Arthritis in the cervical vertebrae has caused the canal to swell shut, so that an MRI in that area shows no opening at all. Does anyone here have this problem? I have no feeling in the tips of my fingers or thumbs. My hands, shoulders, arms, and upper back are in pain, and sometimes shooting pains from when I do something ( like lift something) is awful.

Surgical solutions are iffy/scary. No meds help. Phys therapy only worsens--why was this prescribed????????

No PT options remain & I'm not open to surgery. Is there anything else?

Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your problem and pain. There are lots of people on this forum who have had spinal issues in the cervical area, including myself. May I ask why you are so opposed to surgery? I would think if your MRI is showing the spinal cord being completely crushed you may need surgery, although only a doctor can advise you of that of course. It's not that you absolutely need surgery, but you should at least explore the option of it to release the pressure off your spinal cord?

Have you met with a neurosurgeon? (I would try to see a neurosurgeon, not an orthopedic surgeon, they have more experience with the delicate cervical area). What discs are being affected?

If you don't get any relief from physiotherapy then you may need to find a new physiotherapist, some are better then others, and I went through a few before finding one that was good at dealing with my cervical issues. The first one I saw did make things worse. They are not all equal!!

Try icing your neck, biofreeze (which can be purchase from a chiropractor's office and physiotherapist) will sometimes offer a bit of pain relief, do not lift anything over 10lbs (yeah, I know, not much, but that's my restriction) and try to get in to see a specialist as soon as you can. A tens unit helps some people also, everything is a trial and error though.

I hope you find some answers to your problem.
Cathie

ThanksCathie. The ice has helped. I have not been able to get a referral to any surgeons with much experience at all. This is mynobjection to surgery. I don't want to be someone's learning lab. I think I'm probably better off now. At least I can use all my limbs.
I can't limit what I lift to ten pnds because of work. I have to be able to lift 25 pnds. If I lose my job I also won't have insurance. It gets involved fast.
But thank you.

justsad,

I asked about NSAIDs in the chronic pain forum, but I didn't see a reply. Since the problem is being caused by arthritis swelling the area shut, and arthritis is inflammation, doing anything you can to reduce inflammation may help some.

Not just NSAIDs - they're hard on the system longterm (I use one only as needed - a couple times a week). There are anti-inflammation diets; you might be amazed how something you eat can effect inflammation either way. Some people also swear by herbals/supplements. I've seen accupuncture mentioned, and am considering that myself.

Rheumatologists are the specialty that deals with arthritis. I've been to one, and he wasn't much help, but he had certain constraints that another might not have - don't know.

Anyhow, the topics I'd pursue (google/research) are arthtitis and inflammation.

Best wishes,

Doc

Sorry to hear of your issues. PT was attempted because some get better with it. Others are ****** off about it, like you.

As far as what else is out there for you, NSAID's are probably like trying to sink a battleship with a pea shooter for you at this point. It depends on whether your problem is due to central stenosis, lateral stenosis or a combination of the two. Generically speaking, either an intralaminar epidural, trans-foraminal epidural or both may be an idea if your MRI and doc advocate this, otherwise it's kind of like having a rock in your shoe.....sometimes you just have to stop and take the rock out (surgical decompression). I had a C5-C6 discectomy and fusion after everything else failed and it was the cat's meow!

I've tried everything but surgery butm its done nothing. nothing! So I don't see why the scariest is any more possibly going to help and not hurt me. And if it hurts me my life if over right?