Question: Over a year ago, I lifted a heavy box up onto a shelf above my head. Immediately I screamed because it felt as if a knife had been plunged into the left side of my neck. I could not move my head, especially to the left. A CT scan in November, 2014, which led to an MRI in 5/2015. I have been in constant, unrelenting pain and undergone injections in my cervical spine several times over the year. After reviewing the first MRI, my pain management specialist thought I needed to see a neurosurgeon as soon as possible, and he referred me to a neurosurgeon, who is very busy and could not see me for two months. She gave me mixed messages and requested that I ask my pain management doctor to isolate C-6 for another injection, and attend physical therapy, because surgery was very risky, possibly causing me to lose my ability to talk, swallow and to have a stroke. That was about 4-6 months ago. The isolation and injection of C6 helped not at all. Nor did physical therapy. Last week I had another MRI because the pain had moved to include the right side, too, after a fall in my kitchen, with the change in symptoms appearing the next morning when I awakened. Sleep, by the way, is never good, and I average 4-5 hours a night. Previously the pain and numbness was all on the left side. Following is the Findings and Impression section of the doctor of neuroradiology who read my MRI of last week, 12/2015. He is a Diplomate, XXXXXXX Board of Radiology, CAQ Neuroradiology, and XXXXXXX Member, XXXXXXX Society of Neuroradiology:
FINDINGS:
Osscous structures: There is kyphosis at C5. Osteophytes seen at multiple levels, largest at C5-6. There is mild scoliosis at C5-6. Minimal anterolisthesis of C4-5 and C5-6. No fracture. No bony lesion or metastatic disease. Prominent edema seen in the facets on the left at C2-3 and C3-4 but not on the right at these levels.

Posterior fossa and cord: The posterior fossa is normal. The cord is normal in size and and signal intensity.

Soft Tissue structures:. There is no mass in the paraspinal soft tissues.
Motion Segments:
At C2-3 there is congenital narrowing of the cervical canal. There is a disc bulge and thickening of ligamentum flavum with moderate CanAL SATENOSIS AND CORD FLATTENING WITH MILD DORSAL CORD COMPRESSION. mODERATE lkEFT FORAMINal stenosis.
At C3-4 there is congenital narrowing of the canal and a disc bulge with thickening of ligamentum flavum. There appeared osteophytes. There is moderate to severe canal stenosis with cord compression. There is severe left and moderate right foraminal stenosis.
At C4-5 there is a disc bulge and uncovertebral joint hypertrophy with moderate canal and moderate right greater than left foraminal stenosis. l There is cord flattening without cord compression.
At C5-6 there is a disc bulge and uncovertebral joint hypertrophy with severe right and moderate left foraminal stenosis and moderate canal stenosis.
At C6-7 there is a disc bulge and a central protrusion with cord compression but no cord signal abnormality. There is moderate canal stenosis and severe bilateral foraminal stenosis.
At C7-T1 there is no canal or foraminal stenosis.
IMPRESSION:
1. C6-7 protrusion with cord compression, moderate canal stenosis and severe right foraminal stenosis.
2. Moderate canal stenosis with severe right foraminal stenosis at C5-6.
3. Moderate to severe canal stenosis at C3-4 with cord compression. Severe left foraminal stenosis.
4. Moderate canal stenosis at C2-3 and C4-5.
5. Facet arthropathy on the left at C2-3 and C3-4 with edema along both sides of the joint spaces.
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