@rnlorena Thanks for the details from your imaging reports. There are a lot of significant findings there and anything flattening your spinal cord is not going to go away. The facet arthritis happens when discs start to collapse and it puts more pressure on those joints. The herniated discs cause inflammation that triggers bone spur growth. I would expect it to get worse for you, and it takes time to wait to see good surgeons. I agree that this doctor is brushing you off. There may be another reason he doesn't want to do surgery. I was refused surgery by 5 surgeons because they didn't understand how my symptoms were connected to the imaging and didn't want to risk their reputations on me. They want to keep their statistics of success and bragging rights higher and a potential poor outcome is a threat to that because they just didn't understand my case. I don't know if you have any other health issues that could affect a spine surgery outcome. They may want to cherry pick easy cases instead of multilevel involvement.

I came to Mayo with my imaging that had some mild cord compression at only one level, and no compression at the nerve roots (foramen), and that was a big enough problem that I was offered surgery right away. There were no games, and just an honest opinion about how surgery could help address my symptoms and at the time, I was loosing the coordination in may arms. When you have both spinal cord compression AND nerve root compression, you will get overlapping symptoms and they won't know specifically how to trace the pain. Spinal cord compression alone can cause pain all over the body anywhere below it that can seem to be random and changing. That is what I had that confused so many surgeons.

I would encourage you to find a better spine surgeon for another opinion. Coming to Mayo was the best choice I made for myself after striking out 5 times with local surgeons. The pain in your chest could also be spine related particularly if neck movement can generate it, and you are also right to ask for a diagnostic mammogram. Let the experts make the diagnosis because it's so easy to assume something and be wrong. If a spine surgeon isn't interested in you as a patient, move on for another opinion even it it means you have to travel to find the right specialist. It was worth it to me to drive 250 miles to Mayo, and many patients arrive there through the Rochester airport.

These doctors are just wasting your time, and you have the right to fire them. It took me 2 years jumping through hoops, but when I came to Mayo, only 2 days and I had an offer for surgery that was scheduled 5 weeks later. The wait to get into Mayo varies, and you need to have insurance they accept. I was expecting a 3 month wait, but there was a cancellation and I was at my first consultation 8 weeks after sending in my records and imaging.

Do you have another surgeon in mind for a second opinion? How do you want to proceed?
Jennifer