I've been struggling with neck pain for the better part of 4-5 years now. I finally convinced my family doctor to conduct an MRI. She had been recommending Physio therapy as a solution for a while and I had been seeing a physio therapist with limited success. She originally didn't recommend an MRI because she felt the treatments available would be the same regardless of what the MRI showed. However, I was not happy with that response and demanded an MRI to see exactly what the issues were. Here were the results:

C6-7, moderate degenrative discal disease and posterior facet disease. The canal size and neural foramina are maintained.

C5-6, at least moderate degenerative discal disease and posterior facet disease. The left paracentral focal osteophyte and focal disc pathology. This just touches the left anterior hemicord. Canal size is maintained. Moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing.

C4-5, moderate degenerative discal disease and posterior facet disease. The canal size and neural foramina are maintained.

C3-4 and C2-3 levels show degenerative discal disease and posterior facet disease. The root canal and neural foramina are compromised.

The visualized posterior fossa structures are normal. The cervical and thoracic cord are of normal calibre and signal.


I was shocked. I'm only 34 years of age and even my family doctor was stunned because she normally wouldn't find these types of results in a 34 year old. I'm trying to understand how this all came to be but can't pinpoint anything. I had been seeing a chiropractor on and off for years and felt great after having neck/spinal adjustments. However, my family doctor has suggested I avoid at all costs the chiro given my high blood pressure and the "supposed" connection between strokes and neck adjustments. Not sure I believe the connection but nevertheless.....

So my question is, what treatments or options should I look into? Essentially, my symptoms are that of a severely pinched nerve that will remain like that for 4-5 days at a time and perhaps 3-4 months in between episodes. When the episodes do occur, the pain is unbearable and also results in muscle spasms in my neck/shoulders, perhaps because the body is trying to overcompensate.

I would love to hear some feedback on:

a) my results, how bad are they, how should I interpret these.
b) What treatments or people should I see to resolve or help alleviate the symptoms and frequency of attacks.

Any info would be appreciated.