[Maria_81]

Hi, my partner has been told over the phone by his consultant that he's got tightening of the nerves, and spinal cord compression was written on his sick note for work. He's currently waiting for his appointment to come through from the neuro surgeons and is stressing so much that it's going to come to an operation, but as yet we still don't know really what the problem is or how bad.

He's had an MRI but other than the above have been told nothing. All he's been told is that his lower back has general wear and tear but it's nothing, rest of back is fine, it's in his neck the problem.

His symptoms are:

Tingling from waist down & on the left hand the outer two fingers.
Tiredness from doing hardly anything and has very low energy.
Over-sensitized from the waist down, sometimes it feels like burning or tingling or itching.

He doesn't know if he's imagining it, but says his neck feels like it's cracking.

He has no pain at all with any of this. He's 49 and usually does a manual job.

If anyone has had anything like this or could tell us what this could mean/how bad/if it would mean an operation etc. He's doing nothing but sitting here stressing about it all and getting down because he can't do the usual things that he does.

Thanks for reading.

[Maria_81]

He also feels like he has to really concentrate on leg movements or he feels like he'll fall over, wobbly legs and balance slight issues he feels.

[Jomar]

You should be able to request the written MRI report, it is handy to have it on hand , in case you decide to go for other options.

Usually the hands/arms are cervical spine related and waist down is lumbar related..
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/al...pictureid=5102

Has he tried any physical therapy? To see if it helps at all?
Or expert chiropractic?
Both of those should do an assessment before treatment..

[Maria_81]

Who would we request the MRI written report off please?

All he was told in a quick phone call with the consultant was that it was tightening of the nerves in the neck and his back is fine and on his sick note it states 'spinal cord compression' and the doctor said from looking at his notes it's looking like surgery, to which he's now working himself up into a right state, isn't wanting to eat properly, isn't getting much sleep with worrying, having the starts of panic attacks at night, is down and wanting to cry a lot, is feeling depressed with it all etc. He's thinking the worst on everything that this is it and he'll never be the same and is so scared about any operation or going into hospital, that if he does he might die or never walk again and feel nothing from the neck down for the rest of his life being paralyzed.

He's had no physical therapy or chiropractic treatment of any kind, all he's had is one GPs doctors visit, a visit to see a consultant (to which he told his symptoms, had the usual physical exam, he ordered blood tests which came back fine) then he had the MRI and the consultant told him the above over the phone and said he's referred him to the neuro surgeons and which point his panic went sky high and now he's imagining everything and stressing me out big time as well (I suffer with severe anxiety problems)

[Jomar]

If it was something very urgent or serious they probably would have got him in quickly, so this is just a consult to get the facts and then consider options.. a second opinion after the follow up appt is usually a good idea for peace of mind. Esp if surgery is suggested..

The doctor /office that requested the MRI , his office should have the written report and be able make a copy for you.
Or the place you got the MRI actually done at, like hospital or MRI center etc.

tightening of the nerves is not a medical term used in the USA that I know of , so not sure what that really means..

[Maria_81]

Thank you for your reply again.

We will see if we can get a copy of his MRI results.

The thing that his GP told him when he went was 'spinal cord compression' and we've googled it and it doesn't sound good?

So now he's stressing thinking the worst and that he could never be better and might end up paralyzed. He's scared to death of hospitals and operations as well.

[PamelaJune]

Hey googling things can be a great source of information, but it can also cause unnecessary fear when you are not in possession of all the facts. There are so many things that could be contributing and getting yourselves all agitated often only serves to increase symptoms. Contact the GP again and let them know your concerns. Are you in the UK? Images are kept by the NHS unless you have gone private. In Australia it's the same, you only get the images if you have gone private and more and more now they release the images but keep the report digital and you have to request it. I hope you both get some more info soon to help alleviate your fears.

Originally Posted by Maria_81

Thank you for your reply again.

We will see if we can get a copy of his MRI results.

The thing that his GP told him when he went was 'spinal cord compression' and we've googled it and it doesn't sound good?

So now he's stressing thinking the worst and that he could never be better and might end up paralyzed. He's scared to death of hospitals and operations as well.