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Cervical Mri

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cooter

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since I don't know how to scan a copy of my MRI to this post, I guess I'll have to type it out. Hope someone with more smarts than me can decipher some of the problem's I been having over the years. While in the service I injured my neck playing a football game. That was in 1974. Went to the clinic and took xrays but came out neg. My SMR notes that, and the symptoms I carped about, such as neck pain, popping when I turn the neck, and shoulder pain. Now lately I'm losing complete motor control on left arm. I mean I'll get this sharp pain down to my elbow, then my entire arm goes limp, (don't go there guys)ha. Well anyway here's my MRI dated 07/08.

FINDINGS: A degenerative subluxation of C3 on C4 and C4 on C5 is present. Endplate degenerative changes are present at C5-6 and C6-7. The craniocervical junction is normal. The spinal cord is normal in signal intensity.

The C2-3 disc is unremarkable.

At C3-4, there is a broad based ventral extradural defect present. Bilateral foraminal narrowing due to uncovertebral spurring is present. This is more severe on the left than the right.

At C4-5, the disc space is narrowed. There is a minimal disc protrusion prsent. Bilateral foraminal stenosis due to uncovertebral spurring is present. Again, tis is more severe on the left than the right.

At C5-6, the disc space is narrowed. There is a broad-based ventral extradural defect, asymmetric to the left, due to disc and osteophyte. There is deformity of the left axillary root sleeve and compromise of the exiting nerve root. Moderate right foraminal narrowing due to uncovertebral spurring is prsent.

At C6-7, the disc space is narrowed. There is severe right foraminal narrowing due to uncovertebral spuring. There is mild effacement of the ventral CSF.

IMPRESSION:

1. Degenerative cervical spondylosis at C3-4 and C4-5 with left foraminal stenosis at both levels.

2. C5-6 cervical spondylitic disease with a left-sided ventral extradural defect deforming the thecal sac and compromising the left exiting nerve root.

3. C6-7 cervical spondylitic disease with severe right foraminal stenosis due to uncovertebral spurring.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

since I don't know how to scan a copy of my MRI to this post, I guess I'll have to type it out. Hope someone with more smarts than me can decipher some of the problem's I been having over the years. While in the service I injured my neck playing a football game. That was in 1974. Went to the clinic and took xrays but came out neg. My SMR notes that, and the symptoms I carped about, such as neck pain, popping when I turn the neck, and shoulder pain. Now lately I'm losing complete motor control on left arm. I mean I'll get this sharp pain down to my elbow, then my entire arm goes limp, (don't go there guys)ha. Well anyway here's my MRI dated 07/08.

FINDINGS: A degenerative subluxation of C3 on C4 and C4 on C5 is present. Endplate degenerative changes are present at C5-6 and C6-7. The craniocervical junction is normal. The spinal cord is normal in signal intensity.

The C2-3 disc is unremarkable.

At C3-4, there is a broad based ventral extradural defect present. Bilateral foraminal narrowing due to uncovertebral spurring is present. This is more severe on the left than the right.

At C4-5, the disc space is narrowed. There is a minimal disc protrusion prsent. Bilateral foraminal stenosis due to uncovertebral spurring is present. Again, tis is more severe on the left than the right.

At C5-6, the disc space is narrowed. There is a broad-based ventral extradural defect, asymmetric to the left, due to disc and osteophyte. There is deformity of the left axillary root sleeve and compromise of the exiting nerve root. Moderate right foraminal narrowing due to uncovertebral spurring is prsent.

At C6-7, the disc space is narrowed. There is severe right foraminal narrowing due to uncovertebral spuring. There is mild effacement of the ventral CSF.

IMPRESSION:

1. Degenerative cervical spondylosis at C3-4 and C4-5 with left foraminal stenosis at both levels.

2. C5-6 cervical spondylitic disease with a left-sided ventral extradural defect deforming the thecal sac and compromising the left exiting nerve root.

3. C6-7 cervical spondylitic disease with severe right foraminal stenosis due to uncovertebral spurring.

Aw, SHUCKS man, this one is EASY!

It means that your cervical spine is all screwed up!

:rolleyes:

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  • HadIt.com Elder

2. C5-6 cervical spondylitic disease with a left-sided ventral extradural defect deforming the thecal sac and compromising the left exiting nerve root.

The Bad News

That is why your arm is going numb. You may need to consider cervical fusion to get the pressure off the Thecal Sac. It is close to the cord and if it is unstable you could end up with no motor activity. If the nerve root has been compromised for an extended period of time then it may be permanent.

Now for the real bad news. The nerves to C3/C4 control the Diaphragms. Defects here are real ugly. Diaphragmatic paralysis involves the phrenic nerve. You had better follow up on this one. It can shorten your life. I know first hand about this one.

J

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Aw, SHUCKS man, this one is EASY!

It means that your cervical spine is all screwed up!

:rolleyes:

aah, come on Larry try and hold your tears back. It'll be ok.:biggrin:

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2. C5-6 cervical spondylitic disease with a left-sided ventral extradural defect deforming the thecal sac and compromising the left exiting nerve root.

The Bad News

That is why your arm is going numb. You may need to consider cervical fusion to get the pressure off the Thecal Sac. It is close to the cord and if it is unstable you could end up with no motor activity. If the nerve root has been compromised for an extended period of time then it may be permanent.

Now for the real bad news. The nerves to C3/C4 control the Diaphragms. Defects here are real ugly. Diaphragmatic paralysis involves the phrenic nerve. You had better follow up on this one. It can shorten your life. I know first hand about this one.

J

Well I knew something had to be wrong, my body kept telling me! You said you knew first hand on the C3-4 nerves that control the Diaphragms. What are your symptoms? I may have the same ones, I have no idea. If I had my record that proves the bad jump I had, I could claim my entire back and then some. But, I'm still working on that. Anyway now I know why my left arm is like it is. Heck, I can't even lift or carry anything with it. Any idea what my chances are for rating purposses? I realize you don't a crystal ball. I'm trying for TDIU, as I'm already SC 60% for right knee TKR in 2008, which by the way, happened on that bad jump and, so happens to be on that same record I can't find! Thank's J

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  • HadIt.com Elder

It started with shortness of breath and a very fast pulse. The Xray showed a elevated lung and then a Sniff test sealed the deal and here I am. I couldnt bend over to tie shoes without hitting the floor.

This aint the bad part. The bad part is the heart is working hard to pump blood through the lung without the squeezing diaphragm muscle to help and it turns into Pulmonary Hypertension. This is no fun, living on Borrowed time.

More info:

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Pulmonary+hypertension

Hang in there.

J

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It started with shortness of breath and a very fast pulse. The Xray showed a elevated lung and then a Sniff test sealed the deal and here I am. I couldnt bend over to tie shoes without hitting the floor.

This aint the bad part. The bad part is the heart is working hard to pump blood through the lung without the squeezing diaphragm muscle to help and it turns into Pulmonary Hypertension. This is no fun, living on Borrowed time.

More info:

https://health.googl...ry+hypertension

Hang in there.

J

OOOKAY, now you got me thinking! I checked out the link and I have 6 of the eight symptoms. The two I don't have is: Swelling of the legs, and fainting. I feel like fainting when I get dizzy, but I don't actually faint. Whats with the SNIFF TEST? I couldn't find that test on the link. MY GOD MAN! how long have you had this? I really think we should talk more about this. That is, if you don't mind.

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