Cervical Spine Problem

Dr Chahine,
Last December, i started experiencing pain, numbness and tingling in my left arm, hand, and fingers, and problems with my walking (gait) and balance on the left side.   I had an ACDF surgery at C4-5 level in February, but now 3 months later, my symptoms have not subsided. MRI's revealed i had spinal stenosis and sever compression of C spine at C4-5; mild compression at C5-6 with a focal right paracentral disc protrusion and osseous ridging which leads o effacement of the left side of the fecal sac, and mild lef-sided cord impingement; and, evidence of focal myelomalacia within the cervical cord at the C5 level; and, at C6-7, significant disc degeneration and focal left posterolateral disc extrusion with marked effacement of the left side of the thecal sac, and mild left sided-cord impingement.

My surgeons had recommended i address only the C4-5 level first, expressing concern that a 3-level ACDF would present long-term risk to the stability to my neck.  They did acknowledge that there was a risk the surgery would not solve the symptoms, although it was critical for me to have it to stabalize my C spine at that level.  They also stated that if the symptoms did not dissapear, we might consider another surgery to address the C6-7 level, which might be the cause of the symptoms.  Now my doctor has said he might recommend a C-lamanectomy at C5-6-7, vs, another fusion.  My question is....do you think the symptoms i am describing are likely coming from the C6-7 level, and now that it has been over 1 year since i likely injured myself playing sports (though i did not realize it at the time), does this reduce my chances of recovering the loss of function i have experienced in my hand and fingers?

Thank you for taking the time to review my case.

Sincerely - MAS

[Nassim Abi Chahine, MD]

Your symptoms have been described by you even before the ACDF, so the cause of your symptoms still present and unchanged. It ill be better to compare the cervical canal diameter pre and post surgery to study the effectiveness of your ACDF.

I dont think personally that a sport injury is the cause of your three level cervical stenosis, the process is more complicated, in surgical management good decompression is surely helpful and should improve your symptoms.