Spinal Surgery

[bp007]

In part follow results of a spinal MRI.  I am a strong, muscular, healthy 53 year old male that has always been athletic and a hard worker, and am also a law enforcement officer.


An MRI of my neck showed "C3-C4-a sizeable disc extrusion situated in the canal on the right extending to involve the neuroforamen.There is almost complete obliteration of the right neuroforamen.The left is normal and there isjust mild compromise of the cord as a result of the large disc extrusion.C4-C5- minimal foraminal degererative changes are noted with a slight degree of stenosis.C5-C6- A very large disc extrusion involving the canal extending to the left of midline with involvement of the neuroforamen.There is significant narrowing of the neuroforamen on the left.There may be a combination of disc extrusion and reactive degenerative change.This does, however, result in significant foraminal stenosis on the left.There is early degenerative stenosis of the foramen onthe right and mild compromise of the cord.At C6-C7 there is some posterior degenerative change, which protrudes into the canal posterior to the disc space.There is a focally significant disc extrusion in the left canal with minimal compromise of the neuroforamen on the left.There is early foraminal degenerative change.The canal is otherwise unremarkable.The cord is normal at each of these levels save for mild compromise due to the extruded discs."Ten years ago I started having severe pain upon lying down , and my doctor said I had fibromyalgia.I have taken pain killers since then at bedtime to sleep.I  started seeing chiropractors at my doctor's suggestion.Daily neck pain,headaches and nausea started last October, and continually got worse.I started getting surface numbness on the left side of my head,from my neck to the top of my head.Feels like spiders walking on my face.When I lay down to rest I have excruciating pain from my neck to my feet.Walking around and general activity only my neck and head hurt.Around last October I noticed profound hearing loss. Has anyone had similar symptoms or similar results from MRIs? If so, what was the treatment and what was the outcome of the treatments.  I have been told that I need surgery and have an appointment for July 8th with a Neurosurgeon.  I sleep very little, as the pain is worst when I try to rest by reclining or lying down.  Thanks for your response.

[bp007]

I forgot to add that a recent MRI shows the disc between C2 and C3 vertebrae also extruded and osteophyte complex causing left foramen stenosis.  The disc at C3-C4 is bulging and the is a right paracentral disc protrusion.  At C4-C5 is an asymmetric disc ostiophyte complex to the right causing mild narrowing of the right neural foramina.   C5-C7 is undiagnostic in the MRI due to susceptability artifact from the fusion done.  The left sided foraminal stenosis at the C2-C3 lever has potential impact on the left C3 nerve root.

[bp007]

I had surgery on June 22nd, 2011.  After the surgery in the recovery room the neurosurgeon told me that the spinal cord was pinched very badly at C5-C6-C7, worse than he had seen on the myelogram he had done, which he fused with a bone from my hip at my request instead of a cadaver bone.  The MRI first done by another neurologist had shown the cord pinched there, but the neurosurgeon said the myeologram was more accurate and showed the cord not compromised.  After the surgery I have worse pain throughout my body and electric shocks.  My right leg and foot are mostly numb and I have daily headaches at the base of my skull, and nausea.  I have since hired a law firm to fight for worker's comp and social security disability, which the county has been fighting , so another myelogram to find out what is causing the ongoing symptoms has yet to be done.  I am hoping to be able to get a second opinion from another neurosurgeon somewhere in upstate New York, as I believe my neurosurgeon isn't being honest about the problem.  I had been telling him and the doctors at the pain clinic for a year prior to the surgery that I was having electric shocks and my feet had been going numb, among other symptoms, but he kept having them try injections and physical therapy.  I now had my first visit back at the pain clinic post surgery.  That doctor is very up front with me about everything, and he says that my symptoms show that I have serious damage to my spinal cord.  If anyone knows a very good neurosurgeon near upstate New York or maybe even New Jersey I am open for suggestions.

[kay290]

Make sure you get several opinions also. I am a nurse and years of that did not help my situation either. Unfortunately, my symptoms did not start at work so I spent thousands of dollars last year on my health, loss of work ets. However, my neuro symptoms started after an Epidural.

[bp007]

Thanks for your response.  I'm scheduled to see a neurosurgeon this Thursday.  I have researched him, and he has a great reputation with excellent results.  It sounds like I definitely need surgery or the outcome will be bad with me, too.  I have very little degenerative changes, just seriously extruded discs.  I was told it would take a lot of force to cause the injuries I have, and it may have come from my job.  I was told it is rare to have these injuries in an otherwise healthy spine.  Thursday I'll have some answers, hopefully.  It has been a long haul getting to this point, and I'm looking forward to getting some relief. Thanks again.

[kay290]

Your symptoms have been long lasting and conservative measures are probably not going to work, so surgery is the next option. I had C5-6, C6-7 ACDF last October. Getting an excellant,experienced and meticulous surgeon is crucial and ask alot of questions. I am doing very well with mine. I had alot of neuro symptoms (Myelopathy) and had no choice since it could have progressed to walker, cane or wheelchair. Get several opinions.Good luck.