Question 1

l3/4 l4/5 disc bulges & facet joint deg
l5/s1 indent spinal cord, disc contact nerve root lateral recess & facet joint deg
can body twist worsen this?

Accepted Answer

Clarification: Sounds like you possess lumbar spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, and indeed there may be some degree of lumbar root compression. (Spinal cord ends at L-1,2 and there is no effect on cord).  Learn McKenzie exercise protocol, do it multiple times weekly, be cautious with heavy lifting, work with a good physical therapist, and learn proper body mechanics.

Question 2

scrotal trauma led 2 groin pain since 4 mnths.pain mangmnt.doc says pulled genitofmoral nerve, asks 2 do nerve root block at spinal cord.complications?

Accepted Answer

Groin pain: Nerve root block is a good choice to stop the pain pattern. However, just trauma induced nerve pull  is hard to explain your long time symptoms. You have not told what medication(s) you are taking. If you are taking short acting narcotics, such as lortab,  oxycodon for prolonged time, more than 1 week, you may become sensitive to pain sensation, nor narcotic induced pain.  Acupuncture might help.

Question 3

what tests are needed for spinal nerve root damage/injuries? damage in neck affecting both hands/arms,but left more than rt.is this a spinal cord inj?

Accepted Answer

MRI: You likely will need a MRI of the neck spine after an initial evaluation with your doctor. Sometimes,  a nerve conduction test may also be needed if the mri is not conclusive.

Question 4

wake up w/ horrible rectal pain like melon stuck. laxative helps pain but not constipated. only happens asleep. nerve root cyst in sacral spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Proctalgia fugax: Your episodes are quite characteristic of proctalgia fugax which is a sudden, severe spasm of the levator muscle in the anorectal area. It is like a charley horse of the rectum and usually occurs during sleep. It lasts minutes and patients often sit on the toilet, without having a bowel movement, for relief. This is a nuisance but not serious. See a proctologist if you have further questions.

Question 5

have pins/needles on right hand for 2 months. mri: c5-6 degenerative changes with spinal cord flattening & effacement of csf signal.multilevel chronic foraminal stenosis worst at c5-6, compression of right c6 nerve root.how dangerous? irreversible?

Accepted Answer

Get EMG: It would seem that you have a cord compression, but you need an EMG/NCS (muscle and nerve study) to determine how serious the cord compression is vs a different cause,,such as carpal tunnel, which could also exist. steroid epidural cervical injections should Improve symptoms for some time. Please wear a soft cervical  collar while driving to prevent injury should you have an accident.

Question 6

can you tell me where the nerve root exits the spinal canal?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Through small side openings on either side of the spinal canal called foramen--2 at every level of the spine--right and left.

Question 7

what specific imaging test takes pics of the nerves coming out of (exiting) the spinal cord? i believe their called spinal nerve roots, not sure.

Accepted Answer

MRI (best) or CT: An MRI of the spine is the most accurate imaging test to evaluate the spinal cord and the nerve roots exiting the spinal canal.  This is most often done without an injection of contrast, however there may be an indication for you to receive an injection of contrast with the MRI.  As a Neuroradiologist I often discuss with and advise the referring physician regarding the need for contrast.

Question 8

why does the phrenic nerve exit the spinal cord at the cervical level?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve: It originates in the neck (C3-C5) &amp; passes down between heart &amp; lungs, then reaches the diaphragm. It is important for breathing.

Question 9

what condition occurs when a herniated intervertebral disk compresses a spinal nerve root?

Accepted Answer

Radiculopathy: Usually symptoms of pain, numbness, or weakness along the distribution of the nerve being compressed; if it is in the neck it goes into the arm, in the back it travels into the leg.

Question 10

since compression to the nerves that exit the lower spinal cord cause erectile dysfunction in some men what can be done about it?

Accepted Answer

May be tough: Depends on duration of the problem, as if it is chronic, late surgery will have minimal effect. On occasion, however, could try Levitra (vardenafil) or viagra, and may result in success, as unlikely that vasculature will be affected by the spinal nerve compression.  A vacuum pump may work, and there are prosthetic devices which can be implanted.  See a urologist.

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Doctor answers about:

What is indenting spinal cord and exiting nerve root

A member asked:

L3/4 l4/5 disc bulges & facet joint deg l5/s1 indent spinal cord, disc contact nerve root lateral recess & facet joint deg can body twist worsen this?

A member asked:

Scrotal trauma led 2 groin pain since 4 mnths.pain mangmnt.doc says pulled genitofmoral nerve, asks 2 do nerve root block at spinal cord.complications?

A member asked:

What tests are needed for spinal nerve root damage/injuries? damage in neck affecting both hands/arms,but left more than rt.is this a spinal cord inj?

A member asked:

Wake up w/ horrible rectal pain like melon stuck. laxative helps pain but not constipated. only happens asleep. nerve root cyst in sacral spinal cord?

A member asked:

Have pins/needles on right hand for 2 months. mri: c5-6 degenerative changes with spinal cord flattening & effacement of csf signal.multilevel chronic foraminal stenosis worst at c5-6, compression of right c6 nerve root.how dangerous? irreversible?

A member asked:

Can you tell me where the nerve root exits the spinal canal?

A member asked:

What specific imaging test takes pics of the nerves coming out of (exiting) the spinal cord? i believe their called spinal nerve roots, not sure.

A member asked:

Why does the phrenic nerve exit the spinal cord at the cervical level?

A member asked:

What condition occurs when a herniated intervertebral disk compresses a spinal nerve root?

A member asked:

Since compression to the nerves that exit the lower spinal cord cause erectile dysfunction in some men what can be done about it?

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