Question: I have a few questions in relation to my scans.. first of all I have been on this forum before and I found it very useful I forwarded in july/august time. I am now forwarding you two more scans to look at.
The reading for the Lumbar Scan is as follows:-
Desiccated L4L5 and L5S1 discs with minimal degenerative anterior listhesis of S1 on L5. Satisfactory verbal alignment otherwise. There is a broad based disc bulge and central to right paracentral annular tear at the L4-5 level with a little flattening of the anterior thecal sac and minor right exit foraminal narrowing but no discrete nerve root compression. There is a minimal disc bulge and small central annular tear at the L5S1 level but no appreciable canal or exit foraminal narrowing. Dehydrated disc and small left posterosteral disc bulge and annular tear present at the L3L4 level with minor left exit foraminal narrowing but no discrete nerve root compression. Normal signal throughout the visualised lower cord.
My Cervical Spine reads as follows:- Straightening of the Cervical spine with partial loss of lordosis. Satisfactory verbal alignment otherwise Desiccated disc and advanced degenerative disc space narrowing at C5C6 Level. Dehydrated discs at remaining cervical levels with mild/moderate C6C7 disc space narrowing. There is a moderate sized broad based disc osteophyte with a right sided preponderance at C5 C6 level with moderate to high grade right and somewhat less pronounced left exit foraminal narrowing. There is a similar broad based disc bulge at the C6-C7 level with moderate exit foraminal narrowing bilaterally. Normal signal throughout the cervical and visualised upper thoracic cord. Symtoms in the neck are very sore upper limbs when moving or driving. I have been getting a lot of physiotherapy. My physiotherapy states there are no neurological findings in back or neck..last time I was scanned for neck was last year and got reviews from Healthcare magic. How do I get rid of the trapeziuz muscles pain in upper arm bilaterial.. can you give me your opinion on both these scans.. I have attached both of them. I may send you another copy in a later email of the last back scan taken six months ago and the neck scan taken six months ago. Thanks.. Scan s attached

Thanks for your reply...I would be interested in seeing if you see a difference in the neck scan to a year ago..also.. are you saying this is very dangerous..will the upper limb pain go..i had a bad back protrusion last year and it went by itself.. is it dangerous to use the arms or overuse them..thanks

Hi I have also uploaded my last lumbar report taken in July 14..i have a very good spine surgeon who does not seem to concerned about either.. have I arthritis..of the neck.. I am very worried about this one..i am worried about becoming paralised and having nerve damage..how can this be avoided..is it advisable to request an injection.. I fear surgery and my surgeon does not seem to think that I need it.he is very positive..i am the one that is in fear.. thank you so much..

also is this stenosis of the neck..is the C5C6 disc dangerous to be left the way that it is.. i take it extremely easy, walk a lot and swim..is a disc osteophyte dangerous..i fear using the use of my arms..as mentioned before the other s settled..thanks for advice on medication..would you advise me to get steroids

Many thanks for your reply..is physiotherapy worth continuing.? I am sending on my blood tests..i assume this is arthritis.. would I be right in saying that.. also have you seen cases where the arm pain resolves..i understand that it is close to the spinal cord.maybe I will be lucky like my back..i could not walk for thirteen weeks due to disc herniation..unfortunately I am not working and have been advised to avoid computer work and physical stress... does that drug you prescribed have any side effects? Is this spondolytis or fibrologia..all of my other body parts.. hips etc are fine..the muscle pain in the arm and around the neck area can be difficult..is the kyphosis bad? I know I worry a lot but I am just trying to plan for my future..in the report it said disc bulge at c6c7 and is this stenosis..i understand what is going on.. thank you for your reassurance..i would appreciate if you could look at my blood tests to make sure they are ok. thanks so much

Many thanks for all your help..
I was wondering if you could let me know what is there any spinal stenosis and would you recommend working with this condition.. is it degeneration of the discs..the pain I experience in the arms is like a needle in the arm when I move in a certain direction.this is a recent event (13 weeks).. should I continue with physiotherapy..? many thanks for all your advice.. you have been extremely helpful..also when you mention herniation.. what do you mean.. are these bulges or herniations..also what is a diccated disc and what level of pragbin should I take initially? thanks...also I note there was a disc bulge in c6c7 is this big?

what about C6C7 ... I thought C5C6 was a disc bulge and that was the biggest problem...any reason for avoiding physiotherapy?.. I have been getting this for quite some time with a very good physiotherapist..how about ultrasound?..or massage..or acupuncture..thanks for all your help

Thanks so much. My physiotherapy was doing mobilisation techniques..i do not have any pins and needles on my hands now only dreadful ache on certain movements of the arms.which means the nerves are impinging..can it take a while for this to subside and also have you seen situations where people have been operated on.. my surgeon certainly has not suggested this..i am very careful about the use of my arms.. would swimming make it worse..? Also would you suggest an epidural injection..i do believe the body can heal itself to a certain degree with time.thanks

Thanks.. I attached a report from my physiotherapist..i would appreciate if you could have a read of it..
thanks for all your advise.. you have been absolutely excellent..
I hate to bombard you with questions but is this arthritis of the neck.spondolytis..when you mention that surgery is not an option .. are you saying that it will never be an option..i guess I worry about the muscle pain on both arms but hopefully it will go by itself..
Thanks so much..i appreciate you answering all my queries..thanks

Thanks so much and I agree with you with all of this. I have to have a few anaesetics local over the neck while.. I am always afraid the way they throw you around the table.. they can be postponed until later if I wish.

also.the herniation that you see now c5c6..was this worse in the last scan..and also with the arm pain.that I am experiencing.. could that get worse with continuous use of the arms.. I am extremely careful..i will go to my doctor tomorrow to get the pregabalin..do you have to remain on that forever.. I don t like taking too many drugs .. I used to take axicalm and antripline.and tyndenol..this is what I take at the moment.. you are very good to reply to all my silly questions but these are very important and I find this service excellent

there is a test to test which nerves are been effected.. do the surgeon ever conduct this to see what muscles are been affected. Is it a very big herniation..i am so glad you have told me to avoid physio as this could be agrivating this..acupuncture is difficult enough.. also can you just explain to me what is a desiccated disc and what is a discosteophyte..I love anatomy and I feel it is very necessary that patients are on top of their conditions and also the risks they are taking if they go for surgery...you have been extremely good to me..i go to pain management and most of the people say that the neck is the hardest to deal with..i have to say though the pain was much worse last year.. it s more a mechanical needlely sort of feeling now.. hopefully it will resolve like my back did last year..been close to the spinal cord is a problem.but I do not want to scared of living my life ..I find lifting and pushing difficult..strengthwise I am fine.thanks