MRI Results for back pain, numbness in hand& arm, cramps in bicep

[cb111]

I had a recent MRI and need help interpreting;
"there is a straightening of the cervical spine. C3-4- mild disc bulging wihtout significant tehcal sac deformity. C4-5 Large broad based posterior disc osteophyte complex with anterior deformity of thecal sac. Narrowing of the -- and lateral recess. Bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. Cervical cord deformity results in spinal stenosis. C5-6- Large Broad based posterior disc osteophyte complex with anterior deformity of th thecal sac Narrowing of the lateral recesses and bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. Cervical cord deformity with results in spinal stenosis. C6-7- Large broad based posterior protrusion with thin inferior right paracentral extrusional component. There is anterior deformity of the thecal sac and narrowing of the lateral recess and bilateral nerual foraminal narrowing and left cervical cord deformity. T2-3, T3-4 mild broad based disc bulging with mild anterior deformity of the thecal sac. No cord deformity or spinal stenosis.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Presence of osteophytes (spurs) and narrowing of foraminae are indication of degenerative disorder of spine. Cervical spine disorders such as spondylosis and myelopathy are often related to osteophyte formation. Osteophytes in your neck leads to nerve irritation leading to mild to severe pain in related area supplied by those nerve coming from that area of spinal cord and difficulty in breathing or eating may also be possible.  I would advice a multidisciplinary approach involving orthopedician (as basic treating doctor), neurologist and surgeon consultation (upon referral of your treating doctor) for your problem. A multi-disciplinary approach includes: Immobilization using a collar or braces; Physical therapy and manipulation (chiropractic) can also be useful in decreasing muscle spasms that can contribute to your pain symptoms. Medications include painkillers like NSAIDs, and muscle relaxants. Surgical Treatment (of removing bony spurs or osteophytes or removal of intervertebral disc) comes into picture when treatment by non-surgical procedures fails. Hope this helps.

[buriedinfur]

Wow. Sounds like your spine has a lot going on there.

cervical spine is your neck - the C stands for cervical and the numbers are which of the cervical spine they're talking about (or rather the gap between them). so between C3-4 you have your disk (the padding between the pieces of your spine) buldging a bit, but not impacting the thecal sac (the sac that protects the nerves that sprout off from the main spinal cord).

C4-5 is worse - your disk is calcifying (turning hard) which causes pain. Your disk is supposed to be rubbery to take the impacts and jars of your spine - kind of like how springs in the car suspension work. On top of that you have a deformed thecal sac on this one - meaning the nerves sprouting off from here can be impacted - which can cause nerve sensation (tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, pain). The bilateral neural foraminal narrowing means that the tube in the bone of the spine that the spinal cord runs through is narrowed - which can also cause nerve and neck pain. Spinal stenosis means narrowing of the spinal column too.

C5-6 Has a bigger hardened area (these osteophyte complex things can have bony spikes that rub on stuff too which is just more pain). The anterior deformity means that the front of the spinal column (the part closest to your throat vrs the part closest to the back of your neck) is the major part that's affected. Basically like 4-5 only this one sounds a little nastier.

C6-7 Posterior means the back of the neck. So opposite what 5-6 has. Inferior is the bottom (towards your feet rather than the top of your head). Paracentral extrusional component means that your disk is REALLY buldging - so much so that it's slipping into the area that your spinal cord runs through. The left cervical cord deformity means that where your spinal cord is running through that area, it's messed up.

T = thoracic spine. So it's the start of where your neck vertebrae starts into your chest vertebrae. T2-3, 3-4 you have less of a problem, but still bulging and some pressure on that thecal sac again, which will impact the nerves that sprout off from that point of your spinal cord. However the cord looks good there and there is no narrowing of the space where it runs through.

Hope that helps. And ouch. :(