Cervical spinal cord compression
 

Hello, I'm new here and wondered if you can help me with my MRI report. I'm 49yrs old.

MRI Spine Cervical:

There are multilevel degenerative changes with disc space reduction & osteophyte formation predominantly involving the mid & lower cervical spine.
Normal spinal cord parenchymal signal. There is a constitutionally narrow vertebral canal.

At C4/5 there is a neural foramina narrowing.
At C5/6 there is a broad based disc-osteophyte bar which narrows the vertebral canal and causes borderline spinal cord compression, in conjunction with posterior ligamentous thickening. There is also severe foramina narrowing.
At C6/7, there is a broad based disc-osteophyte bar and posterior ligamentous thickening causing spinal cord compression, but without spinal cord signal abnormality. There is also severe bilateral neural foramina narrowing.

I'm currently awaiting surgery which depending on what is found when they open me up, may or may not involve fusion.

Meantime, what physical activities, if any, should I NOT be doing?

I grow my own fruit & veg with help from my spouse. I'm limited to what housework I can do - vaccuuming, mopping etc. I care for my Dad who has AD & lives with my Mum who is severely arthritic. They both have carer's going in to help them. I also have a chronic cough for over 9yrs which is being treated with MST 10mgs bd.

Thanks for any response,
Tenderfoot :)

Well, for one thing, the hole where the nerves go thru to get to the spinal canal is severely narrowed, so it could be "pinching" on the nerves and that would cause severe pain!

You have some bone spurs too with some thickening ligaments that are causiing spinal cord compression, and that's NOT GOOD. This is the same from C4-5 thru C6-7. Plus you have disc space reductiion which means degenerative changes.

Keep in mind that you will NEVER be able to vacuum again, or do any raking, or mopping. It's the forward and backward motion that really does a number on spinal patients. Also you should NOT be doing any lifting, twisting, you should avoid stairs, no extensive reaching, stay OFF ladders, even step-ladders, if you use the bathtub and don't have safety bars, have someone in there with you to help you in and out; you CANNOT lift your Dad!!! Someone else is going to have to do that!!! There's probably a bunch of other restructions, but your doc will have to tell you. ;)

Keep in mind that after surgery, the levels above and below the surgery site will fail -- that's because they have to take on more of the load after surgery. That's called the "domino effect." So somewhere down the road, you'll probably need more surgery unless you take the physical therapy route. Studies have shown that people who have surgery have the same results as those who have just physical therapy!!! Although in this particular case, the foramen needs to be opened. :eek: Otherwise, you'd probably do fine with therapy.

I wish you the very best. Please let us know how you come out. God bless and please take care! And keep postiing! Hugs, Lee :)

Thankyou for your reply Leesa but, GOODNESS ME! :eek:

I hadn't honestly realised my condition was so severe. I only finished lifting my spuds from the ground last week :Speechless:

I guess the MST for my chronic cough is masking any pain very well, as all I feel is pins & needles in my hands/ fingers & a deep ache in my left shoulder, plus a sharp twanging sensation in my neck when I turn my head awkwardly.
My left arm is weak (I'm left-handed) & I keep dropping things.

It's getting harder pegging laundry out, what about driving?
Thankyou again,
Tenderfoot.

I would be VERY careful about driving because if you get rear=ended, that could REALLY damage things! You need to be quite careful. If possible, keep your driving to a minimum. There are some real crazy drivers out there!

Just use your head, and if you don't NEED to drive, don't. And of course after your surgery, you won't be able to drive for some time. Your doctor will give you the time limit. Make sure to ask him cause if he does fuse, you could really mess up the fusing process if you're in an accident!!! :eek:

When do you see your doctor for his decision whether or not to fuse, etc?
I'm sure you're getting anxious. I'll be interested to hear what he's going to do. I hope he's not going to fuse. Let me know, ok? Hugs, Lee

My spouse does most of the driving, but being passenger doesn't make much difference if I was to be rear-ended anyway. My surgeon did say I am an extremely high risk should I suffer whip lash.

What housework / activities CAN I do? I feel a spare part now :confused:

Thanks,
Tenderfoot x

Hi, Tenderfoot.

I have had the almost same problems in my cervical spine. I now have 8 levels fused. (C-2 to T-3) I have a "cage" around fusion and discectomy.

It will take time and PT but before you get that surgery, try to get some time to speak to your surgeon as to his/her expected results. My surgeon said he could reduce my pain by 40%. (thank God he was underestimating his own skills because he's rid me of maybe 60-70%.)

If you get some of the newer lightweight cleaning tools you may be able to clean the floor and do a little more if your doc says it's ok. It will take some time to get an OK from him. At least 6 weeks post op before even physical therapy can start.

I have a lightweight swifter that vacuums the floor and mops it in one swipe. I am post-op since mid April of this year. Just use your head and do what does not hurt you. Of course twisting is out of the question.

(darn, I love twisting! *Twisting, Twisting, Twisting the night away....* old song old dance,, I am old):D

Your doc will probably do some testing with a neurologist to assure him that your spine is the culprit in your nerve damage in your arms and hands. Mine did that to rule out carpal tunnel syndrome.. And yes, it was my spine compressing the nerves. You may see some improvement with surgery and later, but it may be permanent. I have had some improvement but don't' expect anymore.

If you can, go in preop and they can teach you some tricks for just after surgery. Our hospital has all back patients go in then. And after, you will decidedly need a good/great therapist. So far, with fibromyalgia, and two cervical surgeries under my belt, I am just still getting deep massage and light exercise because of the scar tissue. You shouldn't have that. He says I am far away from water therapy which I think is the best as water that is warm is soo good for you. I need individual more therapy. It's a slow process.

I think you should know that in my case and (I think others too) stress can make it hurt worse. I sincerely believe that if you learn some relaxation techniques you will have less pain. If hubs and I argue I tense up and hurt like holy he((. If I leave the room and go into a quiet room I can calm down and relax it takes the edge off of the pain.

Leesa is right, car accidents can be extremely dangerous. My doc said after my first surgery that if I had been in an accident it could have "snapped my neck." Now we stay off of the freeway as much as possible and take the backroads. Just leave a good cushion to the car in front/back and be easy on the gas peddle. I just get over if someone wants to speed.

I wish you well and if you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to post your questions here. My best to you.

Malindak:winky:

Hi Tenderfoot
 

Welcome to Neuro Talk. I read the report that you posted. I hope that you do get another opinion from a neurologist, even if you decided you want to go ahead with the surgery. It is really important to do so. Any time you have cord compression, or severe narrowing, they do alot of times recommend the surgery. You should know Exactly what the surgeon plans to do, before the proceedure, not be told after. That was one things that kind of concerned me. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Thankyou MalindaK for your reply :)
And thankyou too Ginnie for yours :)

I'm waiting on my pre-op appointment to discuss all of my concerns and as they hope to operate before Christmas, that could be anytime.

At my last appointment in August (my MRI was in July) they estimated a 70% success rate & if fusion was done, I'd lose 10% neck movement.

The borderline compression's at the front & the actual compression is at the back.

I've recently started having goosebump sensations without the goosebumps down my "good" right leg, my affected left arm & up the left side of my face.

I already use a long handled brush & shovel and since the replies I've had on here from Leesa, my poor exhausted DH has hoovered up! He's spent today renovating our bathroom and there's a huge amount of work to be done.

Why have I started to tire so easily these last few weeks & early in the afternoon? We underwent a lot of stress whilst my mum was in hospital & we had my dad, who is mobile with minimal assistance, stay with us. They've both been home 2 weeks, so I should be recovered from that now.

thanks,
Tenderfoot x

Hi all, had a phone-call today telling me my pre-op appointment is this Friday. I go in on the 2nd January, op on the 3rd.

Getting a tad nervous now :eek:

Tender x

Tenderfot---I just wanted to wish you the best of luck !! Are you having acdf ? If so how many levels?