Hello, I have had medium to severe neck pain for the past 5 years. My MRI report(done in April 2016) says
MRI - CERVICAL SPINE
Protocol:
Multiplanar MRI of the cervical spine done on 1.5 Tesla machine was performed using T1 weighted spin echo, T2 weighted fast spin echo & T2* weighted gradient echo sequences.
Observations:
Loss of normal cervical lordosis is seen.
The vertebral bodies are normal in height and signal intensity. Their posterior elements are normal.
C3-4 disc reveal diffuse posterior bulge with small posterocentral protrusion compressing anterior subarachnoid space.
C4-5 disc reveal diffuse posterior bulge with medium sized posterocentral protrusion compressing anterior subarachnoid space.
C5-6 disc reveal diffuse posterior bulge with right paracentral protrusion and inferior migration with peridiscal osteophytes compressing anterior subarachnoid space and right budding nerve root .
C6-7 disc reveal diffuse posterior bulge with posterior protrusion compressing anterior subarachnoid space.
There is no other disc herniation or foraminal narrowing.
There is no abnormal pre or paraspinal soft tissue
The craniovertebral junction is normal.
Conclusion:
Diffuse posterior bulge of C3-4 disc with small posterocentral protrusion compressing anterior subarachnoid space.
Diffuse posterior bulge of C4-5 disc with medium sized posterocentral protrusion compressing anterior subarachnoid space.
Diffuse posterior bulge of C5-6 disc with right paracentral protrusion and inferior migration with peridiscal osteophytes compressing anterior subarachnoid space and right budding nerve root .
Diffuse posterior bulge of C6-7 disc with posterior protrusion compressing anterior subarachnoid space.
Could the esteemed experts please suggest what should I be doing next? The Ortho who I consulted says surgery is the only solution.