Help needed please...from anyone who understands medical terminology

[LeftyFingerPop]

Mods...please do not lock this. I am not asking for any advice. I am asking for the definition of some medical terms, that is all. Thank you.

The following relates to a cervical spine MRI:

C3/C4....Mild asymmetric disc osteophyte complex to the right causing no significant canal or foraminal stenosis.

C4/C5...Mild diffuse disc osteophyte complex, but no significant central canalor foraminal stenosis is noted.

C5/C6...There is an asymmetric disc osteophyte complex to the right causing severe narrowing of the right neural foramen. The central canal is mildly narrowed as well. The left neural foramen is not significantly stenosed.

C6/C7...Again, there is a diffuse disc disc osteophyte complex, asymmetric to the right, causing severe narrowing of the right neural foramen. The left neural foramen and central canal is not significantly stenosed.

anyone? pretty please?

[skygazer]

1. answers

C3/C4 and C4/C5 - some mild bone spurs but not pressing on nerves.

C5/C6 and C6/C7 - more severe bone spurs that are causing a narrowing of the passage the nerves need to go through, causing (I would bet) pain.

Not a doctor, had a cervical fusion in 2004 and learned a lot.

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. Thank you. Much appreciated...

:hug:

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Osteophyte is a bone spur.

C3/C4 you have a mildly asymmetric bone spur which is causing no stenosis.

Same with the next one.

C5/C6 - you have larger asymmetric bone spur that is causing severe narrowing of the foraman, or space where the nerve roots exit the spinal canal. In other words, pretty significant disc degeneration.

Same with C6/C7.

I'm a bit rusty, but it looks as those the c5/c6 and c6/c7 are experiencing some significant degenerative disc disease.

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. Thank you...

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

5. midlo or skygazer...

I am on my way to drop this info off to a potentially new doc now, so I will thank you in advance if you reply.

Would a narrowing of the RIGHT neural foramen cause pain in the LEFT arm?

Again, thanks very much.

[Midlodemocrat]

6. Yes, it could. Most likely the pain would be bilateral.

[SPKrazy]

7. c5/c6 and c6/c7

you have some narrowing of the channel where your nerves connect to your spinal cord (channel in the vertebrae) and some bone spur growth that is probably causing your numbness and nerve pain

probably try injections, traction, nsaids, neck exercises.

if no relief then surgery

[old mark]

8. Were I you,

I'd very seriously try everything else possible before surgery.


Good luck.


mark

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. Good advice. thank you Mark. n/t

[LeftyFingerPop]

10. Thanks SPK....listen...

You sound familiar with this. This shit fucking hurts. Is it suppossed to hurt this much? I mean, it fucking kills...

Problem is, I am experiencing a serious bout of depression, probably from the pain...don't know if the pain is from the depression or the spine now...can't even tell where it hurts anymore...it's all rolled into one.

Doctor that fired me still has not sent my records...thinking of getting a lawyer. New doc won't accept me without the records. Don't know what is happening here...losing my will to fight cos I can't function too well cos of the depression.

It's all fucked up

:pals:

[truedelphi]

13. Hang in there - philboy.

All I can do is send you beams, but much hope for you in your situation.

(From a fellow occasional back sufferer, though I am having a good week this week.)

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. thank you very much, I hope you have many good days...

mine is all in my arm, and it is crippling. losing muscle tone in left arm. Wrist and hand and elbow...

[skygazer]

15. Sorry you're having so much difficulty philboy

Let me tell you about my experience with a similar situation.

I had minor neck pain for several years which steadily got worse, with pain and numbness in my shoulders and arm down to the fingertips. Saw doctors and chiropractors but nothing seemed to help. Finally got x-rays and MRIs done that showed similar damage to what you have.

I tried physical therapy which helped somewhat for a while but the thing is, none of this is going to go away - in fact, it generally gets worse.

I did end up having a cervical fusion. It was a big decision and I did a lot of research. Not a step to be taken lightly but from what I found, the recovery rate is very good. I also met several people who had the same procedure done and they had positive things to say.

I had my surgery in 2004. I lost a little bit of mobility but no more than I had already lost from pain. I have had no problems with my neck since then.

Right after the surgery, I was somewhat immobile more from the soreness of my leg where bone was taken to graft into my neck than from the neck itself. That soreness was pretty manageable within days though and I got around fine. I wore a brace for about 6 months or so. That was a bother but I got used to it.

As for your doctor withholding medical records, that is crazy. I once had a doctor who pulled similar crap on me - a friend called them and told them he was my "legal adviser" and that the records were my property which they had no right holding on to. It worked, for what that's worth. I wish you luck. :hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

16. Jeez skygazer...

I'm very sorry that you had to go through all of this.

Can you describe for me how bad the pain got before you decided to get the surgery?

Thank you for sharing all of this...it helps.

My best wishes to you...take care of yourself. :hug:

[skygazer]

19. Check your PM

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

17. Records content belongs to YOU

the actual record belongs to the doc

fuck him, he's violating the law by not releasing your records

talk to a lawyer and have them shoot him a fuck you letter and get your records, you may have to pay for the processing of the records but the CONTENT belongs to the patient, its the fucking law.


as for your pain, it is never a clear cut a=b in pain, some people hurt with little radiological evidence to indicate so and some have enormous radiological evidence of damage and have little pain.

the nerve impingement (pinching) from the narrowing of the neural foramen (pinched nerve) and the bone spurs are probably rubbing them too. Causing nerve pain, damage even. What needs to happen is for the space between the vertebrae to widen and the neural foramen to not be in a position to be narrowing or having stenosis.

Depending on the level of pain, incapacitation, etc, you will have to weigh the risks benefits of whatever treatment were to be offered.

Surgery has its risks and it is the surgeon's job to give informed consent which means explain it to you so you understand it fully.

Other treatments have their risks and benefits too and the same goes.

Pain is very subjective and the rule of thumb that doctors, hospitals, and clinics are supposed to follow is that a patient is in pain when they say they are.

So I say fuck that doctor, get your records, sorry you hurt, and :hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

18. Thanks so much SPK...

I have a feeling I'm going to have to see a lawyer.

Really, thank you...:hug:

[Redstone]

9. Means you weren't imagining the back pain, pretty much.

Redstone

[LeftyFingerPop]

12. U bet my friend redstone. n/t