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Has anyone dealt successfully with Cervical stenosis without surgery?
Spine Health | Last Active: Jul 17 5:54pm | Replies (84)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for the advice. I’ll get it scheduled and hope for the best. My chiropractor said there’s a relatively non-invasive surgery that requires only a couple weeks of recovery time to open the space (if I remember correctly.) I guess the only way to know is to take that first step and have the MRI. I’ve always been scared to have one. Also I’m allergic to iodine. Do all MRI’s require dye?
Replies to "@dlydailyhope Thanks for the advice. I’ll get it scheduled and hope for the best. My chiropractor..."
Isebelle
I also am claustrifobic but find the open MRI very comfortable (the one you sit in)
Minimally invasive surgery is wonderful. Only use a neurosurgeon not an orthopedic surgeon. Just had a hemilamenotomy last Thursday , off pain meds on day 3 and walked 5 miles yesterday day 5.
Find a neurosurgeon they are much more highly trained at minimal invasive procedures, that’s why they are called brain surgeons a completely higher level of training and certification.
Tony
Good luck, don’t settle get what you want. Had to see 7 orthopods and 2 neurosurgeons to get the right procedure.
Have had many MRIs. Go to a newer machine 3T. Gets better pictures. New machines so much better usually don't need contrast anymore. Best tip. Close your eyes b4 u go in and don't open them the whole time. If you don't open them you don't know to become anxious. Don't open them again until you are fully out. Works for me.
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@isabelle7
I understand about being afraid of having a MRI. You are in a confined space (but there are some that are considered “open”) and the machine makes odd noises. I have had so many of them I just relax and listen to the music they play for you in the headphones protecting your ears. You do need to stay still through the test and not move at all. For your cervical spine, you may not need to be fully in the machine and they may want to do with and without contrast since it helps them see the bone/soft tissues better. The contrast material is usually gadolinium which does not contain iodine. You will just want to let them know you are allergic to iodine.
After my ACDF surgery on C5-C6 (they went in through the front to remove bone spurs and my disc and then made a “cement” using some of my own bone from the spurs to fuse my vertebrae together before putting a titanium cage around it to support it). I worked remotely at the time and was able to work on my laptop in bed 2 days after surgery. I wasn’t on the pain medication for long and I wore a soft collar only a short time (too long weakens the neck muscles). I was up moving around after surgery to prevent blood clots. My daily headaches and neck/shoulder/upper back pain was gone after the surgery. I then noticed the heaviness in legs (like wearing cement boots) was gone and I could better control my bladder. I also noticed my arms/hands were better and not constantly dropping things plus handwriting improved. My swallowing/choking and speaking problem reduced, too, and not sure if due to cervical spine plus 2.5 cm nodule on my thyroid which I also had removed (with my right thyroid lobe) 9 months later. I actually saw the nodule on my CT scan when in the patient portal paying a bill for my spine surgery!
Make sure you get a surgeon (if needed) that you feel comfortable with, has good communication skills/patience/respect when answering your questions, and they have excellent ratings online.
See if you can take a sedative or something to relax you before the MRI if they allow it and think it would help you. The MRI staff should be able to advise you since I’m sure they get many that get nervous getting the test.
Good luck! 🙂