Scared: Herniations at c4-7 with compression at c5-6
 

I had an MRI 2 weeks ago with the following results:

The craniocervical junction is unremarkable. No significant disc herniation seen at the c2-3 and c3-4 levels. At the c4-5 level, there is a large broad based central and right paracentral disc herniation noted attentuating the ventral thecal space and impinging on the exiting nerve root and causing some narrowing of intervertebral foramina on the right at this level.

At the c5-6 level there is a very large broad based herniation extending posteriorly and causing compression of the cord with the AP diameter of the spinal canal reduced to approximately 5 to 6 mm at this level, There is some increased signal in the cord suggestive of myelomalacia.

At the c6-7 lever, there is a moderately large central and right paracentral disc herniation also noted attentuating the ventral thecal space and abutting onto the ventral aspect of the cord. The cord is tilted slightly to the left.

The neurosurgeon that I saw recommended 6 weeks of physical therapy and traction. I just had an EMG test done this week and the neurologist thinks that herniations as large as mine will not resolve without surgery. She told me a fall or accident could be very bad. Needless to say, I am terrified. Also, my blood pressure is through the roof - 158/80 the last time it was checked. I have asked my primary to send my information to a different doctor for a second opinion. Do you think it will take long to get in to the second doctor? Should I be scared? I have 2 young children. I want to be fully active in their lives.

[HI ChelK

Yes you MRI shows problems c4 thru c7---Just a little background im fused at the same level. Prior to surgery I had pain for several years in neck always in enough time allowed it went away until 2010 every month pain was there 24/7 --took Docs 6 months before I even got MRI---I had 4 disc pressed against spinal cord -- I started to go parlyzed on the right. Yes with this type of surgery always seek 2-3 consults the other type of Doc would be a orthopedic spinal surgeon --its what I chose but I researched him alot before i even chose him. Yes I agree always try conservative treaments first p.t or esi (epidural steroid injections). I think alot depends on your pain level currently as well are you having numbness in hands and fingers pain going down arm --in shoulder and scapular area?? I will tell you this dont be terrfied. Concernedn yes its spinal surgery-- and there risks involved. That all being said I got to a point pain was so bad I actually looked forward to the surgery. I have no regrets at all it gave me my life back. Im not 100% perfect but i would say 90% improved and Im happy with that outcome.Please let me know if you have more ?? I will be happy to try to answer the best I can. Please dont fear it I wasted so much time fearing it ---i was home from surgery in 24 hrs and the pain after surgery for me was not even close to the pain prior to surgery. I was much better during the recovery period.

Hi ChelkB
 

I am a spine patient too. Welcome to Neuro Talk. I came here just as you did searching for answers and knowledge. Before you select surgery, make sure you get two more independant evaluations.
I do think you have reason to be concerned about the large herniations, which are impeding proper cord function. Anytime there is compression on the cord, and or nerve root, it hurts, alot.....
I was in the same position and am fused C3-7. I had two surgeries, for me well worth the pain I went through. I am sorry that you have these issues, but you did find a great place to help you through it. I was hysterical and crying when I first found NT. Pain was horrible. Just make sure, you have several docs. that concur with the dx. I will be here for you and so will NT. Leesa is the best in my opinion about reading the MRI in clear language. I hope she responds to you and can help with the MRI report. ginnie:grouphug:

Thanks so much for replying to me mg neck prob and ginnie. it's comforting to find people to talk about this...who understand. I'm sorry you are here but grateful at the same time.

It started 2 years ago. I had pain near my shoulder blade on my right side. I was sent for an x-ray which showed slight disc degeneration. I was sent to PT for 4 weeks and sent on my merry way. The pain eventually went away and as I said on my other post, I was actively running and using kettlebells. In early December, I had really bad shoulder pain and the next day, I had partial numbness in my right thumb and index finger. It tingles and burns sometimes as well. I went to my doctor who ordered an mri and an emg. The day I had my mri, I went back to my office and received a phone call from my doctor wanting to go over the results. I thought I was going to be sick to my stomach. They had me sitting with a neurosurgeon 2 days later. He decided that I should do 6 weeks of PT and traction (which I did traction for the first time today). But as I said, my primary and the neurologist I saw for the EMG were very surprised by that. They both told me it will probably only resolve with surgery. That is when I decided to ask for another opinion.

On a good note (I think), my primary, the neurosurgeon, neurologist and my pt guy all say that I present much better than what the mri shows. They say that my range of motion is pretty good except I can't really bend my head down. Lately, I have been developing new symptoms, such as numbness in my left hand as well as most of my right hand. I get tingling in my face and on the bottoms of my feet. When I called the neurosurgeon's office to tell them, I feel it was taken very lightly. My primary knows this and so does the physical therapist. He even told me today that he is happy I am getting another opinion. I obviously want this taken care of, even if it is surgery (though that scares the daylights out of me). I've never had surgery in my life. Thanks for listening to me ramble on.

Nice to meet you!!
 

ChelKB,

:Wave-Hello: It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you. :smileypray:

Hi ~ I'm really glad your doc ordered physical therapy. That's a good conservative approach, and I do hope that it helps. I'm not so sure about the traction, but it could be helpful.

I'm really concerned about the C5-6 level with the cord compression and reduction of the canal. I also don't like the suggestion of myelomalacia!. With any luck at all, the therapy will help with this, but I'm not "up" on that so I really don't know. I'll certainly pray about it !!

Of course you have other issues too, but the C5-6 is the most serious from what I can see. I wouldn't want ANY of them! :eek: I'm sorry you're having such troubles. I hope you get at LEAST 3 opinions, counting the one you already got. It's important to get them so you have different ideas on what should be done, and you can make an educated choice on what to do. But TRY to take the most CONSERVATIVE route you can take, as surgery is ONLY for mechanical problems. Surgery is NOT for pain. After surgery, you will most likely still have the same pain or worse, as you did before surgery. :( Plus with surgery, there is always the "domino effect" -- the levels above and below fail because they've had to take on more of the load. And that means more surgery. :rolleyes:

So best of luck! Keep us posted, okay? God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

Hi chelk
 

[Just make sure your doctor wants traction or anything strenous before you do that. I had traction, and it was a bad decision on my part. I did it without a specialist recommending it. Not good. Conservative is good to try but not at the risk of more permanent damage.
Also on another post, it was mentioned not to ask about chiropractic to your PCP. I disagree with that. If you can't talk to the person who is in charge of your whole care, you defeat the reason why you see that professional. I tell my PCP everything. Not all PCPs disagree about chiropractic and or traction.
The more we trust them, that trust is returned in kind.
Thinking about you today, and hope all goes will. ginnie

Thanks for all of your advice and kindness. I will be getting my second opinion today and we will see how it goes. The only reason I would ever get surgery is because of the cord compression and the permanent damage it could cause. I don't care about the pain. I can live with that. I don't want to be paralyzed. I have an almost 8 year old and a 4 year old. We just had over a foot of snow since last night. I live in fear of falling or having an accident. I'm tired and I'm scared. I will update later to let you know how today's appointment goes. Again, thanks for your support.

Hi Chelk
 

You are very right. No surgery unless there is cord compression and that you have a risk of being paralized. I was in the same boat, scared, in tears, and found NT. I am fused c3-7 and it did help me. I had been told I could be paralized without it. I will be waiting to hear what your doc. says. Try to bring a friend with you, just incase so much information is given to you that you could forget some part. Bring your pain chart, and former records if you can. I wish you all the best and will be thinking about you at this appt. I remember that fear quite well. NT and me too, we are here for you. ginnie

Im glad you seeking a 2nd consult ---its true surgery is avoid perm damage but in some and many cases-- not al---l it does often pain reduction as well. Im my case it did reduce pain 90% .Do your homework on the surgeon I did mine --and new a few people that used him also and gotten great results. The have a web site Rate MD---its for all states and people write on there experiences. I wish you the best of luck and please update hoe it goes.

Well, I went for my 2nd opinion yesterday. He point blank told me I needed surgery to get c5-6 off the spinal cord. That is the main issue. He will remove & fuse c4-5 and c6-7 as well because he said if he doesn't, it will only be a matter of time before I'm in to see him again. He did advise against running in the future. He told me the spine takes too much of a pounding. He didn't say I couldn't do it, but doesn't think it would be wise. This makes me incredibly sad but, in the big scheme of things,I'll deal. I need to put it in to perspective and find something that is lower impact. I love to exercise but I do it for the health benefits. I don't want to make anything worse. They are so backed up with surgeries, I'm looking to have surgery in about 8 weeks. This seems excessively far away. I will be put on the list to be moved up if there are cancellations - so let's hope it happens before then. I'm beyond scared, but I'm trying to stay positive. This is a common surgery done everyday, so I can only pray mine will be done without complications. Thanks everyone and I will keep you updated as things continue.

Hey well im glad u went and to be honest im glad he chose to fuse the whole thing who wants surgery twice. You will be fused at same level as me. Just for now just walk around till you have surgery. After surgery --for three months all i did was walk alot in neighborhood. Now before work in morning i do elliptical for 1 hr in 4am before work ---not always good depends if i hit szooze button(lol). Will be able to workout again-- but you know what running is vary jarring period on spine and knees --you should give that up. Eventually once your fused I would say u should be able to do most anything --accept running.

I'm feeling incredible sad right now. Since I found running a few years ago, I fell in love with it. I'm having a hard time reconciling that it isn't in my future when I find so much enjoyment from it. Pushing myself through pain & fatigue has been so rewarding, a testament to my endurance...so empowering. Will I get that from walking? I doubt it. I know I have to put things in to perspective, that in the long run it's not important. Any advice from anyone?

Hi chelk
 

Loss of an activity you love, is hard to adjust to. I had to give up my career, which hurts to this day. I looked down into a magafier to create miniatures. Now that I am fused, I can't look down to do the scuptures. So I changed and do mosaics looking forward on an easel. I walk alot too, though I never did run.
It is a question of finding a substitute, something that gives enjoyment, even if it is not your favorite. Lots of adjustments are made to compensate for what we lost. It takes time, and some real thinking to make some changes.
It is OK to be sad Chelk, you are experiencing a big change. You are going to find things to do that you didn't even know you liked. Just keep moving forward, and more things will present. I grieved a long time before I found things to give me joy again. The ever talked about bucket list is another goodie. Write down all the things you can do, that you may want to do, and get to it. Maybe a concert you always wanted to see, or an outing in some location you always wanted to go to. Just keep trying and you will find ways to bring joy again into your life. ginnie:hug::grouphug:

Thanks for listening to me rant. I know I need to look at the big picture. I need to focus on what I still can do. Maybe I will find a new passion (that isn't so jarring on the spine & body). It's better to stay positive...which is what I'm trying to do.

Btw, I just wanted to inform you that I got a call from the hospital when I was home for lunch. My surgery is scheduled for March 19th. I'm so glad not to have to wait 8+ weeks but a bit terrified. Ready to be on the other side :) Again, I'll keep everyone posted.

Thats good news 3-19 --im glad and I will give u more info when u get closer to the date on things you need to have around the house for your recovery .

Hi ChelkB
 

Everything will turn out OK. We all will be here for you, to support you and to tell you we care. Glad you don't have to wait too long either. ginnie:grouphug:

I wanted to update everyone. I had my ACDF surgery yesterday on c4-c7. I asked one more time if I really needed all three levels done and my surgeon said I was crushing my spine. It is not something I should wait on.

Today, my throat is sore. I still have numbness I my right thumb and index finger. Hoping that will go away. I'm still in the hospital and I should be released early this afternoon. I am on pain medicine for which I didn't know how grateful I would be for that. I will update again when I'm home. I'm hoping for a happy & healthy recovery from here :)

Thats great news!!!!! ---throat will take a few days eat soft foods--honest i still get numbness in finger tips but im use to it ---doesnt stop me from doing anything. Now its very important no lifting anything heavier then a gallon of milk ---if your recovery is like mine fatigue will be a battle for several weeks. Take it easy and let people pamper you. Are you getting a neck brace? Im just glad the worst part is finally behind you.

get well soon
 

Hi chelk, get well soon. relax. Don't push your recovery. If you get spasms which many of us do after this surgery, ask for Soma, in conjunction with your pain medication. This will stop the spasms and allow for better healing. Glad your surgery is over. I too had some tingling in my fingers and hands, this did go away for me. I wish you all the best as you move forward in your life. NT and of course I am with you 100%, Just be good to yourself now. ginnie:hug:

Way to go!!