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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does The Following MRI Report Suggest?

I was in a car accident in July of 16 . I was in severe pain an x-ray was ordered but came back fine so I was diagnosed with severe whiplash . After a month of excruciating pain I finally got an order for an MRI . I don t understand what it means . The neurosurgeon sent me to pt , I have had injections in my neck and am on pain medication . I am still in pain all the time ! Can someone PLEASE EXPLAIN my MRI results in layman s terms so I can understand them . C2-C3 mild facet joint degenerative changes without significant central canal stenosis . Broad based disc bulge . C3-C4 broad based disc buldge without significant central canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing . C4-C5 mild facet joint degenerative changes with broad based disc buldge and central disc protrusion with mild flattening of the ventral surface of the spinal cord and effacement of the ventral thecal sac . No significant neural foraminal narrowing . C5-C6 Broad based disc bulge with a small left paracentral disc protrusion resulting in mild deformity of the left ventral lateral surface of the spinal cord with mild to moderate central canal stenosis with mild to moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing C6-C7 bilateral facet hypertrophy with broad based disc bulge with a small left paracentral disc protrusion with out significant central canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing . mild effacement of the ventral thecal sac . Findings : Straightening of normal cervical lordosis . Craniocervical junction appears unremarkable . Vertebral body heights are maintained . Disc desiccation at C3-C4 C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels . Endplate degenerative changes also seen at these levels . No evidence for marrow edema to suggest acute fractures . No paraspinous soft tissue mass or fluid collections . Impression : Cervical spondylotic changes predominant at C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels .
posted on Fri, 6 Jan 2017
Twitter Sat, 22 Dec 2018 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 24 Dec 2018 Last reviewed on
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Neurologist 's  Response
Hi,

That MRI shows chronic degenerative changes of the spine. They haven't happened after the accident, they have developed over years. Most of us undergo such changes with age as the spine endures a lot of wear and tear and as a result, there are changes in the small joints and discs which may reduce mobility and produce pain. Changes are more pronounced in the joints between the 4th, 5th and 6th vertebrae. Whiplash may have triggered local inflammation and muscle spasms to exacerbate symptoms.

I suppose the neurosurgeon more or less expected that the MRI was needed to understand whether such changes were also causing spinal cord or nerve root compression in which case surgery would have been considered to relieve the compression. From the report that is not the case, there is no such compression so treatment will remain limited in pain medication and physical therapy.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Olsi Taka,
Neurologist
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What Does The Following MRI Report Suggest?

Hi, That MRI shows chronic degenerative changes of the spine. They haven t happened after the accident, they have developed over years. Most of us undergo such changes with age as the spine endures a lot of wear and tear and as a result, there are changes in the small joints and discs which may reduce mobility and produce pain. Changes are more pronounced in the joints between the 4th, 5th and 6th vertebrae. Whiplash may have triggered local inflammation and muscle spasms to exacerbate symptoms. I suppose the neurosurgeon more or less expected that the MRI was needed to understand whether such changes were also causing spinal cord or nerve root compression in which case surgery would have been considered to relieve the compression. From the report that is not the case, there is no such compression so treatment will remain limited in pain medication and physical therapy. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Olsi Taka, Neurologist