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What Does This MRI Report Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 3 Jun 2016

Question: Got an MRI done, the report says
" Diffuse disc bulge at C3-c4; c4-c5; c5-c6; c6-c7 levels causing compression on the anterior subarachnoid space with effacement of bilateral neural foramina at c6-c7 with probable impingement on nerve roots".

I have been experiencing numbness of right arm and fingers tingling with pain around shoulder.

Im a non alcoholic non smoker.

Can someone help me to understand what it means?

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Degenerative spine disease.Please tell some details.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

Diffuse disc bulges at C3-c4; c4-c5; c5-c6; c6-c7 are indicative of degenerative changes in spine.These are mostly age related.
Disc has bulged out more at C6-C7 level which is thus compressing the nerve radicles which emerge from the corresponding spinal level.It is because these nerve radicles supplies arm and hands,that you are having numbness in arm and fingers tingling.

I would like to know the following details so that I can answer this well further-
1)What is your age?
2)Since when are you having these symptoms?
3)Are you on any medicines and exercises?If yes,please tell details.

I shall be glad to have you in follow-up with details so that I can answer this well further.
If possible,please upload MRI images.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (3 days later)

Age :55
Pain has aggravated since past 2 weeks though the numbness was from few months

Medicines prescribed by doc:

Pregalin X Sr 75
Hycort 6
Nervolax
Recozo-DSR
THERANAC SP

Also have been having NEBICARD-H since im a patient of BP

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (19 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Continue medicines.Physiotherapy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up and providing further details.

Your symptoms should improve with these prescription medicines.This prescription is fine and you should continue with this,except that you will have to stop Hycort after some time,as it is a steroid medication and there is no indication to take it for long.You should discuss the same with your treating physician.

Apart from medicines,physiotherapy/spinal exercises have a crucial role to play.So,please visit an expert physiotherapist to learn spinal exercises.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (20 minutes later)

Thank you for the advise Dr. XXXXXXX

Another query regarding spinal exercises is that i am told that there is swelling in the affected region and thus it is not suitable to go for physiotherapy as of now.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please upload your MRI scan CD

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

Physiotherapy is to be avoided in initial few days of acute symptoms.You should continue the medicines and once the pain improves to some degree(about a week),you can start spinal exercises,under the expert guidance of physiotherapist.
It is important that correct exercises are to be done.If the exercises are done with improper technique,they may rather harm instead of improving.

Hope that helps.Please close the thread,rate it and write a review.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar