Help with MRI

Meeting with surgeon on Wednesday. Would like to wait on surgery till July. I am 50 and very active. Symptoms are in left side, shoulder pain, tingling in left hand and arm. Also right leg numbness when standing for 15 minutes or longer.

This has been off and on for 2 years. Regular doctor said after looking at both MRI, one in 2015 and one in Jan of 2017, that this is progressing.

This is what the impression of newest MRI says.

1. Progression of the left posterior disc osteophyte at ç5-c6 with severe left lateral recess stenosis and left neural foraminal stenosis. There is indentation of the left aspect of the cervical cord at this level but no underlying signal abnormality. Osteophyte measures 10x7x13 mm.

2. Otherwise, some progression of moderate neuroforminal stenosis at the remaining levels due to facet disease.

Surgery scheduled for Feb 7. However, symptoms seem to be getting better now. I would like to wait till July but surgeon says that is a long time. He did tests on my arm and left arm is noticeably weaker than right. 2cm smaller at bicep.

Could this get worse or can I wait till July?

Thanks for responding. Really am having questions if I should do this. I actually slept on my side last night for first time in a month. Not my sore left shoulder but my right side. I haven't been able to do that either do to making my left shoulder hurt. I haven't had to take a ibuprofen for 36 hours.

I know I'm grasping at straws here. When we meet with surgeon this Wednesday, I want to do the strength test again. That just floored me when he did that. I played college football and grew up in a farm and strength is still pretty important to me and to see that difference. Wow!

Thanks for stressing the paragraph one. I will bring that up. Any more advice is welcome

Met with him. Looked at MRI with him again. Cord is really pinched at c5-c6. I did some research on chiro visits..2 in fall of 2013; 8 in 2015; 15 to.pt in 2016. Neck has always started feeling better in spring but bad periods are getting longer. Surgeon explained risks of waiting. I have talked to several people around here and all has positive experiences. I'm going forward with this on Feb 7. Any other help would be appreciated

Pioneer, very glad to read you spoke with your dr about the cord being involved. That was a concern when reading what you posted.

If you will look in CP101 at the top & scroll down towards the end you will find a post made by members here that has had surgery. They have given their input on things that has helped them prepare for surgery & after surgery.

Many of them recommended having a recliner to sleep in at first or an adjustable bed. Trying to lay down in a bed at first was too painful. If you don't have one, try borrowing one for a bit. Ice packs seem to be a good friend too.

Another thing I will bring to your attention is once you are home take your medications on a schedule for several days. Your surgeon will rx pain medication for a short time. Take the pain meds, this will not be the time to try & tough things out, it will back fire on you. You need to stay on top of the pain, do not let it escalate out of control. Becoming addicted to the pain meds is not anything for you to be concerned with because you will be on them a short time. Follow your post op instructions to the letter, this is where some people mess up & end up with problems as a result. You don't want to go there. I say this to you in a well meaning way because I figure you are one of the tough guys.

Keep us posted. Take care.

Glad you got the big heavy duty recliner I think it will prove to be one one of your most valued possessions! Hind sight on things you've done doesn't always tell the whole story, does any one in your family have back or joint problems? Sometimes these things have a hereditary component too?? I guess it really doesn't matter allot the important thing is getting it taken care Of! As Straydog mentioned just don't over due it after surgery and follow your surgeon's post-op instructions to the Tee!
Good Luck to You!

White Beard

Surgery went well. No pain pills after 3 days. Tingling and shoulder pain mostly gone. Still have some numbness in legs. Been doing lot of research on collars . Surgeon wants me to wear one for 4 weeks. I know of several people personally who had same procedure and had no collar. This sounds like surgeon preference.

Right now I wear it at night and when walking around. His nurse said the brace is to remind me not to move my neck fast.

Had first appt yesterday after surgery and fusion looks good.

Doing very well overall. One problem still is there. The numbness in my legs. Right leg will go numb after standing for 15 minutes. That has been happening for several months. about 3 weeks before surgery, left leg would go numb when sitting down; but just in upper thigh. It's been only 17 days but will this go away now that I've had the surgery?

Before surgery, surgeon didn't think leg problem was related at all too neck problem

Pioneer, I too think your surgeon is right about the leg situation. Neck problems cause upper extremity issues, the back lower extremity. When you are more comfortable with your neck situation, speak to the surgeon about doing an MRI on your back to see if anything is going on there. Until then, be really careful.

Take care.