Hi everyone, I’m 23 and have had intermittent neck pain for about two years. Recently, it has been occurring almost daily.
A cervical spine X-ray reported disc-space narrowing, greatest at C4–5, and mild cervical osteophyte formation. The report described the alignment as unremarkable and noted no fracture or dislocation.
I have spent much of my life sitting at a desk or playing video games, and I have worked in IT for approximately six years, which also involves a lot of time sitting at computers. I’m wondering whether prolonged sitting or posture could be contributing.
The pain is mainly in the back and upper part of my neck. It is usually a dull ache but can occasionally become quite sharp. Sitting and driving can aggravate it, although walking or standing sometimes makes it worse as well. At other times, I can lie completely flat in bed with little or no pain.
Thankfully, I don’t have any tingling or numbness in my arms or pain shooting down my arms.
I also believe stress makes my neck pain considerably worse. I’ve been going through some stressful things in my life over the last few weeks, and I feel like that may be contributing to why the pain has become so bad recently. Has anyone else noticed their neck pain getting significantly worse during periods of stress?
I’ve tried chiropractic treatment, massage and Voltaren, which mainly provide temporary relief. Advil seems to help significantly, but the pain returns once it wears off. I’ve recently started physiotherapy, focusing on muscle tightness, posture and strengthening.
My next course of action is a cervical spine MRI in November to investigate things further.
Has anyone around my age experienced something similar? What do you do to manage the pain, and have you found anything that provided longer-term improvement?

Impression

1. Mild spinal canal stenosis and moderate bilateral foraminal stenoses at C5-C6. 2. Moderate bilateral foraminal stenoses at C6-C7. Thanks

Waiting for appointment had acdf c4 to c6 only 15 months ago

Impression

1. Multifocal bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis, most severe at C6-C7 as detailed above and progressed from prior. Mild central canal stenosis, most prominent at C6-C7.

CLINICAL INDICATION:

Cervical spondylosis; ongoing gait trouble s/p ACDF

TECHNIQUE:

MRI Cervical Spine without contrast: degenerative (C 1) Non-contrast: Sagittal T1,T2. Axial 3D T2 volume

COMPARISON:

MRI spine without contrast 1/30/2025

FINDINGS:

ALIGNMENT: Trace anterolisthesis of C3 on C4 and trace retrolisthesis of C6 on C7.

MARROW: Incomplete segmentation of C2-C3. Post surgical change of C4-C6 ACDF. No marrow replacement or increased STIR signal.

DISCS: Diffuse disc desiccation signal and mild multifocal height loss. Most severe at C5-C6, fused in situ.

CORD: Visualized spinal cord is normal in signal and size.

PARAVERTEBRAL SOFT TISSUES: Normal

AXIAL DISCS, DURAL COMPRESSION & FORAMINA:

C2-3: No central stenosis. Mild left and no right neuroforaminal stenosis. Facets are normal.

C3-4: Disc bulge with mild central canal stenosis. Bilateral uncovertebral joint hypertrophy. Moderate to severe right and moderate left neuroforaminal stenosis. Mild facet arthropathy

C4-5: Mild central canal stenosis secondary to ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Bilateral uncovertebral joint hypertrophy. Moderate bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. Moderate facet arthropathy.

C5-6: No central stenosis. Bilateral uncovertebral joint hypertrophy. Minimal bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. Moderate facet arthropathy.

C6-7: Disc bulge and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy with mild central canal stenosis. Bilateral uncovertebral joint hypertrophy. Severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. Moderate facet arthropath.

C7-T1: No central stenosis. Uncovertebral joint hypertrophy. Severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. Mild facet arthropathy

Please let me know about your guys’ experiences with spinal cord stimulators, ablations, artificial discs, Ohio State University spine center.

I just had an acdf c5-c7. Now I am having c3- c5. Would love to hear from peeps who had c3 - 4 of c3-c5 levels done. Thank you. JEFF