Hope someone can help me figure all this out. Four years ago, I suffered from a compression fracture due to osteoarthritis. I had back pain prior to this and had went through all the physical therapy, injections etc. Two years ago I had a kyphoplasty. At that time I was having midline and lower back pain, and numbness in left leg (L5 S1 bulging disc). Neurologist said I needed to lose weight, and if I got to the point that I couldn't stand the pain any longer or not able to walk, he would consider doing surgery on me. He considered me a "high risk" due to some other health problems I was having. The pain has become almost to the point of unbearable. So I decided I would get a second opinion.
SECOND OPINION:
He diagnosed me with a "cervical spinal cord injury". I was found to have hyperreflexia and unsteady heal to tandem walk. Severe decrease in pinprick sensation in bilateral upper and lower extremities globally. Strength 1/4 left patellar reflex and absent Achilles reflex bilaterally. Spasticity when checking for Hoffman's. And I am sitting there saying but I came for my back, and he said I needed an MRI immediately with possible emergency neck surgery. But my back hurts ??
MRI Results:
Mild straightening of normal cervical lordosis. Mild degenerative anterolisthesis of C7 over T1. Focal fat versus hemangioma at T2. C2-C3- Mild left paracentral broad-based disc osteophyte bulge abutting the central thecal sac.C5-C6- Degenerative disc disease with generalized desiccation changes and moderate circumferential disc bulging. There is diffuse disc
osteophytosis which is asymmetric in the right paracentral location.
There is resultant moderately severe to severe central stenosis with
central spinal canal caliber of approximately 7.5 mm. Severe left and
mild right foraminal narrowing. C6-C7- Mild circumferential disc bulging abutting the central thecal sac. C7-T1- Level of mild anterolisthesis and mild unroofing of the intervertebral disc. Mild endplate ridging. T3-T4- Mild diffuse disc osteophytosis abutting the central thecal sac. Multilevel Schmorl's nodes. Conus medullaris at the L2 level. At the L5-S1 level, moderate to severe loss of normal disc height with associated degenerative disc disease and endplate changes. Mild broad-based endplate spurring. L4-5 interspinous bursa. ( Baastrup's Disease possibly ?? ) anyone heard of it.
Needless to say I didn't need an emergency surgery on my neck but he did recommend a C5-6 ACDF, and a myelogram and CT which I had done last week. Have the CD but no report at this time. I am so confused at this point. I have intense lower back pain with left leg numbness, and midline back pain. I am not sure what role the neck is playing in my back pain. He will not do surgery on my back until I have my neck done. I can't tolerate the pain much longer in my back. Anyone have any advise for me, opinions greatly appreciated on MRI ?? Thanks in advance for your response.