I have chronic neck pain & need help understanding Doctors results

[sherwando]

I am in my 30's & i have had neck pain for 10 years. Recently had an MRI. these are the findings-- can anyone tell me what they understand of all this & maybe what is a good next step to control my pain.


FINDINGS: There is reversal of lordosis in the mid cervical spine
from C3 through C6. Vertebral body height is normal. Degenerative
marrow signal changes are present at C3 and C4. No fractures are
present. The cervical cord shows normal signal intensity.

C2-C3: The disc is desiccated. No extrusion or protrusion is
present.

C3-C4: The disc is desiccated. No extrusion or protrusion is
present.

C4-C5: The disc space is narrow. The intervertebral disc shows
minimal diffuse bulge, 1-2 millimeters.

C5-C6: The intervertebral disc space is narrow and desiccated.
There is a 2 mm miRABagittal and right parasagittal
protrusion/spondylotic spur.

C6-C7: Mild diffuse annular bulge, 1-2 mm.

C7-T1: Disc height and signal intensity are normal. No extrusion
or protrusion is present.

IMPRESSION: Cervical spondylosis at multiple levels with reversal
of lordosis.


There is flexion of the cervical spine No fracture,
subluxation, or neural stenosis is present The prevertebral soft
tissues are normal. Disc narrowing is present C4-C5

IMPRESSION: Persistent flexion of the cervical spine which may be
due to spasm. There is mild degenerative disc narrowing C4-C5

 

[Myofascial Pain]

When I finally was referred to a Pain Clinic, the doctors told me that (I'm paraphrasing) "if you randomly picked 1000 people off the street about 60% will show some sort of spinal abnormality" Originally, my GP thought it might be a "extruded disc" not herniated or bulging... As it turns out after a multitude of more test turns out I have Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

That is the connective tissue (fascia) surrounding my back muscles (myo) is torn/damaged thus resulting in my pain.

I would get several second opinions from different specialist one back specialist and one a pain specialist before undergoing any regiment of treatment. Turns out the physical therapy I was getting for my extruded disc actually worsened my condition and set back my recovery immensely.