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“MRI Findings: There is a straightening of the c spine in the lateral view w/ slight kyphosis @ C5-6. There is a mild levoscoliosis at the cervicothoracic junction.
C1-2 & C4-5: Negative
C5-6: Mild disc space narrowing, disc desiccation and anterior osteophyte formation are present. There is slight posterior spurring. A posterior leftward annular fissure is associated w/ a posterior leftward disc extrusion. This extends caudal to the disc space level on the left for about 8mm. This results in mild to moderate narrowing of the base of the left neural foramen and mild effacement of the ventral leftward spinal cord.
C6-7: Anterior spurring is present. There is slight posterior spurring. There is no spinal stenosis or neural foraminal encroachment.”
All other levels into the upper thoracic spine are negative
“Conclusion: At C5-6, a posterior leftward disc extrusion results in mild to moderate narrowing of the base of the left neural foramen with slight effacement of the ventral leftward spinal cord. Only minimal degenerative changes are present at other levels.”
Question: Prior to this injury a year and a half ago, I was very active (weight lifting: ~5 days/week, jogging: ~6 days/week). Although symptoms have greatly decreased since initial injury, pain in left shoulder, traps, and rhomboids are usually a 1 – 2 with some days getting as high as 4-5. Scheduled for my first ESI on Jan 2. Is getting back to jogging and lifting possible? Recommended? I am especially interested in jogging again. My guess is that the answer will be person specific based on if and how much symptoms are reproduced while engaging in these activities. Apologies for being verbose.
In your case, you have moderate foraminal compression and mild symptoms. I assume you have no motor weakness as generally symptoms should be greater that you describe if that was the case.
I would have no problems with you jogging if you were my patient. It really depends on your toleration for symptoms. Jogging can increase the nerve root stress but not in every patient. If you start jogging and cannot tolerate the symptoms, then don’t jog. I do feel the nerve root block will help and reduce your symptoms even more. Lifting would be OK too. Pain should be your guide.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.Thank you for your very prompt and helpful response.
Follow-up questions: Is there any kinds of exercising/lifting that should be totally avoided w/ my condition? If ESI fails and surgery is pursued, would a posterior cervical foraminotomy be indicated, appropriate, and beneficial? In your experience, is becoming asymptomatic a real possibility w/ my condition? In terms of relapse/reoccurence, are CHNP more likely to reoccur than LHNP or THNP? I think that is all for now.
Again, thank you for providing this valuable service.
Extension of the neck (bending backwards) will aggravate and possibly injure the root with continuous activity. Sports like tennis and cycling (in the drops) will cause this action.
Cervical posterior foraminotomy can work but with some significant drawbacks (remember Peyton Manning). See https://neckandback.com/treatments/posterior-cervical-foramenotomy/. You can be symptom free with injection or surgery if necessary. (See https://neckandback.com/treatments/when-to-have-neck-surgery/).
Not sure what LHNP or THNP are.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.LHNP = Lumbar Herniated Nucleus Pulposus; THNP = Thoracic
Ah. I’ll use those terms!
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. -
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