I am new and would like some insight. I have had increasing symptoms over last couple of yrs., like head, neck, shoulder, arm pain that last a day or two, to a week or two. I have had a few MRI's that basically say: osteophytes C2-3 thru C6-7, C4-5 moderate disc osteophyte worse on right with broad based disc protrusion, canal measures 9mm, also moderate left and severe right forminal narrowing. C5-6 disc osteophyte and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy again canal 9mm resulting in severe bilateral forminal narrowing. C6-7 minor osteophyte, no canal stenosis, but moderate to severe bilateral forminal narrowing. Small hemangioma present C7. My disc height was low on 2nd MRI and normal on 3rd???... I've tried therapy and epidurals of depo-medrol twice, and condition is still slowly worsening. Neuro-surgen not willing to treat. I asked my personal care physician to refer me to an orthopedic surgen for 2nd opinion. She got angry and told me to find me a new personal care physician. She was an M.D., now I'm seeing a D.O. soon. I have medicaid and fear my options may be limited if I need or want surgery. I'm so tired of meds... Thank You for any advice or insight you may have out there....

[Welcome to Neuro Talk. I want you to know there is still help out there, if you truely think you need to go the surgical route. You need another neruo-surgeon, and maybe a pain specialist. I have the exact same condition you do. I have degenerative disk and joint disease. I have been fused twice, once at C-6-7, which failed, and further fusion fall of 2010, re-do C6-7 and was fused C3-7. In my case there was no choice at all. My pain specialist couldn't control my pain, and he is the one who found the best neuro surgeon in my area, Dr. Boyer. I live in Bradenton fla. south of tampa bay. I have no regrets about doing the second fusion, however at the time I was not real happy about it, more like terrrified. My pain specialist did give me katemine infusions, which helped for several months. I do understand what you are going through. I did not get perfect results, but my arms don't hurt and I am on a low dose of pain killers. If you are in that kind of horrible pain, don't stop seeking help. Did your last ortho give you a reason to why he didn't want to do the surgery? What has been said to you so far about the pro's and con's? I am here to talk treecat. Let me know a little more about what the doctors are saying to you. I also had a DO, who treated for pain, but didn't address my deterioration until I found another physician myself. I needed more help and went for it. ginnie

I have seen the neuro-surgen in my area who said he has not seen or delt with condition and was not willing to treat. I'm currently transitioning from an M.D. personal physician to a D.O., pending medicaid approval. I hope to get a referal to an orthopedic surgen for second opinion, seeing they deal with bone instead of nerve issues. I've have seen about three neurologists since and was refered to a neuro-musculer who siad, "you obviously have something puting pressure on the nerves in your neck", then was sent back to the neurologist who stated we can"t help you. Fustrated, I went back to my M.D. and shared the info. She said I did what I could do, your last looks unremarkable to me. I siad," but it says the word severe in several different areas". Then I asked about a referal to an orthopedic instead of the same neuro-surgen. She immeadiatly got angry and told me to find a new doctor. All I know is I have not driven or worked in over two yrs, around the house chores are limited. I cannot believe the run around some get with this condition. I'll still press on, and wish everyone well.

Hello treecat,
What you are experiencing is called the medical merry-go-round. It is an awful ride that nobody likes being on. Yet it does happen. I left a doctor myself, as I didn't get what I needed, information.... Keep going forward and find that doctor who you are comfortable with, and will take all your back issues serioiusly. Nobody can make decisions like that with different doctors telling you different things, and then one says I can't help you. I wish they knew how that felt! You will find a doctor who has all the knowledge and compassion you need if you just keep going. I did seek out several before I had my spinal fusion. Good luck to you, and know that you are not alone in this kind of thing. I hope the ride stops, and that you get the help you need. ginnie

Hi ~ Most of what you have are bone spurs, which can cause pain. You also have a disc bulge, which depending on what it's pressing on, may or may not cause pain. The worst thing is the foramenal narrowing, and I'm not sure what they do for that. The foramen is the hole that the nerves pass thru from the spinal cord. If the Neurosurgeons said they can't treat you, then perhaps there's no surgical "fix" to it -- I really don't know.

I'm glad you're getting an opinion from an Ortho-surgeon. HOWEVER -- you should exhaust EVERY conservative option before undergoing surgery!!! You are never the same after surgery, and many times you're worse! Surgery will NOT fix pain issues -- sometimes the pain will be worse after surgery. Surgery ONLY fixes mechanical problems. So after your Ortho visit, you might want to see a pain management doctor if your insurance covers it, and see if your pain and other issues can be controlled.

I wish you the very best. Let us know what happens. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee