NeuroTalk Support Groups - View Single Post - New, Help with MRI-Neck Issues

Dubious · 02-20-2015, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillyrabbit

I hope I can get a little help or direction.

I was in a MVA 1/5/15, prior to this I have had no neck pain or issues with my arms. I was at a stop and the lady behind me was texting and hit me at 65mph. I was turned 180 degressand stopped 47 ft from the point of impact. I hit my head on the steering wheel (my seat belt locked as I was moving forward), and when I went back into the seat, the back broke and I landed much further back. I was laying with my seat on the seat behind me. ER diagnosed with whiplash.

On 2/7 I got a MRI and saw a Neurosurgeon on 2/9. Here are the results of the MRI, w/out contrast:

C3-4 Bulging of the disc with bilateral uncovertebral hypertrophy left more than right, mild foraminal narrowing on the left.

C4-5 Bulging of the disc without apparent neural compression

C5-6 There is a broad-based herniation with caudal down turning. The ventral subarachnoid space is narrowed but the cord is not compressed. The is a foraminal encroachment bilaterally right more than left. C6 nerve roots could be affected.

C6-7 Bulging of the disc with uncovertebral prominence. No compressive stenosis.

C7-T1 Mild Facet degeneration. No disc pathology. No stenosis.

************************************************** ***
First neurosurgeon wants fix C5-6 with the Bryan Cervical System.

Waiting for 2nd neurosurgeon appt.

Pain in both arms, left worse. Pain in neck and back of head. Headaches started up a week ago. Meds: Naproxen 500mg BID and Norco 10mg q 6-8 hrs.
Weakness in left arm is affecting my day to day. Right side weakness is not as severe, but is starting to worsen.
Also, have numbness and tingling in both arms and in shoulders.

Questions: Should more than 5-6 be fixed? 1st Dr. says if I fuse, it will place strain on other disc. Should the other not normal disc be fixed?

I'm 38 with little kids and so frustrated

Thank you for any help!!

Is not the Bryan System a "disc-replacement?" I believe it is and has been shown to spare motion at adjacent levels....so what's the fuss about added stress??? Based ONLY off your MRI, I personally don't see what anyone else would want to cut on or fuse? Perhaps your clinical findings and electrodiagnostic studies speak otherwise. And a two (disc) level fusion has disproportionately more complications (including non-union) than a single level. So....less is more! Besides, a two-level surgery is a bigger surgery with longer down time. I was faced with the same dilemma. The neurosurgeon wanted to fuse two levels but a month or two prior to my C5-6 fusion, the C6-7 level became asymptomatic. I talked to two ortho buddies who both urged me to only do one level, their feeling being you can always go back in and fuse the second level, but you can't un-fuse it. Has no one talked to you about either transforaminal or interlaminar epidurals? If your neurological profile is not heinous, they just might keep you out of surgery!