Cervical Spine XRay Results Help

[krepsque]

Could someone help me understand the results of these X-rays better?
I'm hoping to understand whether this is something I can heal/reverse or not?
Whether this is likely to get worse - or how I can prevent it from getting worse.
I am 50 yrs old and in decent physical condition. Iinjured my right shoulder doing yard work and the injury persisted after 2 weeks.
The pain got extreme and started to feel more like nerves being pinched.
I have limited movement of my neck (mostly can't tilt it back well or push chin straight back) and right elbow, tendens in the forearm, hand and under right arm pit have sharp pain especially when relaxed! Can't lay flat.
An urgent MRI was suggsted by doctor but my INS. Co. is still deciding (mine always takes time - took me 8 days to get approved for Celebrex when they were only going to pay $6.00 of it anyway).

If anyone can help educate me on what I should expect or do, please do.
The X-ray report is copied below:
--- begin report ---
STUDY: Cervical Spine
INDICATIONS: Pain radiating to the right shoulder.
FINDINGS: A four view examination demonstrates moderately severe degenerative disc disease at C3-4 associated with a retrolithesis of C3 relative to C4 and uncovertebral spurring greater on the right encroaching the right C3-4 neural foramen. Moderately advanced degenerative disc disease is present at C6-7 and associated with uncovertebral spurring causing mild encroachment of both neural foramina. There is mild narrowing of the C5-6 interverebral disc. The remaining disc spaces and neural foramina are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION: 1) Moderately advanced degenerative disc disease is present at C3-4 associated with a retrolithesis of C3, dorsal ridging and prominent right foraminal stenosis. 2) Moderately advanced degenerative disc disease is present at C6-7 and associated with mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
--- end of report ---

I appreciate any help I can get.

[Canuck Physio]

Originally Posted by krepsque

Could someone help me understand the results of these X-rays better?
Have you asked your GP or whomever requested the Xray for an explanation?
I'm hoping to understand whether this is something I can heal/reverse or not?
Please take this with a pinch of salt, but your injury appears to be an acute injury due to yard work. Although it is possibly that the Xray correlates to your problem, there is also the possibility that it may just be an alternate discovery. Really, Xrays of people with normal spines have been unable to explain pain symptoms, while many degenerative looking spines remain asymptomatic over lifetimes.
Whether this is likely to get worse - or how I can prevent it from getting worse.
I would recommend getting a 'physical' assessment from a physiotherapist to confirm/refute any imaging diagnosis. Whether the two are related or not can then be weaned out.
I am 50 yrs old and in decent physical condition. Iinjured my right shoulder doing yard work and the injury persisted after 2 weeks.
When did this happen, what have you done since, what are you able to do now? Where is the pain, and what makes it worse/better?
The pain got extreme and started to feel more like nerves being pinched.
Pinched where, in the shoulder? The traps? the Neck?
I have limited movement of my neck (mostly can't tilt it back well or push chin straight back) and right elbow, tendens in the forearm, hand and under right arm pit have sharp pain especially when relaxed! Can't lay flat.
Ok this may have answered some of the above, however it does appear that you have some form of nerve pathology related to your injury. All this means is that the nerve appears to be compressed or damaged in some way.
An urgent MRI was suggsted by doctor but my INS. Co. is still deciding (mine always takes time - took me 8 days to get approved for Celebrex when they were only going to pay $6.00 of it anyway).

If anyone can help educate me on what I should expect or do, please do.
The X-ray report is copied below:
--- begin report ---
STUDY: Cervical Spine
INDICATIONS: Pain radiating to the right shoulder.
FINDINGS: A four view examination demonstrates moderately severe degenerative disc disease at C3-4 associated with a retrolithesis of C3 relative to C4 and uncovertebral spurring greater on the right encroaching the right C3-4 neural foramen. Moderately advanced degenerative disc disease is present at C6-7 and associated with uncovertebral spurring causing mild encroachment of both neural foramina. There is mild narrowing of the C5-6 interverebral disc. The remaining disc spaces and neural foramina are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION: 1) Moderately advanced degenerative disc disease is present at C3-4 associated with a retrolithesis of C3, dorsal ridging and prominent right foraminal stenosis. 2) Moderately advanced degenerative disc disease is present at C6-7 and associated with mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
--- end of report ---
Degenerative bone changes, like mentioned earlier, are common in many people. The most significant factor that will influence positive health is via enhancing muscle structure (via active lifestyle, or physio input), or affecting fascia or nerves (via massage, electrotherapies, stretches etc.), and optimizing health via correct nutrition. Please consider physiotherapy for an accurate assessment and an appropriate understanding of the problem, as celebrex and other drugs although useful to manage pain symptoms, will not necessarily alleviate the underlying problem
I appreciate any help I can get.

as above Regards