Depressed

[gypcwmn]

Ms and spinal stenosis. This cannot be good.

[Phyllis2010]

It sounds as if you're on the right track for severe cervical stenosis. That's exactly what they told my neighbor who had severe spinal stenosis. She did have surgery her mistake was that she was operated on by an orthopedist not a neurosurgeon. It's good to hear you'll be seeing a neurosurgeon -- he/she can advice you.

Good luck and keep us posted...Phyllis

[gypcwmn]

I have severe cervical stenosis, neurologist suggested i see a neurosurgeon,

strange thing is my daughter was diagnosed with severe cervical stenosis the month before i was.

I am 50yr she is only 30 yrs old. She has more sx than me her arms and hands keep going numb.

The neurologist said it will progress to where i would have no choice but to have surgery.

[Phyllis2010]

I have moderate lumbar spinal stenosis in two areas, mild cervical spinal stenosis in one area, multilevel degenerative disk disease (4 herniations, 3 bulges) of the lumbar spine, a compressed nerve at L5/S1 which caused severe damage to the tibialis anterior muscle, and osteoporosis of the lumbar spine (t-score=4.2). The MRI of the cervical spine was performed based on the advice of Dr Quix and revealed no lesions. At this point, the Neuro at NYU feels I do not have MS but rather a collection of mimics. I preface my answer to your questions with this because at this point I have 40 years experience dealing with my back problems. So, here it goes.

I've been advised by my neuro not to have surgery (or to only have it as a last resort) and then with a neurosurgeon (spinal specialist) not an orthopedist. The outcomes with surgery are highly variable (on a bell curve really) and I feel it should only be done if absolutely necessary due to refractory chronic pain or persistent disability. I've had physical therapy and balance therapy and they've helped immensely. Non-surgical approaches to back problems require patience and diligence but the outcome seems the same as that with surgery, particularly for stenosis and degenerative disk disease. You have not mentioned whether your stenosis is mild, moderate or severe. Is it lumbar or cervical? What is your level of pain and/or disability? Is it progressive?

Also, should you need surgery I'd advice going with a neurosurgeon as opposed to an orthopedist. You might want to visit the Back Forum on Med Help to see the experience others have had with and without surgery.

[Quixotic1]

Oh, shoot!  That is totally unfair.

The cervical stenosis will only do damage in so far as the bony narrowing of the spinal canal presses in on the cervical spine.  Very little pressure = fewer symptoms.

I am not in the exact position as you, but my mother lives with me and she suffered severe, cervical stenosis in the mid-90's - she had ignored symptoms for over a decade.  She and I laugh because our symptoms are so similar sometimes.  She has numbness in both legs to her mid thigh, and walks through sheer muscle memory.  She has pain and clumsiness in her hands, and has mild urinary incontinence.  If she had allowed them to do an MRI earlier, she would have had less damage.  On the MRI her cervical spine was pressed into a thin crescent shape.  She had surgery to remove the bone spur about 15 years ago.  And her spine was reinforced with a plate.  She is 87 and now has lumbar stenosis.  She is still ambulatory with a walker, but falls easily.

It will be hard to distinguish CS from MS symptoms, but the CS will not fluccuate like the MS can.  I would think that surgery should be able to stop further compromise of the spinal cord.

I'm sorry you have both.  What is the neurosurgeon saying?

Quix

[Audrey_M]

What type of MS were you diagnosed with?

My guess is that with cord damage from spinal stenosis, along with MS, it will be hard to determine what is a flair and is really causing your sx, making it harder for doctors to come up with appropriate treatment. I can understand your concern.

I've had neuro sx for 10 years now. Abnormal brain MRI, but neuro at this point does not think its MS. She does say that I have spinal stenosis in the C spine, which may be the cause of some, but not all my sx. I know from years ago that I also have problems in the lumbar spine, but don't know the status of that right now.

Where is/are the problem(s) in your spine? Are they recommending surgery?

Anybody else here in the same boat with some word of wisdom from experience?

Hope others chime in to give you some peace of mind and helpful guidance.