[Debbie]

#26932

I understand it’s not possible for you to see all that you need to see just from snapshots of my MRI. I thank you for taking the time that you have to answer my questions.

Here is the reading from my cervical MRI:
Here is the MRI information on my cervical spine that coincides with what you have stated but without the mention of degenerative spondylo:

Cervical Spine MRI
Impression:
1. Degenerative changes in the lower cervical spine with mild canal narrowing at C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. Canal narrowing at C4-C5 and C5-C6 is slightly asymmetric to the left with slight leftward cord effacement but no cord signal abnormality.
2. Moderate foraminal narrowing at C6-C7, slightly asymmetric to the right. Mild-to-moderate foraminal narrowing is present at C5-C6 and there is mild left foraminal narrowing at C4-C5.
There is straightening of the normal cervical lordosis.
C2-C3 No canal or foraminal stenosis.
C3-C4 No canal or foraminal stenosis.
C4-C5: There is mild disc osteophyte formation, slightly asymmetric to the left. There is mild central canal narrowing with slight leftward cord effacement. No cord signal abnormality. There is mild left foraminal narrowing.
C5-C6: Disc buldge with disc osteophyte formation, slightly asymmetric to the left. There is mild canal narrowing with slight leftward cord effacement. No cord signal abnormality. There is mild-to-moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing.
C6-C7: Disc osteophyte formation is asymmetric to the right. There is mild central canal narrowing without definite cord effacement. There is moderate foraminal narrowing, slightly asymmetric to the right.
C7-T1: No canal or foraminal stenosis.

Just reading “Gentle” chiropractic is terrifying as I would be entrusting a stranger with the care they would need to take with my neck. I do understand what you mean about the injections being able to serve as an indicator of where the pain source is coming from but without the hopes of any surgery or any treatment, even if I knew that there’s nothing I could do. I have a few more questions:

So what type of injection would you recommend?
Why would laser surgery not be considered?
Do I have a herniated disc in my lumbar spine?
How effective do you believe aquatic therapy will be?
What happens if my facets completely wear out?

Thank you,
Debbie

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#26933

I can’t determine the type of injection as I don’t have your complete history, or a physical examination. It might be a pain injection or a diagnostic/therapeutic injection.

Laser surgery has no place in spine treatment. See https://neckandback.com/treatments/myths-laser-spine-surgery/

I can’t tell if you do or do not have an HNP in the lumbar spine just by the supplied images.

Aquatic therapy is conditioning therapy without the weight stress that standard physical therapy has. I is generally good and effective for many patients.

If the facets “completely wear out”, then you get a degenerate spondylolisthesis which you can read about in my prior answer.

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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