@brittanylg
I am a 55 year old female who has spine issues and surgery on both cervical and lumbar spine. I have quite a lot of experience reading my own MRIs over the years and your MRI communicates a lot!

You need to research top orthopedic spine specialists in your area asap! You have spinal cord compression injuries at a couple levels and can have permanent injury to spinal cord and function if you do not have decompression surgery asap! It seems you have either had injury to your back because one level is cracked. Did you have an accident or injury? You should stop all manipulation to your back by a chiropractor because that can make things worse. Also, hold off on massage and PT until you get 2nd and 3rd orthopedic spine specialist opinions. Rheumatologists will not help treat your spine! Your issues in your spine are structural and mechanical pressure on spinal cord and nerve roots/nerves.

Please advocate for yourself to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Spinal cord compression injury is called myelopathy and that is part of your problem and very serious. You don’t want permanent disability at your young age. I have cervical myelopathy and had ACDF surgery in 2022 to decompress my spinal cord. I had daily headaches, neck and shoulder pain/knots, arm/hand weakness, dropped things and handwriting worsened, bladder control issues and walking difficulty (balance and weakness and felt like I was wearing cement boots on). The surgery temporarily helped with some symptoms but I now have some permanent disability because it took 5 years to get properly diagnosed and treated. I may need a 2nd surgery in the next month or so due to returning myelopathy symptoms. I encourage you to research degenerative myelopathy/spondylotic myelopathy.

Praying for you to get the help you need asap!🙏