[jeffntate]

Anyone ever get the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy?

I've been diagnosed for having ankylosing spondylitis for 30 years, then stenosis and spondylosis, and am having signs of both cervical radiculopathy and CMS.

I get shooting electrical shock pains traveling from my jaw bone to my thumb, I get muscle twitches (moving enough to see) in my forearms, triceps, and pects, and numbness from time to time (less often).

As for CMS, I recently had a PT isometric test that showed my right arm weaker than my left by 20-61% in 4 of 5 tests (1 of 5 was normal - right was 10% stronger than left, and I'm right handed). I also have Huffmann sign, and my right arm aches. MRIs show bilateral foraminal stenosis and central stenosis at C4/C5 and C5/C6. All the rest of my spine is fused from arthritis (AS).

If that ain't enough, I also have osteoporosis and take Vitamin D, calcium, and have taken Forteo injections for 2 years. So I wonder if they can even do surgery on me.

I take an anti-TNF medication, Remicade, which apparently stopped my auto-fusion but left C4-C6 to wear out, and now I apparently have osteophytes pinching nerves.

Frankly, I'm scared to death.