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what does mild diffuse disc desiccation mean, with cervical

 
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Customer Question

what does mild diffuse disc desiccation mean, with cervical kyphosis ?

 

Optional Information:
Gender: Female
Age: 32

Already Tried:
muscle relaxers, lidocaine patches

Submitted: 1307 days and 10 hours ago.
Category: Health
Value: $14
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  Dr. Mark replied 1307 days and 10 hours ago.

Do you only have neck pain, or does it go into your arms?

What level is this at?

Customer replied 1307 days and 10 hours ago.

I have had neck pain spreading down my right arm since June, as well as numbness. I would say it is about an 7 on a scale from 1 to 10. my MRI also said c4-c5, c5-c6 and c6-c7 all have disc protrusion, with neural impingment is at c4-c5

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Expert:  Dr. Mark replied 1307 days and 9 hours ago.

OK.

Well, neural impingement at C4-5 would irritate the C5 nerve, which would cause pain that appears to come from the neck and travel into the shoulder and upper arm (but not into the hand).

But to answer your question:

diffuse disc desiccation

Means that the intervertebral discs (the shock absorbers for your spine) have become a bit dehydrated, or lost some of the water -- which happens to everyone as they age. Just some faster than others. At the age of 32, it is faster in your case.


, with cervical kyphosis


This means that the bones in your neck are bending forward -- instead of the normal "lordosis" -- curved backwards.

So it is a sign that you are having advanced degenerative changes in the neck (e.g. accelerated changes of arthritis and wear and tear on the neck).

Customer replied 1307 days and 9 hours ago.

what should i do next, consult my reg DR or see a specialist? What treatments are typical?

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  Dr. Mark replied 1307 days and 9 hours ago.

I assume you have had a MRI -- so evaluation by a neurosurgeon would be helpful.

The treatments really depend on your exam and the MRI, but physical therapy and pain medications / injections are usually the starting points for therapy.

Expert TypeDoctor (MD)
Category: Health
Pos. Feedback: 99.6 %
Accepts: 6234
Answered: 9/11/2009

Experience: U.S. Physician/Surgeon in Neurosurgery

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