[JCur80]

#10733

Hello,

I have browsed this forum many times when searching medical topics my Dr.s tell me that I do not understand. Thanks!

For the past 3 years I have had random occurances of severe neck pain. So bad that I cannot turn left or right, look up or down without a feeling of a stabbing, piercing, vibrating sensation that travels into my shoulder area. Initially it would randomly happen. In the past 2 years it has happened far more often. Many “locked up” visits to the ER. Drug after drug(I am military and stationed overseas, I’ve seen 12 Docs about it, revolving door).

November of 2013 I was in even more pain, basically my neck feels like I have a knot in it and it was hit with a hammer. I was given the option of cervical epidural, I took it. Felt wonderful for 6 months. The pain was somewhat gone, but the feelings of something being wrong never left. I constantly have spasms in my lower back, as well as lower back pain that comes and goes, yet I have had no lower back MRI. March 2014, I had my 2nd injection, the pain returned as if it had never left. I am a 34 year old male, very active, unable to do sit ups without pain in anyway shape or form. No spinal or neck injuries.

I have been told, bulging discs, spondylosis, degenerating discs, narrowing of the spine. I’m nervous that I am being just shuffled along. Can you please explain what the MRI actually means? My condition whatever it is, is worsening.
Also, possibly just conspiracy theory or nervousness. My mother is 54 was diagnosed with MS 3 years ago, my uncle is 50 has MS as well. My cousin is 39 years old, she was diagnosed with MS a few months ago. 2 other cousins also have MS.

Thank you for your time.

Here are the results of my latest MRI from March 2014.
COMPARISON: 10/3/2012.

TECHNIQUE: Standard cervical spine MRI including sagittal T2, T1 and axial T2 and T2* sequences.
FINDINGS: Sagittal images demonstrate normal vertebral height, alignment, and marrow signal.

Overall mild to moderate degenerative changes.

The posterior fossa and craniocervical junction are unremarkable. No cord signal abnormality.

Axial imaging:

C1-2: No significant spondylosis.

C2-3: No significant spondylosis.

C3-4: Small broad-based posterior disc osteophyte complex with minimal effacement of ventral CSF and mild right neuroforaminal stenosis.

C4-5: Small broad-based posterior disc osteophyte complex with a superimposed larger more focal central posterior disc protrusion which effaces the ventral CSF and mildly deforms the ventral cord. No definite underlying cord signal abnormality. Spinal stenosis is mild. Mild right uncovertebral joint hypertrophy with mild to moderate right neuroforaminal stenosis. Findings are progressive.

C5-6: Moderate right and mild left uncovertebral joint hypertrophy with moderate to severe right and mild left neuroforaminal stenosis. Findings are unchanged.

C6-7: Mild disc desiccation and small broad-based posterior disc osteophyte complex with mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.

C7-T1: No significant spondylosis.

Imaged soft tissues of the neck are normal.

IMPRESSION:

Degenerative findings at C4-C5 and C5-C6 which may be clinically significant, including progressive changes at C4-5.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#10734

First be assured that your neck pain is not MS. Multiple Sclerosis is a disorder of the cord and brain that causes very different symptoms than you report.

Most likely your neck pain originates from degenerative disc disease. This degeneration can cause pain from the discs and or facets. Epidural steroid injections are effective in some cases.

You might have a condition called IDR or isolated disc resorption where the disc melts away and the space is left bone-on-bone. In this case you would have local pain, intolerance of impact (jumping, vibration intolerance such as generated by sitting in a car or plane and delayed onset pain-pain that occurs hours after performing an activity that causes immediate onset pain).

Many times this IDR condition is present but not read by the radiologist. Your MRI could have this at C5-6. Facets can also cause this pain.

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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