G’morning y’all. I joined this wonderful forum because I have cervical stenosis and pinched nerves, DDD which given my age is to be expected but it has caused several discs to slip over each other. My C7/T1 is the area most affected and the Orthopedic Surgeon has suggested surgery since we have ran out of non-surgical treatments. I am very nervous about surgery.

I have constant pain in my neck that radiates down both my shoulders and into my right arm/hand with pins and needles with electrical zings as well. I have spasms all over the place. My upper back and neck are in constant spasm. Right between my scapula and my spine up high on my back is a real bugger. I have muscle wastage and clumsy fingers in my right hand. I stumble a lot and do spontaneous gravity checks (While walking I just find myself on my butt without apparent reason] several times a month.

My doctor would like to do an ACDF [if I am remembering correctly] but since I have a lot of stenosis going on he may need to go in through the back of neck as well. To add to this I also have an aberrant R subclavian artery so we need to find the exact location of that prior to surgery.

I’m diabetic and a smoker who is over weight. Doctor wants my sugars under control, stop smoking and lose weight prior to surgery as well.

My sugars are up due to stress so I am walking to bring them under control. & hopefully drop a little weight as well. I got a script for Chantix for the smoking.

I'm married and just celebrated 25 years earlier this year. He's still my best friend and I cannot imagine life without him.

How are y'all this morning? I hope life is treating you well and you're getting the help you need to feel your best. Nice to meet y'all.

Katie