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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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X-ray Shows Degenerative Changes With Neuroforaminal Narrowing. What Does This Mean?

I had a cervical spine xray with findings of loss of normal cervical lordosis with straightening. I a have degenerative changes most pronounce at c5-c6. with left neuroforaminal narrowing at c4-c5 and c5-c6. /there is no right neuroforaminal narrowing. /there are uncovertebral joint degenerative changes in the lower cervical spine more pronounced on the left.. Is no fracture . /there is no anterolisthesis. What does this mean?
Sat, 8 Dec 2012
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Degenerative changes including uncovertebral joint changes in the cervical spine are most commonly age related. These changes are nearly normal at older ages but may also occur in youngsters who have chronic neck strain (common in soccer players, persons who work long hours on computer or hunched at a table).

Straightening of the cervical spine may occur with neck strain or after an injury but does not usually signify any serious problem.

Left neural foraminal narrowing in this case also appears to represent age related degenerative change. If you are symptomatic, ie, there is tingling/numbness of fingers of left hand, there is shooting pain radiating along the left arm or there is weakness of the left upper limb you may need to undergo an MRI of the cervical spine to assess nerve root compression which then needs to be treated.

If you do not have any such symptoms, these findings maybe ignored and you do not have anything to worry about.
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X-ray Shows Degenerative Changes With Neuroforaminal Narrowing. What Does This Mean?

Degenerative changes including uncovertebral joint changes in the cervical spine are most commonly age related. These changes are nearly normal at older ages but may also occur in youngsters who have chronic neck strain (common in soccer players, persons who work long hours on computer or hunched at a table). Straightening of the cervical spine may occur with neck strain or after an injury but does not usually signify any serious problem. Left neural foraminal narrowing in this case also appears to represent age related degenerative change. If you are symptomatic, ie, there is tingling/numbness of fingers of left hand, there is shooting pain radiating along the left arm or there is weakness of the left upper limb you may need to undergo an MRI of the cervical spine to assess nerve root compression which then needs to be treated. If you do not have any such symptoms, these findings maybe ignored and you do not have anything to worry about.