Cervical MRI :: Multilevel Degenerative Spondylotic Change
Clinical Notes: Radiculopathy.
Findings: Reversal of the cervical lordosis associated with a 2mm grade 1 degenerative anterolisthesis at C3/4. Multilevel disc desiccation, loss of disc height and degenerative anterior marginal end plate osteophytic spurring. Multilevel facet joint degenerative arthropathy. No suspicious bone marrow signal abnormality. No paravertebral soft tissue abnormality. The cervicomedullary junction is normally sited with the spinal cord of normal signal and volume down to the most visualised level at D4/5.
C2/3: Moderate left facet joint degenerative arthropathy with mild left foraminal narrowing.
C3/4: Anterolisthesis, a small superiorly pointing central disc extrusion, moderate bilateral uncovertebral and marked left plus mild right facet joint degenerative arthropathy, the latter associated with effusions bilaterally. Moderate canal stenosis with mild cord flattening. Severe left and moderate to severe right foraminal narrowing with impingement at both exciting C4 nerve roots.
C4/5: Broadbased disc bar, moderate right and mild left uncovertebral plus moderate canal stenosis with mild cord flattening on the right. Severe right and mild left foraminal narrowing with impingement of the exiting right C5 nerve root.
C5/6: Small broad based disc bar and moderate left uncovertebral joint degenerative arthropathy. Mild to moderate canal stenosis with mild cord flattening on the left. Severe left foraminal narrowing with impingement of the exiting left C6 nerve root.
C6/7: Small broad based disc bar and moderate bilateral uncovertebral joint degenerative arthropathy. Mild central canal stenosis. Severe bilateral foraminal narrowing with impingement at both exciting C7 nerve roots.
C7/T1 to T2/3: Posterior disc contour is normal.
T3/4 and T4/5: Moderate right facet joint degenerative arthropathy with moderate right foraminal narrowing and impingement of the exiting right T3 and T4 nerve roots.
Conclusion: Multilevel degenerative spondylotic change as described. Spinal canal stenosis associated with mild cord flattening between C4/5 and C6/7. Compressive foraminal narrowing seen bilaterally at C3/4, right at C4/5, left at C5/6, bilaterally at C6/7 and on the right at T3/4 and T4/5.
Cervical Spondylosis :: Fusion For 3 Bulging Discs - C4-C5 Already Fused
The Dr told me I need 3 cervical fusions due to 3 bulging disks that are cutting off spinal fluid in my neck, I already had C4 and C5 fused. I deal with the pain constantly and it is getting old. He told me I would have very limited movement with my neck. My questions are, did anyone else on this forum have the same operation and would you do it again. My other concern, what happens if I refuse to go through with it, possible damage to the spinal cord or other complications ?
View 6 RepliesCervical Spondylosis :: Horrific Migraines And Loss Of Balance
I was diagnosed with CS about 12 years ago after having had problems with pain in my shoulder and pins and needles in my hands at night. I was referred to my neurologist in Leeds, (I'd already had discs out at L5/S1 in 1996 which caused me to go numb all below the waist. Had an emergency operation to relieve it, my right leg is still numb.) had an MRI and nerve conduction tests, slight carpal tunnel syndrome was diagnosed. However, I developed awful pain down my left arm and re-referred, another MRI revealed further degeneration showed but he is reluctant to operate. In the meantime, I get horrific migraines lasting 24 hours at a time, radiating from the back of my head to the front, my eyeballs feel like they are literally being pushed out of my skull! I have also noticed a sore area on the bulbous part of my head just at the top of my left ear :? I lose my balance frequently too...is it time I went back to the doctors?
View 1 RepliesCervical Spondylosis :: Dizzy And Loss Of Balance, Pain In Neck And Head
I am new to this site and new to the spondylosis. I am 36yrs and I have suffered with my neck since I was 25yrs. I have had physio no needle acupuncture and I am under pain management. Until recently I have never had any diagnosis until a few months ago.
Recently my symptoms have got worse most worrying in the dizziness and loss of balance I am suffering from and pains in my head and the neck pain has got a whole lot worse also.
Foot / Ankle :: MRI - Thickening Of Achilles Tendon/T2 Hyperintensity
Well MRI findings of my r/ankle 2 days ago thickening of achilles tendon/T2 hyperintensity,increased fluid in retrocalcaneal bursa,fluid is seen within tibiotalar joint, prominent venous tributaries in the tarsal tunnel. Has anyone been or heard of this,i am going on a year and a half no relief. Ortho says he can't do anything for me this is due to my Failed Back Surgery 4 yrs ago .He is referring me to a pain management ...
View 1 RepliesCervical Rib Syndrome :: Bilateral Cervical Ribs With Neckache And Shoulder Pain
I'm 42 and i have just found out that i have this condition. The 1st doctor i saw after having an x ray didn't bother to tell me that i had this condition, and it was the next doctor that did. I have been having symptoms for the last year or so , which are dizziness, some numbness in my little finger and ring finger, neck ache, which is muscular and nerve extending to my shoulder and arm i have also been getting jaw ache, and i've had tension headaches for years.
i'm not sure if all these symptoms are due to having 2 ribs. i'm waiting to have an mri in october.
However i am seeing a 'sacral-cranial' osteopath who is really helping, and i am also having homeopathy which is also helping.
I'm not sure what is going to happen and it's comforting to know that there are others out there that will know what I'm talking about and who i can talk to.
Cervical Rib Syndrome :: Average Size And Width Of Cervical Ribs
I have recently been told after 15 years of going to the doctors asking for help i have 2 cervical ribs and need to see a respiratory specialist.
I have been suffering with breathing problems which they did put down to asthma which might not be now, pains in my back, stomach, neck and arm. and sometimes get numbness in my arm and fingers.
I am cold and feel weak and tired all the time. I can sleep for days and still feel tired, the more i do the more i feel ill.
I have a large bone showing above my left collarbone which i can feel a large tube or vein above it going over the top of the bone which i measure to be about 2" wide.
Just wanted to know what the average size and width of cervical ribs.
Spinal Cord :: Cervical Radiculopathy From Pinched Cervical Neck
Have been suffering for 3 months with pain from cervical issues (diagnosed through MRI) - bulging discs, some stenosis, degenerative disk disease that is causing severe pain from neck through shoulder blade, underarm and down left arm. As I've had arthritis in my neck for a long time I know this pain came about from a stress injury to my neck. Have tried much conservative treatment (some physical therapy, chiropractic, and medication - currently 900 mg gabapentin and hydrocodone and ibuprofen and various others that I stopped.) I just had a Epidural Injection last week and thru this week experienced a bit of relief but not what I was hoping for. My question is has anyone gotten better with this type of problem doing these measures and had their problem resolve or at least get about 75% better without having any surgical intervention. My doctor thinks we can resolve this without surgery but also said surgery would be extensive as I have about 4/5 bad levels. I'm thinking of trying acupuncture and would appreciate anyone's input. Very tired of the pain and getting a bit depressed.
View 6 RepliesCervical MRI :: Degenerative Disc Disease Involving The Cervical Spine
I've been having pain and neck stiffness for years, and also have rheumatoid arthritis. Several months ago I started having "pins and needles" feeling in my left arm that became more and more intense from my shoulder down into my hand, mostly my thumb. I had an MRI, this is the result:
C2-3: There is a small posterior right lateral disc osteophyte complex as well as advanced facet arthropathy, particularly involving the right facet joint. This causes marked narrowing of the right neural foramen.
C3-4: There is moderate facet arthropathy, causing moderate narrowing of the left neural foramen. No evidence of canal stenosis. Right neural foramen appears patent.
C4-5: There is mild disc space narrowing and a right paracentral posterior disc/osteophyte complex causing minimal ventral impression on the thecal sac and mild narrowing of the right neural foramen. There is also moderate right facet arthropathy.
C5-6: There is advanced disc space narrowing, with prominent spurring both anteriorly and posteriorly. There is endplate sclerosis on both sides of the disc space. A prominent central posterior disc/osteophyte complex causes moderate to severe canal stenosis at this level with mild flattening of the cord. There is also moderate bilateral facet arthropathy. Neural foramina are significantly compromised at this level.
C6-7: There is a small posterior disc/osteophyte complex with minimal ventral impression on the thecal sac, but no significant canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing.
C7-T1: Normal.
OTHER: There is degeneration and narrowing at the C1-2 articulation with some irregularity of the dens.
CONCLUSION: Advanced degenerative disc disease involving the cervical spine, which is most severe at C5-6 with canal stenosis and bilateral neural foraminal narrowing at this level.
My doctor never called me, just sent me an email that said "no bulging disks, just arthritis", and he suggested I go see a pain management doctor. What should I do? I am having a really bad day today, my arm has been asleep more than it has been awake, and it's becoming more painful.
Gabapentin For Lumbar Discs, Nerve Pain?
for nerve pain in lower back/hip and leg. MRI in a few days. Known herniated lumbar discs, nerve pain new for past 6 weeks.
I cannot take morphine or derivatives due to it making me feel like I can't breathe so the anti epilepsy drugs are next try.
Dr gave me 300mg capsules but having taken one today I have asked to be given 100mg capsules and I will increase very very slowly. The side effects with one 300mg capsule was spectacular and I could not cope with this again let alone increasing the dose but can only hope that starting very low and only increasing very slowly I can tolerate
My question is, is it possible that just one 300mg tablet taken for the first time give pain relief as I am sure it did with me. Now its wearing off the pain is worse. My Dr said that it takes up to 2 weeks for pain relief.
Cervical Spondylosis :: Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion
I'm 48 suffered with cervical spondylosis for around 6 years, in the last two years it's got so painful. I have tried all meds, last year I had an op foraminotomy where they drilled the left side spurs C4 to C7. But the last year has been a nightmare the pain is worse. I have now had more MRI & CT scans more meds and having two injections next week. I asked the long term affect of my neck I was told I have a neck of a 70 year old. What dose this actually mean? Wheelchair what?? I am also on the list for a anterior cervical discectomy & fusion.
I have a fall time desk job which doesn't help at all but have a mortgage... holiday is taken as sick days.
Cervical Spondylosis :: Anterior Cervical Discectomy/Fusion
I am recovering from Anterior Cervical Discectomy, which became necessary to avoid drastic further deterioration.
I would like to tell you about my experience and what helped me. My problem started quite unexpectedly with a persistent back ache at work (I am an office worker). Within days it was so bad that I was vomiting with pain and had to stop working (I was commuting to London). I was on morphine within three weeks, but it did not help either. I won't list here all the various painkillers I was prescribed, which helped to certain extent, but the pain was so bad that I was suicidal. The doctors communicated with me hardly at all except writing another painkiller prescription. I felt totally abandoned by them. I tried osteopathy, ordinary physiotherapy and Bowen's therapy. Bowens worked the best but nothing would give more than a few hours relief from the extreme pain. My husband then hit on the Tens machine and that was the only thing that really helped. I would recommend it without hesitation. I dropped the morphine, which was a bit of nightmare for me anyway, and managed to live with the Tens machine.
Unfortunately my problem rapidly progressed to me losing strength from my arm and from my fingers and a neurologist recommended the dissection and fusion. It is not an easy fix, but to me it saved my life. I went back to work four months after the operation, seven months after first feeling the pain. I could not say I'm as good as new, but the pain has gone. My neck is stiff, gets tired very easily and a bit uncomfortable. I cannot lift, push or pull anything heavy. But I'm here, enjoying my family and grandchildren. I couldn't ask for more. I'm 63 and now feeling my age, that's all.
Degenerative Discs And Spondylolisthesis - Injections Didn't Work
Degenerative discs and spondylolisthesis,had injections worked well for 5 days now all back ...
View 5 RepliesBulging Discs - Tramadol, Naproxen, Co-codamol And Nortriptyline - No Relief
I have suffered with a 'bad back' since i was 21, i'm now 40 in August, and since october 2014 i have been getting worse and worse and went from taking tramadol, naproxen, co-codamol and nortriptyline as and when i needed to. Now i take in a day.... 1800mg of Gabapentin, 20 mg of Zomorph, 180 mg of dihydrocodeine 35 mg of Amitriptyline at bedtime 1000mg of naproxen. I also have an underactive thyroid so take 200mcg thyroxine and for my depression and anxiety i take 150mg of venlafaxine.
With all this i still feel pain, but also a little dopey, i'm currently on the sick from work and am worried about how I'm going to pay my bills - i have been to my psychiatrist and she gave diazepam to take when i feel anxious...... love sweets, me!!!! I needed help and advice.... with all that medication i should be floored, never mind the fact I'm still in pain. I had an X-Ray in Nocv 14 this showed osteoarthritis and then an MRI scan this showed a bulging disc on L5/S1 i think it was. I have been referred to the orthopaedic specialists but its all just a waiting game but all this time i still have all my bills to pay and this leads to horrendous bouts of depression.
Diagnosed Cervical Spondylitis Not Cervical Spondylosis
I was diagnosed with cervical spondylitis when I was 27 ( had a severe fall when I was 16 yrs old...fell 2 stories), am 48 now and moved to Wales almost 2 yrs ago from South Africa and since being here, my pain has increased in intensity. Used to get steroid injections and am aware that I won't get that here in the U.K. I now suffer extreme nausea due to the pain and can only dry retch, as the valve below the oesophagus was tightened yrs ago and now prevents me from throwing up. I would appreciate if others with this condition could tell me what the maximum dosage of Ibuprofen one can take. Taking the normal dosage (2) does not alleviate the searing pain or spasms.
I am also very confused. After x-rays, all dr,s have said cervical spondylitis and not cervical spondylosis. Been told that I don't have arthritis and yet this is not ankylosing spondylitis, which 1 dr said it was..(he never saw the x-rays)...really confused even after numerous x-rays and dr,s. I am almost on the verge of giving up hope of getting effective painkillers from dr,s here. Do the exercises, use heated neck bags and nothing much helps, especially when I get a flare up.
Need to know if increased dosage of Ibuprofen would help.
Cervical Headaches Always Come Along With The Cervical Ribs?
I have Bilateral Cervical Ribs. I also suffer Cervical headaches. Do the Cervical Headaches always come along with the ribs? Also, is it the Arthritis in the Cervical Ribs that are causing me so much agony? I have pain every single day. It gets so old, and boring. What does it take for them to remove them? I have a Kidney Disease as well, so I'm not able to take many pain meds, and the ones I have taken really don't do much of anything for me. I don't believe I have the TOS....think it would still be possible they would end up removing them WITHOUT having the TOS?
View 1 RepliesCervical Spondylosis :: Cervical Spasm, Neck Pain, Left Arm Pain, Numbness, Heart
I dont know i have cervical spondylosis , but MRI said i have a cervical spasm < now even after eating food my heart rate increase some times and there are weird feeling all day long in the chest ,pain in arm .. i feel tingling numbness, in legs ,arms , shouledrs some time. disbalance when i just stand up
Mty Doctors are sending me to neurologist,Cardio , Rheumatologist,Internal medicine .
nothing solved . Heart is ok , ECG is ok, x-ray of heart is ok.Blood test was ok ...
Neurological Disorders :: Choroidal Fissure Cyst Loss Of Taste, Hearing Loss
Last year(2014) I started having some health issues. In March I was diagnosed with Mastoiditis. After that I began to have vision issues with pain and was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis in my left eye. I did 3 days of Solumedrol at home and followed with oral steroids. Since then I have had on and off hearing loss on left side and have lost my sense of taste 3 times for a few weeks. I recently had a mri and they found a 12mm choroidal fissure cyst on my left side. I also have tingling and numbness in my left foot and leg. I still have blurry and double vision in my left eye at times. I had previous ct scans and mris and there was no cyst present. Could this newly found cyst be causing my issues?
View 1 RepliesThyroid :: Hashimoto's - Hair Loss, Depression, Anger, Memory Loss And Weight Gain
I am a 25 year old female and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease probably around 2012 or so. I take 75MCG every morning and I do blood tests about once or twice a year to make sure my levels are stable. What I need help with are symptoms. My boyfriend has been very supportive, he was the reason I went to get the initial blood test because he said my symptoms reminded him of Graves Disease and it worried him. Well, I went to the doctor and got the tests done and he told me I had Hashimotos. Since then, my boyfriend has told me that he hasn't seen any improvement in my symptoms, in fact he thinks they've gotten worse. I have looked at a lot of different lists of symptoms that people with Hashimoto's Disease can experience and I experience a lot of them. I'll list the ones I experience the most and a little bit of a description to each so maybe someone can help me with what I need to do to feel better because honestly it makes me miserable.
-Hair Loss - Every time I brush or wash my hair there is always tons of hair in the brush or tub. It's everywhere all the time, I shed like the cats.
- Depression - I don't know if it is actually depression, but a lot of the time I feel like I'm just not good enough to be around anyone. I'll find myself crying at ridiculous moments with absolutely no reason for it. I also find myself thinking that people I know (and can acknowledge even when I'm feeling this way) love and care for me, and yet I still think they don't care about me and will abandon me at the drop of the hat, which breaks me down mentally.
- Stress - This is probably one of my worst symptoms. I am always stressed out about something, even ridiculous things that shouldn't be stressing me out. One of the biggest things I stress about is what I mentioned with the depression. I feel like my friends and loved ones are going to abandon me at any minute, which scares me and results in me lashing out at them in ways that if I can't control it soon enough may result in them actually leaving, which terrifies me and just puts me into a never ending loop of stress and depression.
- Anger - I can't seem to rationalize other people's behaviors. Completely normal behaviors that don't normally bother me result in me lashing out and screaming at people and saying things that I don't mean to say.
- Memory Loss - This is a really bad symptom. I forget things very quickly. If I don't actively keep it in my mind, I won't remember it. A perfect example, when I was still in college I was walking through town with some people and when we were going back to the dorms I made a comment about a truck I saw. I used to see it all the time and hadn't seen it in a while so I made the comment. The people I was with looked at me really confused and just flatly stated "You said the exact same thing when we walked by it on the way out" and I honestly don't remember seeing it at any point that day. In fact I didn't remember seeing it for around 5 months, and yet they claimed that I made the exact same comment I just had, earlier that day. It really messes with my head when people tell me that I did or said something and I can't remember doing it to save my life.
- Weight - Before I started taking synthroid I weighed 110 lbs, after I started taking it I gained like 30 lbs and I can't lose it. I'm stuck between 135 and 140 (I'm about 5'6" tall)
- Headaches - I get headaches on a daily basis. Sometimes they're really bad but generally they're just a slight discomfort in my frontal lobe area.
- Sleep - It takes me forever to fall asleep and even when I do I can't stay asleep and then I feel exhausted all day when I wake up, as if I never slept at all.
Another thing I've noticed and that is that sometimes I feel like I can't swallow properly, I always feel like I have to yawn to get a lung full of oxygen, and my nails curl downward along the curve of the tip of my fingers on like 3/5 fingers.