HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does My MRI Scan Report Indicate?

default
Posted on Fri, 17 Feb 2017
Question: need MRI read and advice on what I should do. Having severe left arm pain, left side of left arm and hand numb along with pinky and ring finger numb. Can not bend pinky or ring finger without pain and cannot control movements in them. Also can not be up very long without severe neck and arm pain. Unable to do simple task without pain. Also having leg pain and top of foot pain.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Multiple disc degeneration.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
I have seen the attached MRI report. You have degenerative changes in cervical spine at multiple levels from C3-C7. It is causing a nerve root compression also which is responsible for the symptoms that you have.
The various treatment options are
1.) Wearing a neck brace
2.) Physical Therapy
3.) Traction
4.) Steroid Injections
5.) Surgical Correction.
You need to consult an orthopedician for proper prescription medicines.
Follow these lifestyle modifications,

1.) Apply heat or cold packs regularly.
2.) Take a hot shower everyday.
3.) Do regular physical therapy.
4.) Stick to your treatment plan and go for regular follow up.
5.) Avoid high calorie foods and eat healthy nutritious balanced diet which should include fresh fruits and Green leafy vegetables.
6.) Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.

I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (20 hours later)
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX Tayal,
I have gone to see an orthopedic surgeon and have been dismissed saying nothing is wrong with me.

I have been in bed for three weeks now unable to carry out my daily normal routines or do my job. I am a dairy goat farmer, that runs my own farm.

I can not lift my head or my left arm without severe pain. I can not sit up straight, or hold my head up without severe pain. I can not use my left arm at all for any task without severe pain. I can not use my left ring finger or my pinky. They do not function or work at all. My entire left side of my hand and part of my arm halfway to my elbow, and both my pinky finger and my ring finger are always numb and in pain. My arm feels as if someone is putting a pressure cuff on my arm, pumping it up extremely tight and then not releasing the pressure.

I try daily to get up out of bed. I sit up, hold my head up, walk as much as possible, try holding my head up and doing simple tasks. These periods of trying to function last no more than 45 minutes then i am in excruciating pain again. I can not function this way.

You mentioned these things to do for treatment and help:
1.) Wearing a neck brace
2.) Physical Therapy
3.) Traction
4.) Stick to your treatment plan and go for regular follow up.
6.) Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
You need to consult an orthopedician for proper prescription medicines.
1.) Apply heat or cold packs regularly.
2.) Take a hot shower everyday.
3.) Do regular physical therapy.
4.) Stick to your treatment plan and go for regular follow up.
5.) Avoid high calorie foods and eat healthy nutritious balanced diet which should include fresh fruits and Green leafy vegetables.
6.) Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.

Seriously, do you really believe that I have not tried all of these? I have been in physical therapy for three years, Have seen a chiropractor regularly for three years, have applied heat, cold and any other liniment i could find to try to relieve the pain. I Have taken hot showers, Epson salt baths, you name it for relief.

I asked the surgeon about a neck brace and he told me that was silly and would not do any good but make matters worse.
Traction was done at the physical therapy, with no results of helping.
I have no treatment plan. It is like they think this pain and suffering is all made up in my head.
As far as getting medicine, i take Tramadol for the pain. Pain relief is a huge plus but can not give me my life back. I was given narcotics to take for the pain but will not take those until i am screaming in agony. That does not fix this problem.
I can not even sit up straight or drink out of a cup without a straw so how can i exercise?

I feel helpless and hopeless. I have no help from any professional. I want my life back. I want the pain to stop and be able to use my left arm and hand,. I want to be able to walk and sit up without excruciating pain. I want to go out side, interact daily with my animals, milk my goats, do my farm work which i absolutely love and miss with all my heart. Is this the best physicians and medicine has to offer?
I have gotten no help from anyone and do not understand having to suffer with our worlds technology today.


doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Oral muscle relaxants, gabapentin will help.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
If even traction has not helped then local steroid injections need to be tried. In addition to the pain killers, you need oral muscle relaxants, methylcobalamin and pregabalin or gabapentin to help with the symptoms of nerve compression. All these are prescription medicines and since a visit to the orthopedician has not been helpful it is better to consult a neurologist now. If in spite of all the medicines that pain still persists and you are not able to move around then surgical options need to be explored.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 12314 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does My MRI Scan Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: Multiple disc degeneration. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query. I have seen the attached MRI report. You have degenerative changes in cervical spine at multiple levels from C3-C7. It is causing a nerve root compression also which is responsible for the symptoms that you have. The various treatment options are 1.) Wearing a neck brace 2.) Physical Therapy 3.) Traction 4.) Steroid Injections 5.) Surgical Correction. You need to consult an orthopedician for proper prescription medicines. Follow these lifestyle modifications, 1.) Apply heat or cold packs regularly. 2.) Take a hot shower everyday. 3.) Do regular physical therapy. 4.) Stick to your treatment plan and go for regular follow up. 5.) Avoid high calorie foods and eat healthy nutritious balanced diet which should include fresh fruits and Green leafy vegetables. 6.) Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Praveen Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal