I am having some unbelievable problems having to do with my neck, eustachian tube, back pain etc.
I have been going in circles trying to get proper diagnosis and treatment . I am at the brink.
In Dec. 2006, when I started to have neck pain, I had an MRI of the cervical spine- what it found was
quite dramatic as far as degenerative discs and other things, but to this point (Im 48) never had a pain in the neck
but for occassinal stiff neck like everyone.

Once the doctors see the MRI, they attribute the pain to the discs, but something just isn't right because the pain in not
where the worst damage is. I am not getting answers.

Question- Has anyone here had a cervical spine MRI? If so, would you mind sharing? Either by PM or online?
I am in panic over my whole condition, and I have read in numerous places that discs degenerate painlessly.
I have read that MRI readings can be quite dramatic, but that it has no relation often to the problem.

I also have cervical kyphosis and soft disc herniation causing "stenosis" etc.

I am wondering how unusual this is or would most people have this at a certain point.

I have calls in everywhere trying to find a place to put together some horrible things that are happening to me.
If anyone who has had a cervical spine MRI is willing to share, I would be so grateful.

I've had a bunch of cervical spine MRIs. I wasn't exactly sure what you wanted to know?

Cervical stenosis happens as we age, I think most people over the age of 50 have some measure of stenosis. The degree of stenosis would determine if you have significant problems. Your stenosis seems to be caused by herniated discs. Does the report mention that the stenosis is causing pressure on the spinal column?

I had to look up kyphosis...never heard that term before, but seems like it deals with a curvature, or could deal with osteoporitic or arthritic changes. I have no clue about that.

As far as MRIs themselves, there are many different strengths of machines out there, so MRIs can vary from one machine to the next. But, IMHO, the most important thing is who reads the MRI. Make sure an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon reads the MRI...don't just rely on what the report says.

Dawn-


Thanks for responding. Basically, I do know that cervical disk disease, stenosis is present in virtually all as we age.
I know that mine is bad for someone my age, but till recently, and after an everlasting sinus problem, I developed neck pain.
When I went to a chiropractor, he insisted on an XRay then MRI. When he saw it,he refused to adjust my neck.

I went to one orthapedist, who simply said you have collapsed discs, threw some meds and told me to go to physical rehabilitation. The meds were no better than ibuprofen or anything else, and I couldn't do the rehab because of the sinus probem
(I know this sounds nutty but trust me).

Bottom line impression from MRI is this-

Multilevel disc disease and spondylosis with severely degenerated disc disease c-3-c-4, c4-c5, c5-c6 and c6-c7.
The single worst level is c4-c5 where there is a broad based left paracentral ostephyte and soft disc herniation causing stenosis of the left lateral recess and proximal left foramen and flattending of the left side of the cervical spinal cord. My pain is mainly on the right side of the neck.

The HMOs doctors I went to have not given me a true explanation of what this means. I suppose I will have to go to someone expensive for a second opinion.

As the process takes a long time, and I never had this pain before, I do not know whether the pain is from the discs etc.
I have been told that radiologists "overread" MRIs and that virtually everyone has something by age 50. I was just wondering,
among those of you who have had cervical MRIS, whether they were this bad and whether your doctor could definitively
attribute your pain to what is seen on the MRI.

Now my back is in pain and I suppose I will have that scanned too. I don't like being traumatized with all these awful findings, if they are not in fact the cause of the problem. Very frustrating.

Sorry, it gets very boring, but I'm really at my wit's end-
Thanks Dawn!

Dawn, I've had so many my head swims, from neck, mid, and lower (oh, and including several brain MRIs and CT scans), and they began in my 30s.

Yes our vertebrae do settle or compress over time, but when they herinate the sack of fluid (disk) that is supposed to be directly between each vertebra to cushion, gets pushed out to the side like a little balloon. This can also shift around and causes the pain to shift where it's actually being 'felt'. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=185



Spinal injuries, whether by age or trauma, are normally not 'felt' in the spine itself or even in the affected vertebrae, but manifest at nerve endings that can be on opposing sides, or up or down etc. from the actual affected area.

Compression of the vertebrae is common as we age and is also the cause of 'shrinking'. I used to be almost 5'2" and now am just over 5'. (Some of my own vertebrae were damaged during injuries sustained between my 20s and late 30s however as well.)

When pain is very intense, sometimes surgery can help some folks by either fusing or other methods. A chiropractor is wise to NOT try adjusting a spine with damaged vertebrae, however, because the fluid in the cushion disks can move to dangerous position or worse.

I think it's more the readings of the various MRIs that are scaring you though because they look complicated and lethal. They are the readings that permit a doctor to understand where the various vertebra are in relation to the disks etc.

I am a radiologist and read a lot of MRI's. There is alot of description involved because the referring physicians-usually orthopedic docs and neurologists need that. BUT the findings need to be correlated with your symptoms. Many findings on these scans are incidental and due to aging etc. and do not produce symptoms. They are also not neccesarily progressive. Make sure you see a good neurologist rather than starting with an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon who may be more likely to recommended surgery when it may not be needed.