On a C-Spine xray what does it mean when it saysthere is complete loss of the normal sagittal spinal countour?
537321
Sagittal spinal contour refers to the "side" plane of the spine.  Loss of normal contour means that the spine is s-curved.  This is a condition of scoliosis, which is often a 3-dimensional spinal deformity.\n\nHope this helps!
107101
Have you seen a doctor or had x-rays yet?\nAs opposed to just staying home hurting and doing nothing...\n\nI had back surgery 3 years ago and did not get well even after they straightened my spine and moved the crushed nerve...\nThe problem was the damage was already done, so no amount of surgery would fix it...\nI am now disabled for life and I still don't know what caused it...\nPeople ask me if I was in a car accident or took a bad fall and I say no...\nMy doctor says it was because of calcium deposits on my bones and the bone spur growth caught and crushed the nerve...\nSo I would recommend seeing several doctors and getting several x-rays before surgery...\nAlso see a Pain Management Doctor, he will prescribe the right meds for your pain and you could avoid surgery...
90289
I'm not a doctor but I have the same problem. Have you ever been in an accident? If so it could mean that your spine is not lined up correctly. You may need to see a chiropractor.
342239
Yes! With time the small layers of fat and tissue between the vertabrae of the spine compact and therefore millimetres to centimetres can be lost.
714856
If there is no pain involved (when you move your neck laterally and up and down) then it is probably your cervical vertebrae (C1 - C7) Some people's cervical vertebrae protrude more than others.
765715
Signal change means the loss of some of the normal water content in the disc, i.e. degenerative. Wear and tear.\nEnd plate signal change means the ends of the bones, vertabrae, has some inflammation as well.  This all can cause back pain, but not leg pain that you might feel in your legs. Not dangerous.
796394
Actually- vetebrae is the plural, not "vertebras".\n\nYou asked if the person got shot... well, the person would likely die from a gunshot wound to the thoracic column.  Not from paralysis or anything like that, but the shrapnel and bone splintering that a gunshot would cause.  The thoracic vertebrae hold the ribs which hold the heart and lungs... if they get pierced it's a bad story after that.\n\nMaybe the better question is "if someone broke their x numbered thoracic vertebrae, what would happen, and does the same hold true for the rest?"\n\nNeglecting the first two cervical vertebrae ( C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) which would cause pretty much instant death if either broke), there is a generalized result.\n\nAt any point the vertebrae break enough to sever or pinch the spinal column, the person would be paralyzed from that point down.  For example- if someone were to sever their spinal cord (break their vertebrae) at C7 (the final cervical vertebral bone), they would be paralyzed from the collarbone (clavical bone) down.  This would include the arms.\n\nIf the person broke a lumbar vertebrae and severed the spinal cord there, they would be paralyzed from the waist down.\n\nWherever the break is, it is always that point down for paralysis (if the spinal cord itself is broken or pinched).\n\nHope this answers your question.
304069
Yes, if one vertebrea is out it can pinch nerves, cut off blood supply to certain areas and all other types of symptoms.  They may seem unrelated but are probably directly related to subluxation (your back being out).  You should always seek chiropratic immediately and massage, if possible.  My mother was in an accident 20 years ago, did not get treatment and now has serious health problems because of it.  I was in an accident 2 months ago, got chiropratic immediatly, and massage and have completely recovered.  My second set of x-rays shows my spine has almost completly realigned.  My advice: get chiropractic ASAP.  3 times a week for several months, then 2.. your chiropractor should advise you.  Hopefully you have insurance to cover it!
179325
I had an MRI. Those  discs sure hurt, don't they? Mine is L4 and L5...what is yours? I am so sorry that you have this too.
747605
OK I will tell you what i know...don't know all of it...Narrowing of the disk..is something all people get when they get older..sorta like arthritis.See number 3 on impression\n\nmultiple disc bulging means the fluid sacs between your spinal cord are bulging out of place pushing on nerves...Very painful but no life or death serious..See impression 1\n\nSpinal stenosis is a narrowing of spaces in the spine (backbone) that results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This disorder usually involves the narrowing of one or more of three areas of the spine:The narrowing may involve a small or large area of the spine. Pressure on the lower part of the spinal cord or on nerve roots branching out from that area may give rise to pain or numbness in the legs. Pressure on the upper part of the spinal cord (that is, the neck area) may produce similar symptoms in the shoulders, or even the legs. See impression 3\n\nAnd evidently you have a fracture on your t12 which is in your thoracic cavity like in the middle of your back caused from osteoporosis...\nI'm no doctor, but that's what i understand from it.
589769
No it isn't strictly normal but equally is something that does occaionally occur.  You should go back and consult your doctor and ask for their advise as to the best route forwards.  Possible repeat xrays or more physio or even acupuncture.  Whatever you decide make sure you don't just sit it out, if I had done that i would have lost the use of my left arm!!!
238001
In mild cases there may be no symptoms at all.  But in more advanced forms, there is severe low back pain when in the erect position and on bending, with the pain radiating to the legs.  The displaced vertebra interferes with nerve roots in that area.  Mild cases require no treatment.  Severe cases may require fusion of the vertebral segments with the bone grafting; less severe symptoms can be relieved by a specially fitted corset.
387037
Go see your Chiropractor and fast!  You need an adjustment.  If there is something more serious going on, they'll be able to do x-rays.
442801
Sometimes, but usually after 3 -6 months of pt, if your condition remains the same or worsens, it may be a significant sign of a worse spine problem. You may want to try getting an MRI if your condition does not get any better. For this you may want to see your Orthopedic doctor.
712833
Yes, see your doctor- he will do xrays to check out if you are getting this hump because of bone loss- (seriously, women are prone to this because of the calcium depletion).  He will give your exercises and he may right a script for a back brace- you will need to see an orthopedic surgeon for the brace.  Good luck and pull your shoulders back and sit up as straight as you can, when you can.
592263
The situation you describe is classic for someone with pre-existing cervical stenosis who suffers a fall.\n\nCervical spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which is the space through which the spinal cord runs, surrounded and protected by the spinal vertebrae. Different people have different amounts of space in the canal to start with, but as we age, degenerative changes to the bones, discs and ligaments gradually encroach upon the canal and there is less room for the spinal cord.\n\nSymptoms of cervical cord compression (termed "myelopathy") often develop gradually over a period of years, though may become rapidly progressive over a few months. However, if a spinal canal is narrowed down so there is very little room for the cord to move, then a fall (or rear-end accident, or anything that jerks the neck about) can suddenly produce symptoms. The whole body numbness you describe is common. Sometimes people fall and suddenly develop weakness, usually more in hands/arms than legs' this is called "central cord syndrome". The symptoms result from banging the cord against bony prominences or discs.\n\n"Cervical spinal stenosis" as such is not caused by a fall. The canal can become narrowed as the result of a neck fracture or traumatic disc herniation, but those are different pathologies to what you describe, as best I can tell.\n\nMy guess is that you had spinal stenosis before the fall, although it had not yet caused you obvious symptoms. The fall mildly injured your spinal cord, and left you at risk for more rapid worsening of your pre-existing condition. However, your neck was almost certainly not "unstable" from the fall. Without a fracture or ligamentous injury, there is no need for a collar or neck brace and I would not generally prescribe one in the situation you describe. (I'm a neurosurgeon with experience and publications in spinal surgery.)\n\nI am very sorry to hear of your current condition. Once the spinal cord has taken injury, from a fall and/or from progressive spinal stenosis and compression, it is difficult to be certain how much function someone will recover. Myelopathy has a very uncertain course: usually after surgery, about 1/3 get better, 1/3 stay the same, and 1/3 continue to deteriorate despite MR scans showing a decent result in terms of decompression of the cord (making space for it.) We are not yet very good at predicting who will be in which group (though research is ongoing.)\n\nIf, however, you have not had repeat imaging of your neck after surgery, I would recommend this to confirm that there is no residual compression of the spinal cord, and to assess the degree of injury to the cord. (You did not say if you had surgery on the front or back of the neck, or at how many levels.)\n\nI've listed a few links below that may be of interest (and have some diagrams.)\n\nStandard disclaimer: Medical advice obtained via a website such as this is for general informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for seeing a physician. No proper diagnosis or prognosis can be given without personal history and examination taking.
762631
Difference  between a fracture and an ”occult fracture” \n\nA complete fracture is a total disruption or break in the continuity of a bone. When only some of the bony trabeculae are disrupted while others are intact or bent, the fracture is called incomplete. Both complete and incomplete fractures are visible on conventional radiographs.\n\nAn ”occult fracture” or bone bruise (also called bone contusion, trabecular microfracture or bony trabecular injury) is a trabecular fracture that is not visible on conventional radiographs but evident with bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lesion appears hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted and short Tau inversion recovery (STIR) images.