What is mild foraminal encroachment on the left at c6-c7?

Nerves travel down the spinal canal as a thick cord of nerves. Each nerve arises at a point in the brain, and travels down the cord, exits at its determined level and travels down the body to where it is designed to go/operate. If growth of bone (such as in Arthritis) or disk herniation, occurs at 5 o'clock or 7 o'clock, the bone/herniation can pinch (trap) a nerve as it is preparing to leave the spinal cord and travel down the body, resulting in a severe burning pain and possibly muscle cramps if the nerve travels to the spasming muscle (or even numbness). What the radiologist is asking is if you are having pain from a "pinched nerve" at that level, or not... If you're have a lot of pain, burning (or even numbness or muscle weakness) along the expected path of the nerve, then the problem seen on the X-ray explains why you are having the symptoms. If you are NOT having pain, numbness, weakness, etc... then you have nothing to worry about...