degenerative disc disease, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine

  First, your forum is a wonderful public service. Thank you. I have had most of my questions answered by your archives.
  I have severe degenerative disc disease resulting from MVA 10 years ago. T4,T6,and T7
  have compression fractures. MRI of the head and entire spine with gadolinium indicated that the majority of my vertebral discs are herniated in the cervical,thoracic and lumbar spine. Nerve impingement has been seen at C4-5 and T7-8, but I have symptoms of erratic nerve impingement of my spinal nerves resulting in a myriad of symptoms. I usually have to check "all of the above": numbness, tingling, hot and cold sensations, muscle cramping, burning, weakness, twitching, pins and needles, in my shoulders, both arms and legs, hands and feet; dull headaches, bowel and urinary changes. Additionally I have jaw and tongue involvement, word articulation difficulties, swallowing and choking problems,tinnitus,some dizziness and imbalance, and frequently drop things. On the positive side, I am a 50 yo pre-menopausal female in otherwise excellent health, under the care of a university affiliated neurologist; am involved in physical therapy, chiropractic, adhere to a regimen of stretching and routine work outs, am skilled in pain management techniques, and have a positive outlook. I take @ 800 mg of ibuprofen daily, 150 mg. of venlafaxine,4 mg of Zanaflex with good results. I am slightly overweight, smoke a few cigarettes a day and drink alcohol occasionally. Given the above  
  My questions are:
  1. What are the approximate chances for a normal life span, 1.e.@80 years ?
  2. What is the percentage (or general odds) for eventual paralysis or required used of a wheelchair?
  3. What else can I do to improve my health status and quality ? (yes, I am working on the weight and smoking constantly)
  4. Syringomyelia was not seen, but what are the odds of subsequent development?
  5. Does the tinnitus, jaw and tongue involvement necessarily indicate brainstem involvemnt?
  Thank you very much for your neurology forum.
  ANDI
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I will try to answer your questions briefly in the order given
1/2 - Your disc disease should not shorten your lifespan,nor should it cause you
    to require a wheelchair at any point, provided there are no new deveolpments or
    progression of the pronbblems.
    There is no particular reason to suppose that this will be the case.
3 - Continue the regular physical therapy and definitely stop smoking,
    this is probably the single most significant factor you mention in
    terms of life expectancy.
4 - From the information you give I see no reason that you should develop
    syrigomyelia any more than the rest of the population.
5 - Tinnitus, jaw and tongue involvement suggest problems at or above the brainstem level