Hi there - I am a healthy 51 women and very active - for the last five months my neck range of motion from side to side has become quite limited and painful and when sleeping my left hand thurab and forefinger go nurab.
Doctor ordered xrays and found the following:
*Severe degenerative disc disease with endplate spurring and loss of disc space at C5-6 and C6-7.
*Advanced degenerative facet arthrosis at C-4 and C4-5 with 3mm of anterolishesis of c4 on c5 secondary to degenerative facet arthrosis.
*Uncovertebral spurring and facet arthrosis contributes to moderate neuroforaminal stenosis at C3-4, C5-6 and C6-7 worse on left than right.
Doctor has now ordered MRI and a referral to a neurosurgeon.
Any help to interpret xray findings and thoughts on the severity of findings would be much appreciated.
Hi. I have had spine problems for years.
Let's face it that as time goes on there are going to be changes that occur to our spine; etc. This is what refers to degenerative that it occurs over time. As compared to changes due to an accident or some type of trauma. The discs are like a cushion in between each vertebrae within the spine. There are 7 levels within the cerivcal - neck - area. 12 levels in the thoracic or midback and 5 in lurabar or low back. Then you have the coccyx which is the tailbone.
So partially you are facing changes in the discs which acts as cushions. It's like a grape that has lost some of the firmness. And there should be a certain amount of space in between each level but as time goes on there is that loss of the cushion.
As to the neuroforaminal stenosis. Think of your spine as hollow in the center where all the nerves will run down the spine. But at each level of your spine there is an exit point of the nerves. The nerves that deal with your upper arm your hanRAB your fingers etc. And levels that deal with your legs etc. So you are experiencing narrowing or stenosis of the exits where the nerves come out from the spine. Thus putting pressure on the nerves.
Yes an MRI is the next test that should be done. As to who to see I have treated for stenosis with both orthopedic and neurosurgeons. Be sure who ever you see that they specialize in spine issues.
Some people make an issue over orthopedist over neurosurgeon but in reality both are qualified to hand this type of problem.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Have almost a full pic (so to speak with xray/mri now in - xray results posted further down in the original posting) of what is going on in my cervical spine - lots of nurabing in hand and arm and pins and needles and increasing loss of range of motion in neck with tons of pain - still waiting to get in to see neurologist or NS for ....
but in the meantime for those of you that have severe ddd and have been told the following - do you have similar stories and could you share with me what your prognosis was/is?
MRI findings...
Degenerative endplate modic type endplate signal changes and endplate spurring noted C5-6 and C6-7. Degenerative signal loss and height loss is noted within the intravertebral discs most severe at C56 and c6-7.
c4-5 - right neural foramina is narrowed to moderate degree.
c5-6 - disk is largely degenerative. Broad based post. disc osteophyte present - no focal protusion/herniation. Effacement of csf anterior to the cord
but no signal changes in cord. Moderate bilateral uncovertebral
degenerative changes.
c6-7 - disk is largely degenerative. Broad based post. disc osteophyte present -
Broad based post. disc osteophyte present - no focal
protusion/herniation. Effacement of csf anterior to the cord
but no signal changes in cord. Moderate bilateral uncovertebral
degenerative changes.
