Cervical MRI Results

[peppytoo]

I was injured with whiplash one year ago, healed. Hit my head hard on top to the point of being stunned and woke up with shooting pains in my neck and could not move it. Healed in one week. Further injured my neck by moving a 200 pound person stuck in a lift on a ceiling the next week and the shooting pains returned and could not move my neck.

That was 5 months ago. I have been going to PT, receiving ultra sound, electric something, traction and weights. My shoulders are tightening up, fingers tingling and the base of my skull throbs. Most of my movement is back in my neck except to the right and left. I now get dizzy when using the weights and when walking, have difficulty swallowing and pressure in my head in back.

MRI revealed a 2-3cm bulge c4-5. Uncinate spurring causing moderate foraminal stenosis on left and right and mild secondary spinal stenosis.

Would surgery be something I would benefit from?

[JainMD]

Hi Zandy,
How are you feeling?
I think it suggests some swelling present at the thoracic vertebrae level.
I want to know what was reported on CT scan of lungs.
Do you have cough? Are you a smoker? Do you feel you have lost some weight in recent times?
Do you run mild fever?
I am thinking of some infective pathology.
It is possible to have one. I think it could be due to Tuberculosis.
Have you got a Tuberculin Test done?
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.

[JainMD]

Hi,
I didn’t get your name still. What is your name?
Are you a smoker?
There are many reasons why vertebrae fail to heal. These include smoking, osteoporosis, obesity, and malnutrition. Smoking is by far the greatest factor that can prevent a healing from occurring. Nicotine is a toxin that inhibits bone-growing cells. If you continue to smoke you could undermine the healing process.
I think the doctor is right in asking you to quit smoking, exercise and lose weight.
Keep me informed.
Bye.

[peppytoo]

Once again, I thank you for an informative reply.

I am back to see the neuro on Fri.

PT feels that I have regained my ROM---interesting since I have lost some of the range and it continues to hurt.

Having Mid/low back pain (almost like cramps). Had an MRI that revealed 4 bulges, stenosis and other issues, but the neuro said to lose weight, exercise, and quit smoking. Once I began to be more acitve the pain came back and will not let up. Taking Flexeril, Soma, Elavil, and Celebrex---too many meds! lol

I was off from therapy for 5 days and my neck did not feel too bad--the weights aggrevated it once again.

[JainMD]

Hi,
I feel you are indeed having pain due to nerve compression at the level of bulging of disc at C4-C5 level.
You are having similar symptoms as carpel tunnel, but your pathology lies at cervical level.
Physical therapy is useful for regaining ROM and strength of the paraspinal muscles. Gentle traction of the spine can be useful for decreasing nerve root irritation.
What treatment are you planning for your lumbar disc pathology?
What does the doctro have to say about lower back problem?
I think if you have been trying physiotherapy and analgesics from quiet a long time, surgery is preferable.
Keep me informed.
Bye.

[nury]

Hi,

I'm sorry but I needed to get this out there as I am so frustrated and in a lot of fear.  I've been to see ENT's, orthopedist, GI, GP and Pain docs and even chiropractors --so  here's my story:

I have mid-back and neck pain so many test have been done.  

What scared me the most was an x-ray ordered by one of the pain docs.  The x-ray read as follows:

X-RAY checst, 2 views
Small approximastely 506 mm nodular density ove4rlying theposterior aspect of one of the mid thoracic vertebra as seen on the lateral view of doubtful significance.

IMPRESSION:
No infiltrates.  5-6 mm questionable nodular density overlying the posterior aspect of one of the mid thoracic vertebra as seen on the lateral view.  

So, I ordered my GP to do a CT of my lungs which thank GOD came back good.  

History on me is hiatal hernia, small midline disk herniation at T-6/T-7.  and extradural defects on the thecal sac slightly predominant T6/T7 and T7/T8.

Could anyone help me understand if I should worry that the findng in the x-ray of the nodular density in the mid back is of concern?  Pain doc said he couldn't tell anything other than to go see  my GP
and GP said not to worry about it, that I am fine.  But I am so afraid as I don't know if the docs are just not putting any importance to this.  What if later on it comes out it was bad?  Please help? Not sure  how to go back and check response so if you can e-mail : ***@****.  

Thanks,
Zandy

[peppytoo]

Yes, I am seeing a dr. My family dr. referred me to a neuro. He ordered MRI and Nerve cond. MRI results posted above. Nerve study showed carpal tunnel??? My fingers do tingle and wrists ache, especially after PT when I use the weights. Typing also aggrevates it. I hands swell and stiffen up in a folded position and I cannot straighten them.

Taking Soma, Celebrex, Flexeril, Elavil, and Cymbalta. Also depresssd...lol

Blurry vision and ears ringing. My personal assessment is I am a mess.

I have Lupus SLE, My Rheum. ordered a lumbar MRI that revealed several bulges in my L SPINE. referred me to a surgeon, but she said to exercise, lose weight, and quit smoking. She would not talk about my neck since it was comp. My Rheum. thought that I should have a plate put in my neck. Go back to the neuro Fri. thinking of saying I am fine so I can just go back to work and live my life!

Any thoughts??

[peppytoo]

Hi,

Thank you for your speedy response. Now I feel ok, but get dizzy when walking or lifting. I have been out of work 4 months. My neck now can move, but limited to the left and right and causes pain. It is very stiff upon waking or if left in one position for very long. My job requires lifting and human take downs prn. I am concerned about the MODERATE FORAMINAL STENOSIS. Everything I have found suggests limited activity and possible surgery. At age 47 I better get busy changing jobs quickly!

One other thing that concerns me is the MVA that I was in one year ago I passed out at the wheel and never diagnosed with anything other than migraines. The MRI suggested demylenating process and other factors, but doc did not comment. Isn't that something to do with MS?

tHANKS

What do you think?

[JainMD]

Hi Peppy,
How are you feeling now?
What is your name?
Neck pain occurring after trauma is extremely common after motor vehicle accidents.
Traumatic neck pain often is caused by soft-tissue sprains, fractures, subluxation, dislocations, and herniated discs.
Have you seen any doctor? What has the doctor got to say about MRI? What has he advised?
Most patients with neck pain suffer from an inflammatory process. Rest and NSAIDs are the mainstays of treatment.
Posture modification and changes in sleep position are important nonsurgical treatments that may be beneficial in treating neck pain.
All efforts should be made to treat axial neck pain non-operatively because surgery for isolated axial neck pain has worse outcomes than surgery for other causes.
Keep me informed.
Bye.