Newly diagnosed
 

Hi everyone, I am new to this site. I was just diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis a week ago. For the last nine years, I have been told most of my symptoms are due to fibromyalgia.. and herniations and DDD in lower back. I changed insurances, ended up with a doc who does not believe in fibro, he started ordering tests... first MRI was of my neck.

I don't know all the technical stuff, I need to get a copy of my MRI report, but doc said I have four herniations in cervical area, three of which are herniating into the spinal column causing moderate to severe narrowing. Imagine my surprise at that!

I am 38 years old with five children.. four still at home, and going to be a grandma early next year. One of my children is a 2 year old. I can NOT have surgery, there is no way at this time, too many people depend on me for me to be "down" for any length of time.

Are there any other suggestions of where to start with non surgical treatment? Doc is referring me to neurosurgeon, but haven't heard anything yet.
Thanks for reading!

I'd like to see the MRI report if you can get it. But actually you'd be better off to go to physical therapy -- especially pool therapy. If you can get your doc to refer you, do so. DO NOT GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR unless you want to be paralyzed!!!!

Physical therapy can possibly relieve alot of your pain if you keep with it. Alot of the exercises can be done at home too. But if they have a pool that could help too.

Surgery is only for mechanical problems. It is not for pain relief. Most of the time you're left with the same pain or worse. And the levels above and below the surgical site usually fail because they have to take on more of the load, so you end up having to have more surgery.

Studies have shown that people who have surgery have the same results as people who had only physical therapy!!!

So try every conservative thing you can before opting for surgery. Go to a pain management doctor -- they can help relieve pain too, with other procedures that are not surgical. I wish you the very best! Let us know what the MRI report says, ok? God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee :)

Thank you for the reply. I have to admit that I actually went to the chiropractor a week before I had the MRI, I am getting somewhat desperate and decided I should try it. I have had good positive outcomes from prior chiropractic care. After my doc read me the report, I almost fainted thinking about that visit... and thanking my lucky stars that I was still walking.

I won't have surgery to reduce my pain level. The only way I will consider surgery is if I start losing function. I will definately try getting a referral to physical therapy..sounds like a good starting spot.

In your opinion, being told I had moderate cervical stenosis, is there anything that I should NOT be doing? I stay pretty active.. hauling laundry and kids up and down stairs, push mowing grass, hiking...etc. I'm not so much worried about causing myself pain, I've lived with it so long I would feel weird if all my pain suddenly went away... I'm more concerned with how much damage can this condition do??
Thanks again!
Sarah

Hi Sarah, Welcome.

Many of us here (self included) have similar problems (messed up cervical spine with stenosis). While one can't argue with that (because of the imaging) I'm not sure you have the right doctor if he dismisses/ doesn't believe in fibro, but that depends more on how you feel about that (his disbelief in fibro and being the right doctor for you).

I'll second Leesa's comments.
Google: failed back syndrome

It's difficult to say what you should or should not be doing (even with imaging reports) -- we're not doctors here, and even the doctors may disagree on that. Personally, I've tried traction (part of physical therapy) and it helps from time to time (I bought a home unit) but it doesn't help everyone. I stay as active as I can (other medical issues as well) but I've stopped putting any direct stress/strain on my neck (neck straps, weight supported on head, kids hanging on me with arms around neck, etc.) The wrong kind of stress there could exacerbate things and make surgery no longer an option.

Some natural healing can and may occur if further damage can be avoided. I've had some natural healing and some further deterioration (I'm a bit older than you) but I've managed to hold the surgeons off (mine actually advised against surgery in my case for reasons stated in Leesa's answer) and by following the advice above, and continuing different PT exercises and massage therapy, reduced much of the pain and accompanying headaches.

As no two patients (nor their necks) are the same, no two paths or results are likely to be the same either. We each must find what works best for us. This isn't going to go away; we'll be dealing with it for life. There's no fault or anything you've done to bring it on. Much of it is genetic, some environmental, and some life experiences. DDD is the result of osteoarthritis, so taking care of yourself in that respect may help retard the progression of the DDD.

Doc