Advice on Cervical Myelomalacia

[Donlyn62]

I am a 68 year old male, and have had to date 30 surgeries, including 6 lumbar surgeries, and 2 cervical spine surgeries. My last surger was on 4 levels of my neck in February of 2008.

I also have Firbromyalgia, Meniere's Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, and sleep apnea.

I was just recently diagnosed with Cervical Myelomalacia, as well as problems once more in the lumbar/sacral area of the spine and a 50% tear in my left rotator cuff.

Very likely I will be needing another surgery or two, and I'm wondering if anyone has had surgery for Cervical Myelomalacia? My neck is much, much worse now than it was before my last surgery on it. It is quite common for me to be unable to turn my head, to have shooting pain all the way to my hand, usually on the left side, severe pain along my shoulder from neck shoulder joint, often horrific pain in my collar bone. Once again, mostly all on the left side, but not always.,

I live in rural Kansas, and my doctor is going to set me up with a neurologist and orthopedist in Kansas City next month.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who may have the same or similar problems.

Thanks

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine you I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

Cervical Myelomalacia is a pathological softening of the spinal cord at cervical region.  Therefore, your MRI findings is extremely important in order to explain reason of your symptoms here.  If you have recent increase in the symptoms then it appears that your pre-existing problem may be worsened.  If you are suffering from continuous symptoms in neck and arm please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away who will evaluate the further underlying disorders by clinically examine you that may be the main reasons of your symptoms and can provide you an appropriate treatment. Hope this information proves helpful to you. Take Care & Regards!!!

[venusct]

I had a C3-C7 laminectomy in March 2007 to decompress the cervical core. Before the surgery, my right arm sometimes experiences pain coming out from neck and shoot along the elbow to fingers. My right leg is spastic, does not have touch feeling of the trousers and packet, and does not have feeling for temperature change. I have also had some difficulty to breath. Sometimes it is difficult even to move one step as if the diaphragm is not moving to get oxygen in. I feel that the chest is tied up by a thin rubber band around the body.  I was lucky to do the surgery fast enough before the damage becomes permanent. After the surgery, these old symptoms decrease and does not bother me like before. But some new symptoms develop: fingers and part of head is numb. The doctor told me it would recover. It has been three years since then, the numbness in the fingers went away faster, but the head still feels numb even though it is better. I guess it will recover eventually. Just took a long while...My goal now is trying to keep me from doing another surgery. Since my C3-C7 has been fused in the surgery, the rotation and bending load of the neck of C3-C7 is taken over by both ending vertebrae. Therefore the ending vertebrae may deteriorate faster than normal and I guess that is the source of pain (just guess). To achieve that, I will avoid unnecessary bending of neck, or over bending of neck. I will try not to lift heavy load if possible. I will try to use foam matrix and pillow to relieve the pressure. I expect more discussion on the maintenance so that we can postpone the deterioration as much as possible. Hope you do well.