OpenHealth Q&A

Understanding MRI Results and Diagnosis

**Patient Information** - **Age:** 38 - **Gender:** Female - **Height:** 5 feet 3 inches - **Weight:** 132 pounds - **Ethnicity:** Caucasian - **Duration of Symptoms:** 6 months - **Smoking Status:** Non-smoker **Current Medications** - **Flexeril:** Twice daily - **Topamax:** Once daily - **Novolog:** Administered via insulin pump - **Rovustatin:** Once daily - **Hydroxyzine:** Twice daily - **Trazodone:** As needed **Medical Conditions** - Migraines - Sacroiliac joint dysfunction - Type 1 diabetes - High cholesterol - Allergies and chronic sinusitis - Insomnia For the past six months, I have been suffering from migraines accompanied by dizziness. My neurologist suspects that a pinched nerve in my neck may be the source of my discomfort. While my brain MRI yielded normal results, the findings from the cervical spine MRI will be detailed shortly. I have confidence in my doctor’s expertise regarding my neck issues; however, I find that the amount of information provided during our brief discussions feels overwhelming. I often struggle to jot down everything clearly enough to reflect on it later on. From my understanding, it appears that there could be a pinched nerve, a small benign tumor, some narrowing of the spine, and signs of degenerative changes present. My primary concern, however, is understanding how these factors are related to the pain that triggers my migraines. I apologize for any typographical errors that may arise from converting my PDF to text. **MRI CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST** **HISTORY:** Patient presents with headaches, migraines, and dizziness. **COMPARISON:** No previous imaging is available on PACS. **TECHNIQUE:** A detailed, multi-sequence MRI of the cervical spine was performed without the use of contrast material. **FINDINGS:** - **Alignment:** Normal. - **Vertebrae:** The height of cervical vertebrae appears normal, an incidental finding includes a small benign vertebral body hemangioma at T1, and there are no suspicious abnormalities noted in the bone marrow. - **Craniocervical Junction:** No notable abnormalities detected. - **Visualized Spinal Cord:** There are no focal signal abnormalities in the spinal cord. **C2-3:** No significant stenosis in both the spinal canal and neural foramen. **C3-4:** No significant stenosis in both the spinal canal and neural foramen. **C4-5:** No significant stenosis in both the spinal canal and neural foramen. **C5-6:** No significant stenosis in both the spinal canal and neural foramen. **C6-7:** Notable mild stenosis of the spinal canal due to a small broad-based posterior disc osteophyte complex and mild thickening of the ligamentum flavum. No marked stenosis of the neural foramen. **C7-T1:** No significant stenosis in both the spinal canal and neural foramen. **IMPRESSION:** There are mild degenerative changes identified at the C6-C7 level resulting in minor spinal canal stenosis. Importantly, no evident cord compression or nerve root compression is observed at any level of the cervical spine.

Answers (1)

3/31/2025, 9:20:40 PM

OpenHealth AI

Your situation involves complex MRI results related to your ongoing migraines and dizziness. I understand that this information can be overwhelming, especially when you're trying to make sense of the details around your neck symptoms and how they connect to your migraines. Here are the main points, followed by a clearer explanation and actionable next steps.

Main Points:

1. Your cervical MRI shows mild degenerative changes at the C6-C7 level that could be contributing to your symptoms.
2. No significant nerve or spinal cord compression was observed in the MRI.
3. Managing your headaches and dizziness remains a key focus.

Explanation:

The MRI findings indicate that there are degenerative changes in your cervical spine, specifically at the C6-C7 level, where there is mild narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal. This is characterized by the presence of a small disc protrusion and thickening of a ligament, but importantly, there is no compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots at this time.

These changes might still play a role in your migraines and dizziness. While the connection isn’t straightforward, some possible links include:

• Migraine Trigger: Cervical spine issues can contribute to tension or referred pain, which may trigger migraines in some individuals.
• Muscle Tension: Changes in the cervical region could lead to muscle tightness, increasing headache severity or frequency.

Next Steps:

1. Monitor Symptoms: Keep a detailed diary of your migraines and dizziness, noting their frequency, duration, triggers, and any associated symptoms. This can help you and your doctor identify patterns and potential connections.

2. Physical Therapy: Consider discussing with your doctor the potential for physical therapy. A physical therapist can work on neck mobility and strength, which may alleviate symptoms.

3. Pain Management Techniques: Explore non-pharmacological treatments such as gentle exercises, mindfulness, or relaxation techniques to help manage pain and reduce stress levels.

4. Follow-Up: Schedule a follow-up appointment with your neurologist to discuss your concerns thoroughly. Prepare a list of questions ahead of time to ensure you cover all topics that matter to you during the discussion.

5. Education: Ask your doctor for accessible resources or materials that explain your conditions in detail. Having these can empower you and help you understand your health better.

Your health journey can feel complex, but taking these manageable steps can help you gain clarity and actively participate in your care. If you have further questions or need assistance with specific aspects, don’t hesitate to ask!