Hi Jastek,

Do keep Posting updates, it is very altruistic of you to share your story for those who come after.

Personally, I have 3 cervical spinal cord compressions, referred pain originally in right upper arm, now spreading to forearm and to left arm. Right forearm, hand and first 2 fingers are pins-and-needles numb due to C6 nerve root compression. I have just been referred to a Neurosurgeon by my Neuro, but surgery is really off the table due to my heart.

I look forward to reading more of your recovery.

Dave.

Yes, I have had several second and third opinions. All confirm that I have C5 Palsy. It is a known complication of cervical decompression surgery.

Basically, spinal decompression surgery removes bone or discs in order to make the spinal canal larger. C5 Palsy is caused mainly as a result of the spinal cord drifting backwards into the newly expanded spinal canal. When it shifts backwards, the nerves running down to the arms get stretched and become injured. Nerves do not like to be stretched !! Some nerves just get injured and heal, but others get injured and die. Those that die have to regrow back down to the muscles and that takes a long time (about 1 inch per month or longer). It can also be caused by a pre-existing injury to the spinal cord (myelomalatia or myelopothy). This pre-existing injury, combined with the shifting of the spinal cord, causes the nerves in the arms to get injured. It can also be caused by foraminal narrowing. The opening where the nerve roots come off the spinal cord and go down to the arms gets narrow from degeneration or osteophites (bone growths). When this opening gets narrow, it compresses the nerves going to the arms and they can't move when the spinal cord shifts backwards. This causes them to get stretched and injured.

Doctors are supposed to assess patients and determine if there is a risk of C5 Palsy and advise patients about the risk. There are also some precautions that can be taken to minimize the risk, but my doctor did neither. I had Myelomalatia, foraminal narrowing and my spinal canal was expanded significantly, so the shifting was substantial. I was doomed before surgery even started.

As I said, there is not much info out there on this, so I thought I would at least give future C5 Palsy sufferers a place to see how it plays out. I know how frustrating it is to have this condition and no place to get good info. Most doctors are aware of the condition, but have limited info.

Most C5 Palsy Patients see improvement within 2 - 3 months and are at full recovery by 6 months. Unfortunately, there are some who get more severe cases (like me) and it takes much longer. Some never get better (only about 30%).

End of week 13 - No real change on the movement or strength of my right arm, but I now have a new symptom. When I bend my head forward, my left arm buzzes (like an electrical shock) and my right big toe buzzes also. My doctor says it might just be some swelling that puts pressure on my spinal cord or the nerve root. Wants to watch it for a week and see if it resolves. If not, will order an MRI of the neck. Hopefully, this goes away..... I can't take another complication.

I have a spinal cord stimulator that runs from C6 to top of C8. When I tip my head forward, it buzzes my foot. Just wanted you to know that you're not crazy.

Thanks for the reassurance that I'm not going bonkers. The buzzing has stopped, thankfully. Doctor thinks it was just caused by the nerve roots getting used to their new position after the decompression surgery.

Week 32 - I have seen some improvement in range of motion and strength. I can now raise my arm straight out in front of me (90 degrees). Biceps are still not coming back, but the nerves there are the furthest distance from the central cord, so it will take longer.

I had an EMG done and the doctor tells me that there is evidence of nerve growth. He also told me that he would have expected more regrowth than I have, but that I am only 7 months out and it could take another 6 - 8 months for me to reach maximum regrowth. He said that he has seen some patients drag along like this and suddenly have very quick growth. He has also seen some patients take a full 2 years to see maximum regrowth. Only time will tell.....I'm not giving up the hope that I will get back at least 80% function. I have no illusion that I will be 100%.

I have started working on a universal machine at home to strengthen the muscles around my deltoids and biceps (triceps, traps, romboids, pecs, etc.) in hopes that this will help regain overall strength. I met with a rehab specialist who said that this approach is much better than focusing only on deltoids and biceps. That should be common sense, but I never thought of it. I am still using the E-Stim 2 times per day (really getting sick of using that).

The pain in my arms is still there. Doctors keep telling me that it should go away at some point. I just with that time would come...

Week 37 - Range of motion in deltoids has improved. I can lift my arm in front of my body about 95 degrees (slightly more than straight out). My bicep has improved a little. I can curl about 1/2 pound once my arm is bent more than 20%. I still have no strength if my arm is straight down (I still don't understand that).

I had my follow up with neuro and he is telling me that the EMG shows injury at C5, C6, C7, and C8. He thinks this is Central Cord Syndrome (CCS), not C5 palsy. With this many levels of injury, he feels that it has to be CCS. My other doctor looked at the EMG and still says this is C5 palsy, not CCS. At this point, I don't care what it is, the treatment and recovery are about the same for me.

The pain is still there and my use of Gabapentin are the same. Neuro says that it may take a long time for it to go away, if at all. Yes, he says that the pain may never go away.

As long as I keep seeing improvement, I am not giving up hope that the pain and weakness will get back to at least 75%.

What an awesome gentleman! I had surgery 11-15-17 and 7 days after surgery the C5 palsy began. I loved your layman's version definition of C5 palsy. I have many years of medical background and though I understand, your version was excellent! I had posterior cervical fusion and laminectomy/mass fusion. I felt it very strange I was a star patient until 6 days into my hospital stay I was transported by a maniac for a final CT scan before being discharged on the 7th day. The woman who transported me was out to get me(We shall call her "Hellga" to give you a visual)! She purposely went over a huge dent/floor damage that I pointed out to here getting into the elevator and I howled in pain. I have never howled a day in my life! I was balling my eyes out. She denied she did any wrongdoing and made it I think in one piece to the CT scan. Would you believe me if I told you she took me over the same exact spot on the way back to my room and this time the pain was so intense that I cried out and began sobbing. I stood up and she told me to sit down. I told her that I would not allow her to hurt me a 3rd time, (I shouldn't have let it happen a second time but I gave Hellga the benefit of the doubt). Of course, I made sure that the hospital was aware of what had been done to me and told the doctor the next day as well. Before being discharged about 12 hours after my trauma, all the usual neurological testing was done as it had been several times a day since surgery. I got home and noticed that whenever I used my left arm I was lifting my shoulder but it wasn't until the following day, 8 days out from surgery, when being handed a cup that I was reaching for it but my arm was not cooperating. My son asked what I was doing and I said I was waiting for him to hand me the cup. He said he was and at that moment I told him my arm is out as far as it would go. He got a little upset and panicky wondering whats wrong with mom. I told him my arm was probably tired and I didn't think about again until I tried to pull my pants up and thought this is not normal. For the sake of saving time, I will say that I ended up going to the ER for an MRI. The Neurosurgeon on call thought I might have a blood clot pressing on a nerve or something. MRI normal but was told I got C5 palsy and the rest is history. My pain is more discomfort than pain at this point. I've started PT and am religious about my exercises. I want to improve as soon as I can, I will be a first-time grandma in April and am planning to help care for my new grandson, I will need two good arms. Your progress is inspiring and your attitude is awesome. Your wife must be very proud of you, you're such a hard worker! I will keep reading here about your progress and if I have any significant changes I might even post them. Thank you very much!

Buzzing sound or feeling?
I have the pins and needle feeling in my left arm...the entire arm, was worse when I laid down, it would wake me up...was suppose to get back sugery, but I knew I would not be able to get that enourmous back brace on by myself daily for 3mo....and I am afraid to go under the knife again....something is making have this feeling of not trusting the same surgeon again....

Ohio49 - The buzzing in your arm may be L'hermittes sign, but if you only have C5 palsy, it is probably something else. When your nerves start to grow back, they do some very strange things (like buzzing and twitching). Hopefully, that is what's causing your buzzing.

Have you had an EMG done by a neurologist lately? An EMG can determine if the nerves are regenerating. This growth will show up as something called "growth potentials". The neuro will be able to tell if the amount of regrowth could be the cause of the buzzing. They should also do a MRI to see if there are other issues like L'hermittes.

Are you using a nerve stimulator? It can also help with things like pain, buzzing and twitching.