cervical surgery

[con-fused]

I have been diagnosed with myelopathy and spondylitis in C4, 5 and 6...my symptoms are transient numbness in both hands upper body weakness and occasional pain in shoulder and elbow....i test normally for strength and my EMG was mostly good.

I have had consultations with several top neurosurgeons, they all agree that i need to be cut but disagree on the procedure...i have been advised that i shuold have only the first level done, a second doctor wants to do two sections with fusion, a third wants to do three levels with fusion, a fourth says that the other three are wrong and lamonectamy is the answer with no fusion.

i have spoken with Stenum hospital in Germay and they have also reviewed my film and inform me that i am a good candidate for ADR on all three levels.  Another surgeon here in the states disagrees with that approach stating that my spinal canal is too narrow and that i am not a good candidate for ADR.

I want to make a decision about this, and thought i could do so quickly...but i cannot get any two surgeons to agree ont the best procedure.

any feedback/guidance is much appreciated.

thank you

[billdorf]

I am sorry for your struggle and I won't be of any help as I too am just beginning this process. I have stenosis with osteophyte formations c3-7 and am in pain. I had an MRI and will see a NS on Thursday. So whatever he says I guess from what you have experienced  I should get 2nd and 3rd opinions???....how to find the "best" NS in my area.

Bill

[Strasse]

I, too, am faced with the decision of where and when to have surgery.  My consulting physician prefers that I have it as soon as possible.  I have extreme narrowing of the spinal sac at the c3-4 and at c 6-7.  He is amazed that I have so little pain.  I do have some weakening in my arms.  I have had two cervical surgeries before that were performed to stop extreme pain.  The decision was an easy one.  This one I consider the most extreme, the most dangerous, and without extreme pain it is definitely the most difficult.

I would like to know what procedures you have decided on and the location of the doctors who specialize in this particular problem.  I have seen both the x-rays and the MRI and there is no doubt that I am in need of surgery.