How do i know if it is a bone spur or if it is a bulging disc that is impinging a nerve root? i have both with moderate foraminal stenosis in c6/7

The CT/MRI CAN TELL: A compression of a nerve root in the neck can be caused by different problems; generally the imaging studies can determine the specific reason. The CT is better at defining bony contours and can generally tell if a spur is compressing a nerve (or not). The MRI is better at defining soft tissue contours and would be able to determine if a disc (soft tissue) is compressing a nerve.

Imaging studies: A reasonable nonsurgical way in this case, may be MRI or CT imaging (depending on cost,ins. approval, etc ) Either a bone spur or a bulging disc, or both at once, can cause impingement sometimes. If you have had a change in your symptoms since your last studies, they may need to be repeated. There can be other causes of impingement and a nerve conduction study might also be ordered by your doc.