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What Does My MRI Finding Indicate?

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Posted on Fri, 2 May 2014
Question: A recent MRI of my cervical spine results were Straightening of the spine, flattening of the cervical spinal cord at C3-C4, C4-C5, and C5-C6 due to advanced spinal canal stenosis as a result of degenerative changes due to arthritis. Advanced foramina narrowing and multifactorial degenerative change from C3 to C7. I'm not sure what Straightening of the spine indicates and I don't know what the foramina is.
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Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: See below Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I a so sorry to hear about these MRI findings and the various disease conditions that you are battling with. I will shed more light on these findings and hope they really help you understand this more report findings even more. The cervical spinal cord is normally curved. Straightening refers to the cord losing its curved nature and becoming rectilinear in shape. Imagine it as the letter "S" turning into the letter "I". This straightening is caused by the canal becoming smaller in size. A foramina refers to a natural opening in the body, especially in bones. Narrowing of the foramina refers to the small openings that allows structures to enter and leave the spinal cord becoming more smaller in dimension. This directly puts a lot of compression on the nerves leading to nerve pain that is projected onto the different parts of the body that normally receive these nerve endings. In all, these changes are consistent with regenerative bone disease that leads to increased pressure on the spinal cord causing it to straighten out. The best treatment is surgery but seen the extensive nature, this would be difficult. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information if need be. Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (14 minutes later)
Is this regenerative bone disease likely to affect my lower spine as well causing the severe pain I experience in my lower back when walking?
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Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (4 hours later)
Brief Answer: It is possible and more likely Detailed Answer: Thanks for the updates. seen the extensive nature of these changes at the level of the cervical spine, I am also concerned that there could be a similar changes elsewhere and why not the lower spine. I will suggest that you get this investigated as well. However, seen the extensive nature of these changes, it may not b easily amendable to surgery. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Dr. Dita, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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What Does My MRI Finding Indicate?

Brief Answer: See below Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I a so sorry to hear about these MRI findings and the various disease conditions that you are battling with. I will shed more light on these findings and hope they really help you understand this more report findings even more. The cervical spinal cord is normally curved. Straightening refers to the cord losing its curved nature and becoming rectilinear in shape. Imagine it as the letter "S" turning into the letter "I". This straightening is caused by the canal becoming smaller in size. A foramina refers to a natural opening in the body, especially in bones. Narrowing of the foramina refers to the small openings that allows structures to enter and leave the spinal cord becoming more smaller in dimension. This directly puts a lot of compression on the nerves leading to nerve pain that is projected onto the different parts of the body that normally receive these nerve endings. In all, these changes are consistent with regenerative bone disease that leads to increased pressure on the spinal cord causing it to straighten out. The best treatment is surgery but seen the extensive nature, this would be difficult. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information if need be. Dr. Ditah, MD.