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Suggest Treatment For Degenerative Disc Disease
Question: Hi Dr, last 4 months I had an accident by bumper car at the funfair After that I've got terrible pain in my neck and pins and needles, numbness and tingling and stiffness in whole of my body!felling so tried and at the nights I can't sleeping ,this month I did MRI and the result is
MRI spine cervicothoracic: there is slight reduction of normal cervical lordosis but good alignment is maintained . there is an annular tear at c5-6 with a small central protrusion that indents the theca. there is no neural compression . the other discs appear normal . the facet joints appear normal . the intervertebral foramina appear
normal. no focal bone marrow abnormality is seen.
Conclusion: annular tear with small focal central disc protrusion at c5-6.
I'm very worry because my neck is not like before I can't do any thing .... And now I'm waiting for hospital appointment to see specialist Dr ,and my Dr said need injection!??
Please can you explain the meaning of the above statement and prefer the best advise .
MRI spine cervicothoracic: there is slight reduction of normal cervical lordosis but good alignment is maintained . there is an annular tear at c5-6 with a small central protrusion that indents the theca. there is no neural compression . the other discs appear normal . the facet joints appear normal . the intervertebral foramina appear
normal. no focal bone marrow abnormality is seen.
Conclusion: annular tear with small focal central disc protrusion at c5-6.
I'm very worry because my neck is not like before I can't do any thing .... And now I'm waiting for hospital appointment to see specialist Dr ,and my Dr said need injection!??
Please can you explain the meaning of the above statement and prefer the best advise .
Brief Answer:
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Sorry to hear about the discomfort you are in.
As you are aware, the neck spine consists of 7 small bones called vertebrae numbered C 1 through C 7. In between these small bones are spongy discs. The discs provide cushioning to the vertebrae and allow movement from side to side and up and down. Nerves exit the spinal cord at each disc level and travel through spinal foramen on each side to supply the rest of the body. This assembly of bones and discs is supported by the paraspinal muscles.
In your MRI scan, the disc at level C 5 - C 6 shows a peripheral tear (annular tear). There is also a protrusion of the disc into the spinal canal where is is causing pressure symptoms on the thecal sac which is a covering of the spinal cord.
You are having the severe pain due to the pressure effects caused by the protruding disc fragment and the annular tear on the spinal canal.
The first method towards treatment is doing physiotherapy, avoiding lifting heavy weights and making sudden neck movements and taking pain killers which act on nerves.
If the above does not give enough pain relief then steroid injections are given to the disc region. This decreases inflammation and reduces pressure effects of the injured disc on the spinal canal.
If you still do not get relief then through a small surgery, the protruded disc can be surgically removed and the pressure on the spinal canal is released. This almost always helps.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vive
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Sorry to hear about the discomfort you are in.
As you are aware, the neck spine consists of 7 small bones called vertebrae numbered C 1 through C 7. In between these small bones are spongy discs. The discs provide cushioning to the vertebrae and allow movement from side to side and up and down. Nerves exit the spinal cord at each disc level and travel through spinal foramen on each side to supply the rest of the body. This assembly of bones and discs is supported by the paraspinal muscles.
In your MRI scan, the disc at level C 5 - C 6 shows a peripheral tear (annular tear). There is also a protrusion of the disc into the spinal canal where is is causing pressure symptoms on the thecal sac which is a covering of the spinal cord.
You are having the severe pain due to the pressure effects caused by the protruding disc fragment and the annular tear on the spinal canal.
The first method towards treatment is doing physiotherapy, avoiding lifting heavy weights and making sudden neck movements and taking pain killers which act on nerves.
If the above does not give enough pain relief then steroid injections are given to the disc region. This decreases inflammation and reduces pressure effects of the injured disc on the spinal canal.
If you still do not get relief then through a small surgery, the protruded disc can be surgically removed and the pressure on the spinal canal is released. This almost always helps.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vive
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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