Question: I really don't know what you can tell me without reviewing my film. I hate taking meds but the pain can be quite debilitating and I often spend hours lying on either ice pack or moist heat. I was reading that this condition could be progressive (degenerating) and that concerns me. My PT did not inform me of this, although massage, stretches, and electro-therapy (can't remember the name of the modality) did help. I had been receiving PT for months but $ is the issue. Anyway, please advise. Thank you.

This is the MRI report -
4/21/16 MRI CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST

CLINICAL STATEMENT: Cervicalgia

TECHNIQUE: T1 sagittal, STIR sagittal, T2 gradient axial, T2 sagitta obtained.

COMPARISON: Prior x-ray cervical spine dated 04/13/2016

FINDINGS: Reversal of lordosis. No evidence of fracture. The paravertebral and paraspinous soft tissues are unremarkable.

Spinal cord: Normal in caliber and signal

C2/3: No evidence of disc bulging or posterior element hypertrophy. No central canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

C3/4: 1 mm posterior disc bulge without central canal or eural foraminal stenosis.

C4/5: 2.5 mm posterior osteophyte complex producing mild central canal stenosis. Moderate biateral neural foraminal stenosis due to uncinate hypertrophy and facet spurring.

C5/6: Disc dessication with loss of height. 4 mm posterior disc osteophyte complex indenting ventral surface of thecal sac producing moderate central canal stenosis. Moderate to severe right and severe left neural foraminal stenosis due to uncinate hypertrophy and facet spurring.

C6/7: 3.5 mm posterocentral disc osteophyte complex indenting the ventral surface of thecal sac producing mild to moderate central canal stenosis. Mild right neural foraminal stenosis.

C7/T1: 1 mm posterior disc bulge without central canal or neural foraminal stenosis

IMPRESSION: Multilevel disc disease and posterior element hypertrophy causing central canal and neural foraminal stenosis as detailed above.

**END REPORT**
I stopped by imaging place and received the above transcribed report. What are your thoughts based on this additional information? I have a great deal of muscle tension on the left side of my neck (cords and knots are felt) down through the trap muscle and under my scapula. This is a almost daily occurance and only can be mitigated through deep tissue massage, otherwise the pain increases.
CORRECTION TO C6/7:
3.5 mm posterocentral disc osteophyte complex indenting the vventral surface of thecal sac producing mile to moderate central canal stenosis. Mild right neural oraminal stenosis due to uncinate hypertrophy and facet spurring.

Thank you.