Expert: Robert A. Arnone, DC - 7/26/2010

Question
Due to chronic neck pain I just had a x-ray of my neck last week and the following results came back. What does this all mean, surgery maybe?:  Findings/impression: 4 views of the cervical spine, including flexion/extension images,show kyphosis in the superior cervical spine in the neutral pose. There is degenerative disc space loss at all levels with pronounced anterior endplate spurring from C3 through C6. There is severe uncovertebral arthritic spurring throughout the mid cervical spine with only mild to moderate multilevel facet OA. The flexion/extension range of motion is severely limited with essentially no change in alignment throughout the mid cervical spine from C3 through C6.

Answer
Ron,
It doesn't sound too good for you.  When these reports get written, much too often they go to drastic measures of recommending surgery as your only option.  If by this point you have not heard that yet, you probably will soon.  There are almost always other options that cvan be quite effective and much smarter than surgery. I will tell you that although the report gives me some good information, it is much better to view the pictures myself.
Yours in Best Health,
Dr Arnone
St Louis, MO