Sent you a PM

Any Chiro that says they can "fix" you is not one I would go and see. They can "help" alleviate pain and adjustments can help with realignment and which assists in postural imbalance that will only further cause pain but they cannot "fix" degenerative changes in the spine, ruptured discs, nerve compression from bone spurs. Consider a chiropractor like a toothbrush is for your teeth they assist you in preventing decay. A good Chiro will tell you this and work with you to improve the function of your spine. Sorry to ramble.

Injections, PT, Chiro and lifestyle changes are the first line of defense in alleviating pain and avoiding surgery. Unfortunately once the nerve pain travels down the arm those nerves are essentially setting of an alarm to warm you that something is really wrong and if left that way it can become permanent or worse both in pain and function. When the formainal opening is closed enough for the MRI report to note "severe" that means it is unlikely that much will help long term. Sure, an injection will help and might even give you an extra 6 months to a year but because it is bone that is closing off that hole until that is corrected through surgery, things will not improve for the long term. Personally I would not get a fusion at your age. I would seriously consider, and highly recommend, the foraminotomy which will NOT stress or cause deterioration to your lower levels like with the fusion.

Just my opinion. I would also highly recommend seeing more than one Neurosurgeon for an opinion.

I do wish you the best,
Tessa

Thanks both of you Just got back from seeing the neuro surgeon and he he said that he does recommend surgery. He said fusion is an option, but at my age he wasn't too keen on the idea since he might end up having to fuse in two places. The surgery that he did recommend was disectonmy (sp?) in which he goes in and removes part of the disc which is causing the problem. Tessa, I did mention foraminotomy and he said that is actually part of the procedure.

Does that make sense?

Cheers

Make sure you go for another opinion. When ever your MRI says severe, and there is cord impingement, the doctors do take that second look to see if you can be helped surgically. Please try all known therapies before you choose to do surgery. The surgery can be of benefit. In my non medical opinion, both the vertebra that show damage should be addressed at one time
Sometimes when hardware is used, the weakened vertebra above and below the site are at risk. This is something to watch out for and ask your doctor about. I had C6-7 done, and actually didn't know the ones above were also damaged. I didn't ask or get that second opinion. I wound up 5 years later fused C3-7, called the domino effect. My last surgery did work.
Let me know if you can how it goes for you. I also understand about being afraid. It is traumatic to go through the surgery. NT will support you in any decision you make. I came here for the same reason. Those that had the fusions before me, helped to ease my way through the process. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Thanks Ginnie He did mention that he wanted to do a partial discectomy. He suggested that was a bit different than the fusion since b/c of my age he didn't want to go down the fusion route. Does that sound right?

Thanks!

Yes, that does make sense and that was also part of my surgery. The nerve pain however down your arms is coming from that opening and that (the foraminotomy) will alleviate much of your pain.

Though I respect Ginnies opinion a great deal, I disagree with the statement taht if the MRI report says "severe" there is cord impingement. In this particular usage (on your MRI) they are specifically speaking to the opening of the foramin where the nerves come thru and it is "severe" in that the nerves are being compressed due to the severity of that opening being blocked off by either bone or disc material. Foraminal stenosis is the closing off of that opening vs. 'spinal stenosis' which is the reduced area or compression in the spinal canal - two completely different areas of anatomy. I do of course agree with another opinion although it sounds like this NS is a good one since he isn't recommending fusion like so many do. Good for you! It is my humble opinion based on my own experience and discussion with many doctors that at that degree of compromise that surgery and a lifetime of continued therapy and preventative protection and conditioning that it is your only chance of recovery long term. Eat well, stay hydrated, exercise daily and stay positive

Best wishes,
Tessa

Thanks Tessa I think I have pretty much made up my mind to do the partial discectomy surgery. Honestly, a couple of weeks back I didn't think it would come to this, but the NS has some good recommendations from a PT that we know (that's good right, since the PT probably works with some of his patients following surgery!). Mentally it is tough, but fixating on things is probably not helping me and maybe I need to think more along the lines of this actually being something that will help it get better

One question I forgot to ask him is about the weakness in the left arm. I had little to none resistance against one exercise he did with my bicep. Is that because of the nerve impingement or is it because my arm is weaker since I haven't been using it at all? I wonder if that might get better by itself in time?

Thanks.

Hi guys,

One other thing..I read about a procedure Peyton Manning had:

http://www.dailypress.com/news/crime...1813523.column

It says he had a "anterior cervical discectomy and fusion". Now, one thing it also says is he had a:

"bone graft goes in the disc space and a small plate acts as a cast to let it heal."

"Essentially the two bones that are treated, the disc between those two bones will be connected with a bone bridge as the fusion progresses over three months or so."

The NS I saw this morning didn't mention anything about a bone graft. I had the impression once the problematic disc is removed it is just left like that?

Any advice? I was starting to feel ok about the surgery and now I read this I am starting to worry again that mine will be missing something.

Thanks

Hi, Just get that second opinion to confirm the DX and proposed surgery. This is just to give you peace of mind that the procedure is right for you. Ask all the questions you can of your surgeon. Things will turn out OK. ginnie

Ooops big mistake. In reading Ginnie's response from earlier- I misread!! I apologize. Ginnie, I am sorry!! She is right in pointing out that you also had Mild Central Stenosis but since no cord impingement is noted along with that, it is mentioned mostly for baseline information and not something they will likely address especially without actual noting of cord involvement. Again Ginnie I am sorry I didn't take more time to read properly.

She is also right about getting another opinion - personally I would not have surgery (especially on the spine) without at least 3 concurring opinions and treatment recommendations.