Cervical Stenosis

[Lauren49]

My question.....am I running a risk of permanent nerve damage by putting off cervical surgery?

I have moderate to severe cervical and mild to moderate lumbar stenosis. C4-5 shows DDD, mild disc protrusion & mild spondylitic ridging causing mild canal stenosis. Hypertophic changes extend into the uncovertebral joint producing moderate right and moderate to severe left neural formaninal narrowing. At the C5-6 level - DDD, broad mild disc protudion producing mild canal narrowing, the disc disease and hypertrophic changes extend laterally producing moderate neural forminal narrowing bilaterally.
Other disc levels are involved but not to a significant extent. I always have neuropathy in my left leg, outside left arm, occasionally in both right extremeties and my face. Neck & tongue spasms can make it hard to talk on rare occassions.
My physical therapist says that I have 50% loss of function in my left leg and am running the risk of drop foot. Which of course could be from either the cervical or lumbar stenosis. He wants me to give up horseback riding. Is that really necessary?

I have an appt with a neurologist in 3 weeks but would like to go in to her with as much knowledge as possible.

[Jimrc]

I would appreciate learning how your C3-C7 laminoplasty of '07 is.  I'm 75,  had L2-L5 laminectomy Oct.'08.  I now show compression to 7mm at C5 plus serious compression in adjacent areas.  As you did, I'm trying to sort out best doctor and procedure.  My lumbar doctor doesn't do laminoplasty; a Dr. Santos at Univ. of Mn. orthopedic department recommends C4-C6 laminoplasty.  After reading many internet sources, I' m favoring laminoplasty.  I would appreciate learning who your cervical neurosurgeon is, where she practices, etc.  I live in Shoreview, Mn.
Jim

[Joface]

First of all, let me say that you are in good company, because everyone over age 50 (or close to it) suffers some spinal stenosis....it's just part of the aging process and of living life.....what makes the difference is how much of it you have and how it is affecting your daily life.  I'm just speaking as someone who has already gone through two spinal surgeries (a laminoplasy at C3 through C7) and a laminectomy at L5-S1.  I got 4 surgical opinions before proceeding because I didn't want to have surgery unless it was absolutely necessary....one of those opinions was at Mayo Clinic.

I think it is great that you want to find out as much as you can before your neurologist appointment - and likely, she will have some more tests conducted, if you haven't already had an EMG or nerve conduction study, which can pinpoint any nerve damage you have.  IF you have nerve damage, you need to understand that surgery will most probably not take that away...but it can prevent the damage from worsening over time.  If your leg is numb now, and is due to nerve compression, it may depend on how long the nerve compression has existed as to whether surgery will improve it.

Your neurologist would be a better person to suggest whether you need to give up horseback riding - your PT is probably concerned about the possibiity of an accident where you could fall off your horse and make your situation worse. Hope things go well for you!