Are these MRI results serious?

@skybluefan: Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, an online support forum for patients, family and caregivers where we as mentors and oher contributors, such as yourself, who have experienced condions can exchange experiences, emotional support and general tips. However, we do not and cannot take the place of specialized medical providers when it comes to evaluating specific lab or imaging results. The implications of these types of results can vary depending on an individual's medical history, and need to be evaluated within the context of the indvidual's full presentation.

I can understand your concern when reading over somewhat complex and foreign medical findings. There was likely a treating practitioner who had submitted the request for this MRI who would be in the best position to interpret these results and/or refer to one who can assist more clearly, or in the event this was done in emergent care, your primary care physician. Have you scheduled an appointment to discuss these findings with such a provider?

@grammato3 thanks for your response and I understand.
My Doctor has referred me to a Spinal Surgeon. I am waiting fir an appointment

@skybluefan: It's good to hear you'll be seeing a specialist who can not only review the imaging and results with you but discuss any applicable interventions if needed. Once you've had your appointment, can you let me know what you learned? Best of luck!

@grammato3 Thankyou and I will do

@skybluefan I am a cervical spine surgery patient not a medical professional. But I can help with a few definitions.

Disc osteophyte complexes are when a disc ruptures and causes bone spurs to grow from the inflammation and your body's attempt to stabilize the spine.

The facet joints are how your spine can glide as it twists and these become arthritic through wear and tear when the discs are collapsing and putting more pressure on these joints.

Your doctor is right to refer you to a spine surgeon. You must be in a lot of pain with all of that. Sometimes surgery doesn't fix pain. Usually goal is to preserve function and prevent further damage.

Have you been seen by a spine specialist before? I had a disc osteophyte complex pressing into my spinal cord but did not have any signal changes in the spinal cord or compression of nerves at the nerve roots. My surgery was just a fusion of C5/C6.

With multiple levels involved, you may be offered surgery for a multilevel procedure. Do you have a list of questions you wish to ask during your upcoming spinal consultation?