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  • lilikath00
    Participant
    Post count: 2

    Good Morning,

    Thank you for all of the support you provide to us and our interpretation of results.

    I am hoping you can help me understand the true impact of these MRI results. I was recently hit by a stolen four door truck, only after the driver jumped out and accelerated upon doing so. I was stationary (parked in front of my home). When all was said and done it was a five car pile up as he hit me hard enough to force me into the three cars (parked with a cars length distance between each). My vehicle was totaled. I have been in PT since June and am having chronic pain in neck and back, clavicle and right rib cage. My rib cage and collar bones are offset. What my PT called a lateral ring rib shift. I suffer shoulder blade pain (dominate right) and other symptoms I did not used to suffer. Weakness in hands and legs, and sometimes I still feel as if my brain is thinking like it did while concussed. Just a bit off.

    I am to receive a spinal epidural so long as the MRI results are not prohibitive in hopes it provides relief to neck back and shoulders.

    Do you think this is a proper way to treat? How do I mitigate the pain and weakness that is attributed to the findings, and does the straightening of the natural cervical lordosis explain blurry vision, lightheadedness and almost a bobble head kind of feeling? I have been largely unable to be active since being hit and am hoping to regain some mobility and relief in my neck and back with the proper treatment.

    Since being hit my neck and back (as well as hips) have become quite bothersome. Any feedback is appreciated as reading through your forum I learned a tremendous amount.

    This is my 3rd MRI since 2011 however c6-c7 showed only mild DDD at time of last scan. I did have a CT scan at the hospital following the accident. Will an epidural provide relief?

    Thank you.

    FINDINGS:

    Marrow signal: Within normal limits.

    Alignment: Mild straightening of the normal cervical lordosis without
    subluxation.

    Cervical cord: Normal in signal and morphology.

    The C1-C2 relationship is maintained.

    C2-3: Unremarkable.

    C3-4: Unremarkable

    C4-5: Unremarkable

    C5-6: Mild degenerative disc disease with small bilateral
    uncovertebral joint osteophytes without significant stenosis

    C6-7: Moderate size Right paracentral Broad-based disc extrusion which
    migrates about 3 to 4 mm superiorly and 4 mm inferiorly. This is
    causing proximal right foraminal stenosis and moderate right central
    stenosis.

    C7-T1 T1-2 and T2-3 and T3-4 are unremarkable

    IMPRESSION:

    C6-7 shows a right paracentral moderate-sized broad-based disc
    extrusion, described above, causing proximal right foraminal stenosis
    and moderate right central stenosis.

    C5-6 shows mild degenerative disc disease

    lilikath00
    Participant
    Post count: 2

    Apologies. Perhaps to provide previous scans may be beneficial:
    Examination: MR C SPINE WO CON – 3221161 – Aug 16 2011 1:18PM
    Accession No: 9793659
    Reason: EVAL FOR MS
    REPORT:
    INDICATION: Chronic pain and intermittent numbness and tingling.
    COMPARISON: MRI brain on 11 2011
    TECHNIQUE: Axial T1 and T2 and sagittal T1, T2, and STIR
    noncontrast MRI of
    the cervical spine .
    FINDINGS: Alignment is within normal limits. Normal bone marrow
    signal. No
    compression deformity. Normal disc signal.
    Cervicomedullary junction is within normal limits. Signal and caliber
    of the
    cervical spinal cord are within normal limits.
    Paraspinal soft tissues are within normal limits.
    The C1-C2 relationship is within normal limits.
    C2-C3: No herniation or stenosis.
    C3-C4: No herniation or stenosis.
    C4-C5: No herniation or stenosis.
    C5-C6: No herniation or stenosis.
    C6-C7: Posterior disc osteophyte complex. Mild central spinal canal
    stenosis.
    C7-T1: No herniation or stenosis.
    IMPRESSION:
    1. C6-C7 mild central spinal canal stenosis.
    2. Normal cord signal.

    2015:
    INDICATION: Chronic neck pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, bilateral
    decreased
    sensation of arms and hands, intolerable arm pain, burning and
    tingling,
    TECHNIQUE: Sagittal T1, T2, STIR and axial T1 and T2-weighted
    images of the
    cervical spine were obtained. Following 6 mL intravenous Gadavist
    gadolinium
    repeat sagittal and axial T1-weighted images.
    COMPARISON: MRI cervical spine 8/16/11
    FINDINGS:
    Cervical vertebral alignment has been adequately maintained.
    The craniocervical junction is unremarkable.
    C2-C3: No disc bulge or stenosis.
    C3-C4: No disc bulge or stenosis.
    C4-C5: No disc bulge or stenosis.
    C5-C6: Minimal disc bulge and endplate hypertrophy. Minimal
    stenosis. No
    cord compression.
    C6-C7: Small broad-based right posterior lateral disc protrusion. Mild
    stenosis with minimal if any cord compression/displacement.
    Findings are
    similar to 8/16/11..
    C7-T1: Minimal central bulge without stenosis.
    T1-T2: No disc bulge or stenosis.
    The cervical spinal cord has normal signal. No abnormal intradural
    enhancement.
    IMPRESSION:
    1. C6-C7 small broad-based right posterior lateral disc protrusion
    with mild
    stenosis, minimal if any cord compression and no significant change
    since
    August 2011.
    2. No abnormal signal or abnormal enhancement in the cervical
    spinal cord.

    My other question is is this something, based on the seemingly progressive nature, that i can expect to continue to get worse. Or is it simply case by case and I do my best to mitigate pain and any further injury? I know I was not in a tremendous amount of discomfort prior to being hit in may and the right side of my body is out of whack. Truly would just love a professional set of eyes and a conclusive opinion, in vernacular. Although a scientist, I have a hard time fully comprehending the scans, over the plane of time, and with MVA now in consideration.

    Lastly, I have been experiencing terrible hip pain (almost feels like plantar fasciitis but in my right hip bone). My PT states my hip flexors are terrible and that if i am able to rebuild core strength I should lessen the pain associated with chronic chostochondritis and whiplash. Is the hip pain something i should have checked while working with my neurologist? It recurs intermittently, as does the foot pain, and is miserable in the moment, but tends to subside. No body part is exempt from a twitch, muscle cramp, going numb, or a stabbing sharp pain.

    Again. Thank you so very sincerely. Of the multitudes of doctors i have interacted with, to see your replies, and resulting knowledge means so much to so many of us.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8660

    Your symptoms could to be referral pain from either disc or facet origin or from a radiculopathy (“chronic pain in neck and back…shoulder blade pain (dominate right)… I still feel as if my brain is thinking like it did while concussed”). Your change in mentation is most likely from your concussion.

    Your MRI notes a herniation at right C6-7 and a degenerative disc at C5-6 (“C6-7 shows a right paracentral moderate-sized broad-based disc extrusion, described above, causing proximal right foraminal stenosis
    and moderate right central stenosis…C5-6 shows mild degenerative disc disease”). This could explain your shoulder blade pain on the right. Find a reputable spine surgeon who can diagnose your condition and then recommend a selective nerve root block for both diagnosis and possible treatment.

    I cannot explain your hip or foot symptoms from the information provided.

    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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