degenerative discs of the cervical spine and osteophytes

[arpwf]

I have been diagnosed with degenerative disease of the cervical spine and osteophytes at c3/4, c4/5, c5/6 and c6/7. Can osteophytes be removed without having a fusion. I have severe neck pain with radiating pain down my shoulder and arm. I also have numbness and tinglging. I have failed converstive therapy and am now being referred to a neurosurgeon. Just curious as to what I might expect to hear from the neurosurgeon.

Thanks for any help

[sweetcowgirl1]

i have a mild anterior wedge compression in L1 and i have chronic pain also they have found that i have secondary osteoarthritic and now they are saying i starting to get sclerosis and i have ostearthritis and ostopenisa i am in a lot of pain all the time no one to touch me what should i do

[LLWB]

If you have undergone conservative treatment for 6 months or more with no relief, a neuro-surgeon referral is proper. Disc decompression surgery, with removal of the dis will probably be recommended. I don't know if 3 levals would be necessary. Osteophytes can be removed at the same time as the surgery, but surgery/fusion would probably be done at the same time to stabalize your cervical area. Good luck. Hope I'm wrong, but with the symptoms you describe, I would guess that surgery is in your future.