Potential Problem in Cervical Cord

[CspineMess]

I am a 37-year-old female.  18 months ago, in June 2007, I had an anterior discectomy and decompression with fusion at C5-C6 and C6-C7.  I had severe pain from cervical radiculopathy, but also had a myelopathic gait and other neurological symptoms.  The surgeon performed the surgery exactly 7 days after my initial consult with him.  He said that he had to do the surgery regardless of whether or not it provided pain relief in order to stop the neurological symptoms or else I might lose my ability to walk.  Lately, I have been having severe headaches in the back of my skull, behind my right ear.  I have also had frequent nausea and vomiting.  On Nov 4th  I had an exam and the doctor said I have hyperreflexivity in my lower extremities, clonus, and a lesion at C5-C6 and C6-C7 possible related to my fusion.  My right arm is very weak and painful and my ring and pinky fingers are frequently numb.  He also said my ulnar nerve is damaged.  The doctor wrote he is "really worried" that I am myelopathic in my cervical cord again.  He proposed a C2 RF nerve block for the headaches and recommended a neurological exam right away and a radiology review of my MRI (6 months old).  I move very slowy, have balance issues, and require assistance from my husband.  I am very concerned and afraid.  I have a 7-year-old daughter who has already survived cancer and I cannot even do normal activities with her.  Does the recurrence of myelopathy so quickly indicate a disease process that is going to continue or is there a high probability that they can fix it and I will not have future problems?  What does my future look like?  I've read that the neurological symptoms are often irreversible.  My symptoms have been rapidly worsening over the past few weeks, and I am now having nerve spasms.  Should I be scheduling a surgical consult right away?  What other signs signify myelopathy?  What questions should I ask the neurologist this week?

[CspineMess]

Thanks for your comments, understanding, and encouragement.  I'm sorry that you have had to experience so much pain.  I am glad that the pain meds are working well for you.  

I also am on numerous medications for 3 years now, which the doctors keep increasing and changing, but they don't eliminate all my pain and they make me very drowsy.  I'm having a lot of gastrointestinal upset from them.  I take a zantac twice a day to try to help with this.  My neurological symptoms have been rapidly progressing over the past 3 months and are the most worrisome sign.  I'm afraid I'm going to end up in a wheelchair and possible lose all the function in my right arm.  I am having panic attacks from not being able to move.  I am seeing neurologist this week and I believe he is going to do nerve conduction studies or and EMG.

[moonmaiden]

You sound a lot like me.  I had anterior surgery C2-C6.  C7 has a buldging disk.  I recently got an MRI and they said that I have developed C-spine Spondylosis and that the canal is narrowed.  I had pain at the bottom of my skull every day until recently.  I've been seeing a Neurologist for 8 years, 4 times a year, and am taking pain medicines along with NSAIDS for inflammation.  For me, that combination took away that nagging and pulsating pain at the bottom of my brain and also has helped a little with chronic migraine.  I have numbness in my hands and joint pain, but as I said, the pain medicatons etc...help with it.  I have delayed nerve function.

Keep on telling your doctor what is bothering you and hopefully he/she will come up with a remedy.

Best Wishes