[Rubylee]

#6849

Thank you for this reply. I had a cervical and lumbar MRI done today. About halfway through the lumbar scan the Radiologist decided not to perform the weight bearing portion of the scan. The technician generically said the dr. didn’t want to cause me more pain. One, I live with pain so I was ok being still as long as it took to get all views necessary. And Two, my referring dr felt this was needed to get a view of the positions that actually caused me pain. The radiologist wouldn’t talk to me. In my personal experience, techs love to share good news, healthy babies heartbeat on ultrasound, healthy heart on an Eco, but they clam up and pour on the evasive techniques when something “bad” is going on. For example my ultrasound that showed I was miscarry ing at 11 weeks. My question to you is what could he have seen in his prelim that made weight bearing contraindicated? And could it be serious?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6853

Don’t read anything into the tech’s behavior. Some techs have bad days and some never have good days.

I am not too concerned about the lack of a standing component for the MRI as previously, I noted these MRIs lack quality imaging.

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.

[Rubylee]

#6854

Thank you,

[Rubylee]

#6863

MRI results are as follows:
Cervical
1. Disc sp narrowing at the C5 & C6 levels w/ minimal degenerative changes.
2. Multi level disc disease as described. The most prominent levels are at the C5-6 & C6-7 levels followed by the C4-5 and C3-4 levels.
3. The C5-6 level shows a 1-2mm retrolisthesis of C5 on C6. There is a 3 mm disc herniation in the central and left paramedian position. There is mild canal narrowing. There is mild cord impingement. There is mild foraminal narrowing on the left.
4. The C6-7 level shows a 3 mm disc herniation which is broad based with mild canal narrowing and slight cord impingement.
5. The C4-5 level shows 2-3 mm disc bulge and/or herniation more prominent on the left and mild foraminal narrowing off to the left.
6. The c3-4 level shows a 2 mm central disc herniation with mild canal narrowing w/o cord compression.
7. The C2-3 level shows a 1-2 mm disc bulge.
8. The C7- T1 level shows a 1-2 mm anterolisthesis of C7 on T1.

MRI LUMBOSACRAL (w/o contrast).

Degeneration of L3-4 & L4-5 discs. The conus terminates at the T12 level. Safittal STIR images show signal in the soft tissues or bony structures.
The L1-2 level is normal.
The L-2-3 level shows a 1 mm retro thesis of L2on L3. There is a 3 mm disc bulge.
The L3-4 level shows a 3-4 mm disc bulge with annular tear. There is minimal caudal extrusion.
The L4-5 level shows a 3 mm disc bulge w/ annular tear. There is foraminal narrowing on the left w/o nerve root impingement. There is mild facet arthrosis.
The L5-S1 level shows a 2mm retrolisthesis of L5 on S1. There is a 1-2 mm disc bulge. There is mild facet arthrosis.
The upper sacrum and retroperitoneum are normal.

IMPRESSION:
1. Degeneration of the L3-4 and L4-5 discs.
2. Multilevel disc bulges as described, most prominent at the L3-4 level, described.
3. Small annular tear is also noted at the L3-4 & L4-5 discs.
4. Mild facet arthrosis is also present at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels.

CURRENT SYMPTOMS STATED IN PREVIOUS POST:
New symptoms are in addition to; left anterior shoulder burning
Top of left foot burns and aches intermittently for couple seconds for no apparent reason.
I still sit on coccyx pillow due to pain when standing.

My questions are:
1. What does all this mean?
2. Is this attributed to high impact rear end MVA?
3. Is any of it pre existing?
4. Is reason for numbness in left pinky and ring finger found?
5. What are treatment options and will current symptoms subside?
6. Can I possibly be feeling early signs of caudal equinal syndrome?
Thank you so much.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6865

You have multilevel degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine without significant cord or nerve compression and the same disorder in the lumbar spine. This is typically a genetic disorder. The collagen fibers in your discs are somewhat more likely to tear and this can cause neck and lower back pain.

These disorders do not explain your coccyx pain, foot burning, numbness in your fingers or shoulder burning. The aches and pains in your extremities most likely originate from another type of problem such as an inflammatory neuropathy or even something like fibromyalgia. According to your MRI report, you do not have cauda equina syndrome.

You might consider consultation with a chronic pain specialist or rheumatologist.

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.

[Rubylee]

#6866

Again thank you so much.

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