Do not jump to conclusions regarding the origin of mild pain in the right hand. The sources of right hand pain include carpel tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, tunnel of Guyon syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome as well and radiculopathy (pain generated by the neck).
If the origin is from the neck, there are some general questions that can identify the cervical spine as the origin or rule it out. Does the pain increase with neck extension (bending the neck backwards) and become relieved with neck flexion (bending the neck forwards)? Does bending the neck to the side of pain increase the hand pain? Is this pain worse at night? Is the hand pain worse with overhead activity especially if your arms are up but your neck is down (driving a car)?. Do you have any neck pain? Is there pain that radiates from the neck into the shoulder and then down the arm? Does the hand “go to sleep”? Is the pain on one side of the hand or the other or “all over” including the back of the hand?
The MRI report is not specific. What really needs to be identified is if there is significant foraminal stenosis at C6-7. The radiologist comments on thecal sac narrowing but that is not your problem. He would need to comment on foraminal narrowing. As I have said before, using of the terms mild, moderate and severe are in the eye of the beholder. Some radiologists interpret films differently than others.
Dr. Corenman
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.