roots or stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal and neural foramina (area through which the nerve roots travel), it will result in symptoms in the body parts served by those nerves. The result is the ;neck pain, upper mid back pain and headaches.
Although these symptoms may be connected to the trauma you experienced earlier, it has probably progressed through the wear and tear of the spine as we age.
The referral to the neurosurgeon is appropriate as he can review the results of your MRI in greater detail and explore your treatment options. Surgery is not always indicated, and conservative treatment is sometimes helpful to alleviate the primary symptoms.
Physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication and possible epidural steroid injections have proven helpful to some. Surgery is done when conservative treatment has failed to produce adequate pain relief and if the nerves are compromised to the point of risking increased damage which could result in permanent residuals even if surgery is done.
The decision to have surgery is very personal and can only be evaluated based on the recommendations of the neurosurgeon and your current status and changes in your quality of life. You also have the option of seeking a second opinion prior to consenting to surgical intervention.
I am three weeks postop anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C7 due to extensive disc degeneration, stenosis and multiple disc herniations putting pressure and contact on my spinal nerves and the spinal cord itself. Fusion was my only real alternative due to the extent of damage.
My surgery was a complete success and the majority of my symptoms were gone within 3hrs of the operation. My postop recovery is continuing to progress well.
Not everyone has similar results and the decision for surgery needs to be evaluated with all the other options offered.
Please post back after your neurosurgery appt and let us know of your progress and any additional questions/concerns you may have.
Best wishes ----
I am sorry to hear of your continued discomfort. Neck pain and associated symptoms such as head heaviness/headache can be very disabling.
Your MRI was done approximately six months ago and the clinical findings reported can be directly related to your present symptoms. Since your MRI, it is possible that there have been interval changes which could correspond to the increased intensity of your symptoms.
The areas of concern are C4-5: protrusion of disc causing mild stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal (through which the spinal cord travels)
C5-C6: two disc protrusions located on right and left sides which are causing compromise of the area where the nerve roots (from the spinal cord to your extremities)
travel. C6-7 has a broad based disc protrusion which shows mild compromise on the right side.
When there is compromise (pinching) of the nerve roots or stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal and neural foramina (area through which the nerve roots travel), it will result in symptoms in the body parts served by those nerves. The result is the ;neck pain, upper mid back pain and headaches.
Although these symptoms may be connected to the trauma you experienced earlier, it has probably progressed through the wear and tear of the spine as we age.
The referral to the neurosurgeon is appropriate as he can review the results of your MRI in greater detail and explore your treatment options. Surgery is not always indicated, and conservative treatment is sometimes helpful to alleviate the primary symptoms.
Physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication and possible epidural steroid injections have proven helpful to some. Surgery is done when conservative treatment has failed to produce adequate pain relief and if the nerves are compromised to the point of risking increased damage which could result in permanent residuals even if surgery is done.
The decision to have surgery is very personal and can only be evaluated based on the recommendations of the neurosurgeon and your current status and changes in your quality of life. You also have the option of seeking a second opinion prior to consenting to surgical intervention.
I am three weeks postop anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C7 due to extensive disc degeneration, stenosis and multiple disc herniations putting pressure and contact on my spinal nerves and the spinal cord itself. Fusion was my only real alternative due to the extent of damage.
My surgery was a complete success and the majority of my symptoms were gone within 3hrs of the operation. My postop recovery is continuing to progress well.
Not everyone has similar results and the decision for surgery needs to be evaluated with all the other options offered.
Please post back after your neurosurgery appt and let us know of your progress and any additional questions/concerns you may have.
Best wishes ----
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