I have cervical myelopothy C5/6
On an average day my pain levels never go below 6, when I experience a flair up usually its 8- to 10 , and the flair ups can last for weeks until it subsides,

I’m constantly dropping thing, all glass ware in my house was changed to plastic, I have ceramic floors.. I have no feeling in my hands; I can feel pressure, but no sensation. In other words I can not tell if I’m touching sand paper or concrete, and touching steel is very unpleasent.My right side has been most affected. I can still use my arms and fingers I just got to focus on the task on hand. I learned to compensate, by applying thought and patients relearning tasks that healthy people take for granted.
I will give you a prime example; a typical day , I make my self a mug of hot coffee, I hold it in my right hand (I’m right handed) as long as I’m mentally aware that the mug is in my hands everything appears normal the second the phone rings and my concentration is broken ,another one bites the dust,
I find it amazing how the human body can adapt to changes. I had to re learn just about everything, I always must be aware of my present surroundings. My physical situation does not compare, pain wise, to my skin sensation with out medication.
I can describe this as the most debilitating for me, This is the reason I have such trouble describing my pain to some one:
My neck/head/shoulder blade area –burning, itchy pins and needles, always stiff and a dole soreness but constant. most of the time not bad enough to incapacitate me but bad enough to drive me nuts, then there is my right fore arms, in a flair up situation I’m convinced its going to explode just below the elbow, this pain usually radiates to my fingers which are constantly stiff and pain full but still usable.
Then there are my legs. Extreme itchy, burning, ants crawling, those pesky shooting pains which usually hit with out warning; sharp stabbing pains in my ankles and feet mostly. This lasts maybe a few seconds, boy do they hurt. My legs are wobbly , they work but not like most peoples, once again I have to focus on my stride. When I walk my right leg has a tendency to drag. Two winters ago I was walking on ice and some one blow there car horn behind me before I new it I was in the hospital with a spiral a tibia fracture.
And for the icing on the cake these nasty muscle spasms
My neurologist tells me that most of the sensations I’m experiencing is caused by the myelopothy sending wrong signals to the brain,


I still love life
jj


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A little back ground;
I’m a 48yrs old male, I have moderate to severe chronic pain everyday of my life for the past10 years,
I was diagnosed with, sever stinosis in the neck, severe D.D.D ,
At 37 I had to have a lamanectomy from C3 to C7 inclusive, do to herniated disc, and myelopathy affecting my spinal cord. The doctors have made it very clear ; there is real nothing left to try, medically. Also the same goes for the pain situation aswell.Which means this is it…..
Presently I can not feel with my hands, no sensation, I have pain from my head to my toes. I have been on every type of pain medication and all stopped working after a while
Now I take Lyrica and and medical marijuana
(My advice to the world ,” acceptance, never give up, keep your self occupied . get physiological help, just to put things into prospective. Try to smile)

Hi JJ~
You put it well. I certainly feel for you! I don't have this, but I have had 5 fusions in my Lumbar and Sacral region and don't have feeling in my feet. I have also been told they can't do nothing else for me, unless it is life threating. I think by this, surgeon meant if I would fall and be parlized or if bladder or bowel quit working.

I do well, if I don't go bare footed or be on my feet to long. I can get in a lot of pain and nothing works if I take it very long. Hydrocodone works if I just take small amount of it. My back is in pain every day. I know what your talking about. I have leg spasm's also. I have DDD too! Had a Spinal Cord Stimilator put in a few yrs. back, it did nothing for me. Good luck, you are so young for this to happen. Smile when you can!
Fancylady

I'm a 45 old female, and in Aug 08 had a lamanectomy from c3-c7 also. Through the back of the neck with 2 rods and 10 screws. Along with bone fusions. I think this is the first I heard of someone with so may levels affected. I also find myself in discomfort all the time too. I thought this was the cure.