I've been struggling with neck pain for
the better part of 4-5 years now. I
finally convinced my family doctor to
conduct an MRI. She had been recommending
Physio therapy as a solution for a while
and I had been seeing a physio therapist
with limited success. She originally
didn't recommend an MRI because she felt
the treatments available would be the same
regardless of what the MRI showed.
However, I was not happy with that
response and demanded an MRI to see
exactly what the issues were. Here were
the results:
C6-7, moderate degenrative discal disease
and posterior facet disease. The canal
size and neural foramina are maintained.
C5-6, at least moderate degenerative
discal disease and posterior facet
disease. The left paracentral focal
osteophyte and focal disc pathology. This
just touches the left anterior hemicord.
Canal size is maintained. Moderate
bilateral neural foraminal narrowing.
C4-5, moderate degenerative discal disease
and posterior facet disease. The canal
size and neural foramina are maintained.
C3-4 and C2-3 levels show degenerative
discal disease and posterior facet
disease. The root canal and neural
foramina are compromised.
The visualized posterior fossa structures
are normal. The cervical and thoracic cord
are of normal calibre and signal.
I was shocked. I'm only 34 years of age
and even my family doctor was stunned
because she normally wouldn't find these
types of results in a 34 year old. I'm
trying to understand how this all came to
be but can't pinpoint anything. I had
been seeing a chiropractor on and off for
years and felt great after having
neck/spinal adjustments. However, my
family doctor has suggested I avoid at all
costs the chiro given my high blood
pressure and the "supposed" connection
between strokes and neck adjustments. Not
sure I believe the connection but
nevertheless.....
So my question is, what treatments or
options should I look into? Essentially,
my symptoms are that of a severely pinched
nerve that will remain like that for 4-5
days at a time and perhaps 3-4 months in
between episodes. When the episodes do
occur, the pain is unbearable and also
results in muscle spasms in my
neck/shoulders, perhaps because the body
is trying to overcompensate.
I would love to hear some feedback on:
a) my results, how bad are they, how
should I interpret these.
b) What treatments or people should I see
to resolve or help alleviate the symptoms
and frequency of attacks.
