C1-C7 degeneration

Posted By  CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on May 22, 1999 at 11:53:08
Topic Area: Spine
  I am a 39 y/o female martial arts student, budget analyst, wife, mother, etc.
   I have suffered headaches for years and recently constant muscle spasms in my neck and back.
  X-ray showed all discs are degenerating, C6 and C7 the worst.
  The curvature of my cervical spine in totally "out of whack".
  I was in a car accident in 1981 which I believe may have began this condition.
  Can the entire cervical spine be fused? Would it be done in several surgeries over time?
  How much mobility will be lost?
  My physician is sending me to physical thereapy and I have a requst in to see a specialist.
  Should I continue with my martial arts training? (pain permitting)

[CCF Neuro[P] MD RPS]

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Dear Melinda:
Sorry to hear about your cervical disc problem.  Yes, it is possible that they could fuse your entire C spine, but it would be the last resort.  Besides seeing a specialist (neurosurgeon and neurologist) I would try and find out the etiology of the disc degeneration.  Trauma can have a profound impact on disc function but if all the discs in the cervical cord are degeneration, there may be something else going on.  I would look into your bone density, Calcium homostasis etc.  But the best advise I can give you is to see an expert in disc surgery, and an expert in the neurological aspects of the cervical spine to see how much damage is there and the etiology of the damage.  
As far as the martial arts, it would depend on how bad the disc degeneration is.  I think that someone that examines you would have the best insight on that question.
Good luck.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD