[ber237]

I will, thanks. It's a bit of a relief to hear of a success story. My niece who is in her early 30's has just had a 3rd surgery on her neck just a couple of weeks ago. She thinks her nerve pain has been fixed this time. We will hope for the best...for all of us

[Leesa]

Hi Ber -- I'll TRY to help

C3-4 There's a broad disc bone spur that has bilateral "hooks." There is miinimal narrowing of the spinal canal, and mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis. The foramen are holes that the nerves pass thru to get to the spinal cord and yours are getting narrow.

C4-5 There are mild/moderate bone spurs that abut the spinal cord. There is mild front flattening of the cord and minimal narrowing of the spinal canal. There are bilateral "hooking" bone spurs and degenerative changes of the facets (probably arthritis in the facet joints) with mild to moderate neural foraminal narrowing. (see above)

C5-6 There is loss of intervertebral disc height - this happens with age and gravity. The discs become dry and that makes them flatten. When the discs flatten the vertebra begin to "sink" and we become shorter! In 28 years, I've lost 4 1/2 inches. You also have degenerative changes in the endplates. The endplate is the axon of a motor neuron that contacts with a muscle fiber. Plus you have a large rear disc bone spur with hooking and degenerative changes of the facets. I should have mentioned that the facets are the "wing-like" structures on each side of the spinal cord that you can see and feel if you hunch your back -- they "stick out" on each side. There is moderate to SEVERE stenosis of the spinal canal! There is moderate to SEVERE foraminal stenosis! (see above)

C6-7 There is a broad bone spur resulting in front flattening of the spinal cord, and mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis. There are hooking bone spurs with moderate neural foraminal stenosis. (see above)

C7-T1 There is a broad rear disc herniation with right hooking bone spurs. There is moderate right neural foraminal stenosis.

Plus you have retrolisthesis, where discs are slipping over other discs, i.e. C5 over C6 and C6 over C7.

You have a change in the curvature of your neck, which is what lordosis is. That happens due to pain and muscle spasms.

I'm particularly concerned about the C5-6 level due to the severe stenosis.

I hope you will take your MRI films and get an opinion from a Neurosurgeon and see what he says. Then after you hear what he has to say, get at LEAST 2 MORE OPINIONS. Surgery should be a last resort, after all else fails. Don't ever take just one doctors' opinion. You must have other opinions too. I would HOPE that physical therapy would be the answer, as surgery usually just means more surgery in the future. I wish you ALL the best, and i hope you'll let us know what the Neurosurgeon says, God bless and please take care. And if you have any more questions, please let us know, ok? Hugs, Lee

[ber237]

Thanks for your explanation, Lee. It doesn't sound so good, does it? I've had several rounds of physical therapy, but my copay is $25.00 and that adds up at 2 to 3 times per week. I actually still do the exercises they gave me; but they also put me on the traction table for 20 minutes at the end of each visit. That felt really good and the feeling came back to my fingers a little while I was on it. But within 5 minutes of getting up from it, the "jolts" came back. It's the same thing every morning, as soon as I get up and the weight of my head hits my spinal column, the jolts & zings start. I've only lost 2" in height, one of those within the last year alone. I thought that was bad until I read your post. I have to agree with you about the surgery and putting it off as long as possible. But I can't keep taking Prednisone. That stuff is wicked. And I can't work with this pain. I've dealt with muscle spasms in my neck and upper back for most of my life; but this nerve pain is a totally different animal. Also, I'm concerned about the moderate to SEVERE stenosis. I have my first consultation with a neurosurgeon on Monday. I will keep you posted. And let me say how nice it is to have you all to talk to about this. Have a great weekend all!