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

Thank you..i have forwarded you two scans on the both the lumbar and cervical spine..i would appreciate if you could pass a comment on the difference between the two and if you noticed any deterioration. Also C5C6 is impinging on the spinal cord..is this dangerous..or what is your opinion on this..also do you think it is spondoltyitis or arthritis..i had bad compression in the lumbar spine and it all cleared up. Would you be concerned about the degeneration..my biggest worry is the neck..the arm pain is like a needle pain...on certain movements.. I have had a lot of physiotherapy..do you think this should continue..is it spinal stenosis that I am suffering from in the neck..thanks

have you seen much worse than this.. also is the impingement in the neck a bulge or a herniation.. is the c6c7 disc a bad one..i really do not want to end up having surgery so will do all in my power to avoid it.. do you suggest a sit down job..i am not working at the moment..but need to get a job..i have no pins and needles in the hands anymore..physiotherapy reduced this..will the arm pain subside.it is only there on certain movements..is the kyphosis bad and I guess you can not answer the question.. is the spondlotis very bad.thanks so much

Thanks..is it a herniation? and also I sent on four scans of different dates.i am wondering did you get them.i would appreciate if you comment on whether there are changes in particular the neck one..thanks very much.would you agree with physiotherapy .. I walk a lot..and how about yoga ..how about the back ..do you see any deterioriation..thanks so much

thanks..are you saying that in both the neck scans that there is a mild herniation. ? that is the neck scan taken in February 2014 and in January 2015..my biggest worry is the butting of the spinal cord.. is this very dangerous..i would be seriously concerned about paralysis also do you recommend an epidural..thanks

so you are saying the scans are worse than last year..was there nerve compression on c6c7 last year..am in that boat of servere multilevel disc protrusions,thanks so much for your help.. has the back changed much on scans results..thanks

it is very bad?..what do you mean my multi level disc protrusion? do I have this in the neck....thanks..is the nerve compression bad enough.. would it not be better if they did surgery early to avoid problems later on..thanks. XXXXXXX

I have just been prescribed with pragabin..I do hope this make help with the arm pain which is only severe on moving hand up or in certain positions..hopefully it will go away..do you think it could need surgery eventually..i really hope that and this is the last resort.i know too many bad stories,,you mentioned isomet. neck exercises.. on there are any on the net..i do have pins and needles..i wonder is physiotherapy making it worse..it felt much worse last year as it was in the neck. my own surgeon is stating that there have been few changes and continue on as I am..is a deciccated disc dangerous.. my biggest worry is nerve damage.. canthis happy the way I am now
is this Neuralforaminal Stenosis .. can you tell from the scans which nerve root is been effected.. c5, c6, c7.. my only problems is the bilaterial problem of the two arms when raising the arms or too much activity.. it does not feel like a neuopatic pain..it is a stiffness..i worry about damaging the nerves..thanks

is it at the bad stage of progression..and is surgery really a necessity.i like to plan for the future..in your experience with patients as alert as me in relation to progression..what are you thoughts and can I ask is this arthritis of the neck.i forwarded you my blood results..is it fibriolga? thanks so much.
you are very helpful with all these answers.. I would appreciate if you let me know if it is ok to swim..i love swimming.. will this aggravate the problem.the arm pain is a stiffiness.i am also attaching my physio report to read as it describes my symtoms from a clinical point of view. She is excellent..i do lots of walking lately about four miles a day and I also make sure to stretch my arms..will this cause damage..thanks.. also is there any nerve root coming from c5c6. see attached report..it may help you understand the issue of the needle arm pain.. by the way I have found your advise excellent

thank you..i would really appreciate if you could let me know if you read my physical therapy's report..as I go regularly. Do you think massage and mobilisations are safe. I have full range of movement just stiffness. Have you seen people with this condition never having surgery..is it normal for my age to be having this condition. I am not working at the moment and wonder if I will ever be able to work again as it is very unpredictable from day to day..also could you tell me is there a disc protrusion in the lumbar spine.. l4l5. I guess at this stage we can understand that this arm pain is related to the nerve compression. thanks for all your help.you are really helping me..neck surgery is the last resort and I am attending the best surgeon in the country of XXXXXXX He will not go near surgery unless it is absolutely crucial. thanks

Is disc protrusion in back ecting the spinal canal at all..and is the l3l4 roububles ton. .thanls

Thanks very much for your help. I went swimming two days ago and there was a lot of impingement on thoe right arm the next day. Is it really safe to be swimming with nerve root compression. Thanks so much for all your advice.
You have been very good