MRI shows degenerative disc narrowing, presence of prevertebral osteophytes, diffuse disc bulging, neural foraminal stenosis. Indications?
Patient: Dear Doctor Can you help me understand the severity of my cervical mri. Am I looking at surgery. nerve pain bi lateral through shoulder, arms and into middle and ring fingers. back and neck pain . the pins and needs into my hands is so bad that I have to sleep sitting with an ice pack. My MRI results are as follows: straighting of the acervical curvature. degenerative disc narrowing is prsent including c-5 c-6 and c6- c7. Small prevertebral osteophytes are present . c3 -c4 mild diffuse disc bulging uncinate process spurring. moderate right neural foraminal stenosis . c4-c5 mild diffuse disc bulging mild facet degeneration and uncinate process spurring mild righ neural foraminal stenosis c5-c6 mild diffuse disc bulging larger in the left paracertral region. mild central canal stenosis with mild moderate spinal cord deformity , greater on left. Uncinate process spurring. Marked left neural foraminal stenosis. c6-c7 mild diffuse disc bulging. mild spinal cord deformity but relative patencyor central canal. this may be associated with hypertrophy or early ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament. Thank you Doctor: Hi,  Thank you for posting your query.  Your symptoms are suggestive of cervical radiculopathy, where pain, tingling or numbness may occur in the arm upto fingers, due to compression of the nerves in the neck region.  MRI findings suggest mild compression of the nerves.  In the initial phase, medical treatment along with physiotherapy would be sufficient. Medications helpful in this condition are pregabalin or gabapentin. I would advise you to start these.  If your condition does not get better, you may see a neurosurgeon for a possibility of surgery.  Best wishes,  Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) Senior Consultant Neurologist Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, My personal URL on this website:  http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar  My email: drsudhirkumar@yahoo.com