Need feedback

I am a 44-year-old woman who had cord  and nerve root compression from c-4 thru c-7. I got two opinions and the second doctor said I didn't need surgery and to just do physical therapy and epidural injections. The other doctor said I needed surgery ASAP,. I was in a lot of pain and have fallen and had balance problems, arms, neck back pain, numbness and tingling etc. I went with the second doctor since he was more conservative. I ended up regretting it because he didn't schedule a follow up and I ended having to wait another three months to get into see him since the conservative therapy didn't work. It took three months to see him initally. So, it was six months from the time of the MRI diagnosis until I had the C-4 thru C-7 fused. I had been in pain etc. for a good while before that. Anyway, I am now six months post-op and I had some symtpoms return with my neck and arms and my doctor did another MRI, a nerve conduction study and a myelogram/CT. It showed that one of the replaced disks was sticking into my spinal area to cause stenosis, I have a large bone spur posteorly that is touching but not compressing my cord and nerve compression bilaterally on c-5 to c-6 to c-7. I have severe nerve compression on c-4 to c-5 nerve root on right. My surgeon said I didn't need surgery and has sent me for epidural injections for pain management. Of course, that's waht he said the first time when I did need surgery. He said the EMG showed my nerves were OK whatever that means. I was told before the surgery that one of the purposes was to open up the neural forimena and release the compressed nerves, and since they are fused under compressed, I am quite concerned about the long-term consequences of nerve damage. I am also wondering if pulling myself up with the steel triangle over my bed in the recovery room immediately following surgery (since the recovery nurse didn't know I wasn't suppose to and didn't help me much in regard to pain thus I was trying to lift myself up to remove pressure from my neck) would cause my cervical spine fusion to get off causing the nerve compression. I think it may have since I (later) learned I wasn't to lift anything heavier than a coffee cup for two weeks following surgery, nd I was VERY careful not to. My surgreon doesn't know I was lifting my self up in the recovery room and has denied me an appointment to discuss the condition of my cervical fusion.
In addition, I have a  herniated disc and severe nerve compression bilaterally at L5-S1n which the doc said I don't need surgery with either and to just do pain mangement. I have occasional fatigue and weakness in my legs and almost constant pain in my legs along with numbness and weakness in my right ankle, and pins/needles in my feet/ My right ankle is what fives when I fall. Last time I fell wasonly about three months after my fusion. It was after that I had my symptoms return. I am scared of falling again. It has always been when I'm going down steps. I am now seeking a second opinion on my fusion and lower back. I am also going to see a nuerologist.
I would very much appreciate feedback. I would like to know what the prognosis is for my nerve root compression and the symptoms in neck and lower back if it isn't relieved and anything else anyone thinks is relavent to my situation. I can't take anti-inflammatories since they cause me GI bleeding and have been taking narcotic pain meds. I hope this info. helps some of you. Feel free to ask questions. Thanks very much! JanIam


This discussion is related to prognosis for my herniated cervical disc.