Question: Hello, 10 days ago I had an MRI of the cervical area done because I have been having neck and right shoulder pain. I swim a great deal and thought it was probably a muscle, or other soft tissue issue. When the MRI began, I asked the technician to take me out of the tube because when both of my hands were on my chest, my right shoulder and arm hurt too much in that position. After withdrawing from the tube, I put my right arm straight back behind my head, with the fist clinched and it relieved the pain and I was able to continue. My left arm remained relaxed with my hand on my chest. When the MRI results were reviewed with me by a surgeon, who I was referred to by the pain anesthesiologist who initially ordered the MRI, he stated that my spinal cord was "very tight", and that I had a congenitally small spinal passage way. I have never had spinal problems before and I believe improper breathing technique while swimming long distances may have caused, or contributed to two herniated discs I now have. My question is this: Can the fact that my right arm was held straight behind my head influence the impression that this surgeon had when reviewing the MRI? The radiologist mentioned nothing about a congenitally small spinal passage way, he simply characterized my situation as degeneratative. I do not want this to sound silly; yet since the MRI, I have laid on a flat surface and put both hands on my chest, as was my initial position during the MRI, and then felt my vertebrae area and it is loose and relaxed. Then I have put my right arm behind my head and the vertebrae tighten and narrow as would have been the case during the recent MRI. Could my right arm clinched position have influenced the surgeon's impression that I have a "tight spinal passage way? Once again, the MRI report indicated nothing about a congenitally narrow spinal canal, and neither did the X-ray report, which was also done. The surgeon was the person that stated this impression to me. Since this conversation, I have curtailed my swimming and the pain and shoulder discomfort is reduced significantly. The surgeon did not recommend surgery; yet he did leave an impression my congenitally narrow spinal passage way may be an issue in the future. My question is could my arm position, rigidly behind my head in a clinch, during the MRI, have given him an inaccurate impression? Thank you for your time and expertise.

Thank you for your quick response, in follow up, while I understand the fact that the MRI illustrates all layers of tissue, I still wonder if the surgeon whose diagnosis is that I have a congenitally small spinal passage way could had his perspective influenced by the fact that when my arm is straight behind my head, it is like pulling a passage way that "does have some expansion and contraction capability", taut. He was reviewing the MRI when it was as taut as it could possibly be. I have never had back, or neck problems until very recently. I plan to have another MRI, with my hands relaxed on my chest, in the next few months. Once again the radiologist that reported on the MRI and on the X-rays done the same day said nothing about a small passage way, he simply indicated degenerative change. My symptoms have already improved in the last 10 days, since I have altered my swimming technique and made a few other changes. Please let me know if you believe the surgeon could possibly be misinterpreting my MRI results based on the information I have shared. Thank you again. PS Please have an MRI specialist respond as well.

I understand your expertise, and I understand my intuitive impressions. If I question the surgeons conclusions, not knowing how he arrived at his conclusion, what type of diagnostic test could I do to get a unreffutable answer. I believe the surgeon is wrong and once again the radiologist that summarized the MRI and x-rays did not indicate a congenitally small passage way, shouldn't that conclusion be the radiologist job, rather than a surgeon? Thank you, XXXXXXX

Thank you, my MRI was done on a 1.5 Tesla magnet. Please explain, in layman's terms, why this could be significant in all possible ways. I greatly appreciate the time you have spent considering and answering my questions. Let me ask the question in a better way, why would a 3.0 machine provide more clarity on whether, or not my spinal passage way is congenitally small? What other information, or clarity could a 3.0 machine provide vs a 1.5 magnet in relation to the various questions I have been asking, or my overall situation. Please keep it simple; yet be through, I am trying to understand all the possibities here. Thank you again, XXXXXXX