[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#9756

To “Alwaysontop”. Yes-right shoulder injury can mimic the pain generated from cervical spine injuries. Neck disorders can also radiate symptoms into the shoulder.

Home traction devices can occasional be helpful for neck pain and shoulder pain developed from the neck but in general, these devices are not very helpful. I did remove these links as I don’t want to endorse commercial devices.

Tens units can be helpful to reduce pain. Ultrasound massagers can be helpful but there are contraindications to these devices so as a patient, I would not use them without significant training.

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.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#9757

To “Hooperk”.

Neck pain with headaches can originate from facet injury to the upper cervical facets. This is not an uncommon disorder from a motor vehicle accident and may not show up on an MRI. You do have moderate foraminal narrowing of the C6-7 level and you could have nerve compression from this (“The left neural foramen appears moderately narrowed as a result of uncovertbral spurring”). Check out the section “Nerve injuries and recovery”-then “Symptoms of cervical nerve injuries” to understand what symptoms can be caused by different nerves in the neck.

Your leg pain could be generated from a herniated disc. Your symptoms generated by sitting are classic for this disorder. Pain in the hip that radiates down the leg are also typical for a lumbar herniated disc. Right leg weakness does indicate the need for further investigation. You might ask your GP if he or she would consider ordering an MRI of the lumbar spine.

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.

[momof5]

#9761

I am a 42 year old woman with neck pain that has been present for at least 6 years. I did not have any accidents or injuries to my neck or spine. I also have pain down my left arm and numbness and tingling in my left hand. I just got my MRI results and was wondering if you could read it and interpret what it says?
CLINICAL INDICATION: Left shoulder pain.

IMPRESSION:
1. Degenerative changes of the cervical spine as outlined. There is a mild degree of canal stenosis at C5-6
and C6-7 without cord compression. Minimal contouring of the cord on the right at C5-6.

2. Mild foraminal narrowing as described at C5-6 and C6-7.

PROCEDURE:
Inversion-recovery, T1-, and T2-weighted images of the cervical spine were obtained in multiple imaging planes
without intravenous contrast.

FINDINGS:
The alignment of the cervical spine is unremarkable. Somewhat heterogeneous signal within the bone marrow, the
significance of which is uncertain. There is a relative area of decreased signal intensity in the posterior
aspect of the C6 vertebral body which is not bright on either the STIR or the T2 sequence. The significance of
this is uncertain. There is no compression fracture. There is no signal abnormality in the spinal cord.
Paraspinal soft tissues are unremarkable. Findings at individual levels are as follows:

C2-3: The spinal canal and foramina are patent.

C3-4: Minimal posterior disc/osteophyte without central or foraminal compromise.

C4-5: Mild posterior disc/osteophyte without central or foraminal compromise.

C5-6: Posterior disc/osteophyte, more prominent on the right than the left. This abuts the ventral surface of
the cord. There is a mild degree of canal narrowing without cord compression. The foramina are also mildly
narrowed.

C6-7: There is posterior disc/osteophyte and uncinate spurring on the left. Mild narrowing of the spinal canal
without cord compression. Mild left foraminal narrowing.

C7-T1: Spinal canal and foramina are patent.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#9779

Neck pain has generally three sources, disc, facet and nerve root. The shoulder can also refer pain to the neck. I am curious as you state that you have neck pain but there is reference to left shoulder pain on the MRI reading (“CLINICAL INDICATION: Left shoulder pain.”).

You have degenerative changes of the discs at C5-6 and C6-7 which are the most common causes of neck pain. There are no real problems with spinal cord or nerve compression according to this radiologist.

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.

[JadedTinka]

#11841

I am a 47-year old female, 6’1″, average weight for my height, with a history of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Raynaud’s, and am on warfarin for the remainder of my life I have been told. I have been having chronic migraines, neck pain, right shoulder, shoulder blade, arm pain that comes and goes. The migraines are chronic and can last for days. I seem to be getting increasingly dizzy and my thought processes are not always coherent. It is taking me a bit of time to relate the issue here, I have been checked by an Orthopedic Spine Specialist, who ordered an MRI, and is now referring me to Pain Management. My question, I feel that I am sort of just ignoring the problem if I do see Pain Management, but I have to do something. It’s very intense, electric at times the pain is. This is the MRI Report for my neck, I would appreciate a direction to possibly explore as to seeking a new Neurologist or some type of spine specialist. Thank you.

Technique: Multiplanar, multidequence MR imaging of the cerfical and lumbar spine was performed without contrast.

Comparison: No comparisons.

Findings:

Cervical Spine: Images of the posterior fossa are unremarkable. No Chiari malformation. Cervical spinal cord is normal in contour, size, and digital signal. No prevertebral soft tissue swelling. No suspicious focal marrow replacing mass.

C2-C3: Normal

C3-4: Mild broad based disc osteophyte complex. No stenosis.

C4-5: Broad based posterior disc osteophyte complex. There is mild left neural foraminal stenosis. Right neural foramen is patent.

C5-6: Broad based posterior disc osteophyte complex. There is mild central canal narrowing as AP diameter is narrowed to 9 mm. There is also mild left neural foraminal narrowing at this level.

C6-7: Posterior broad based disc osteophyte complex is present along with bilateral facet hypertrophy. There is moderate central canal narrowing at this level as AP diameter is narrowed to 8 mm. There is also moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing at this level.

C7-T1: Normal

Evaluation of the soft tissues does not demonstrate any focal abnormality.

Impression: Multilevel degenerative disc and facet disease. Worst degree of central canal narrowing is at C6-7 where there is moderate central canal narrowing. Details of each level as above.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#11890

You have a duplicate thread going on the forum and I answered this inquiry on that other thread.

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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