I wish it were not either of those things! Your spinal turned up normal? I also wonder if you can get an upright MRI, where you stand up. They may be able to get the back side of it better. Can they do another MRI with the hardware in? or CT? I did have another MRI after my first fusion,. Maybe ask about the upright to your doctor. How much pain are you in? ginnie

Fortunately pain is not a big problem-hpyer sensitive left arm with mild-mod left shoulder pain

-I do have left sided weakness and sensory problems (I use crutches and/or wheelchair), mild urinary and bladder issues, respiratory muscle weakness and swallowing issues, but they don't know whether this is caused by cord compression (b/c they can't see back there) or if I also have MS or MG

I'm thankful to still be highly functional (I work full-time) and am not epecting "them" to be able to fix anything--even if they saw something compressed back there, another surgery would risk paralysis

--they can call it what they want---I only get hyper when things are getting worse

I am really glad that pain isn't driving you crazy. What do you do for a living? I lost my function in my neck, so I had to quit, and I miss working very much! Keep going as long as possible, as sitting at home wishing you were working is worse! Are you trying to get a definate diagnosis for ms or mg? Why is it when we all get these disorders they come more than one at a time? sorry you have these conditions. It is good to know that you are pushing forward. My cousin has had MS for 20 years, and is still going good. Hope all goes well for you. ginnie

Thanks for all your help and encouragement. I have had the MRI and the herniated disc in my C5-6 is indenting the cord. I saw an orthopedic surgeon and he said I need a fusion. I am trying to get a referral to a neurosurgeon right now. It really scares me. I don't have any weakness yet. I just can't walk a lot, I have pain in my shoulders and arms, and th other nuero symptoms of muscle cramps, burning full body. They want to do surgery July 5th. I am only 35 and scared to death. My parents aren't too convinced. This is somewhat an invisible disease. I can get around but hurt inside. What do you guys think?

It is indeed a good idea to get another opinion from a neurosurgeon. You want to ask about the condition of the verterbre above and below the proposed fusion site OK? This is important, as any hardware you would have installed, puts strain on those above and below. My first fusion was C6-7. After 6 years however, this situation occured with me, and i didn't know the condition of the other verterbre, I didn't investigate it to begin with. I had to have additional surgery C3-7, as I had the domino effect more or less. I know you are scared. I have been like that too. In the end, after all was said and done, I am in a better place now. I am not 100%, but with a little help I get by OK and certainly have less pain than I did. I wish you all the best, and hope that you get the right physicians to help you. ginnie

For your diagnosis, I think you might need a laminectomy and a fusion. That is the first surgery I had. They operated from the front and back. I woke up in something similar to a ergonomic chair. Laying on my face kind of. They used donor bone and lifted the part that was pressing on my spinal cord.

I had pain from surgery but I knew the pain I had for more than 12 years was gone.

I wish you a successful surgery.

Please read my post called whiplash and other posts where I discuss trauma to back causing a long lasting PN flare. I have read all your threads and I remember that you posted a neurosurgeon had reviewed all your MRI's and checked your spine too and did not see any spinal problems that may have caused the PN. Though the discitis seemed to be quite likely. Do you have absolute proof of this compression?? There is a difference in language used. Such as abutting cord, indenting cord, flattening cord,touching cord, compressing cord. They can mean different things or even overlap.

I know by now you have fully investigated your scans etc. If you have cord compression, surgery may indeed be your best route. Please get that second opinion with a good neuro surgeon. I know you may be frightened. It always is when the back has to have surgery. It will be OK. I wish you all the best, and a quick recovery. ginnie