1. < Spine Health

Cervical disks and heaviness and numbness in legs

Posted by rico2 @rico2, Jul 11 12:53pm

I have posted before about ACDF 4/5 but now I have new symptoms and neurosurgeon says it’s back related - which I do have a very bad back from military. About one week after starting PT on neck for numbness and tingling in right arm I developed heaviness in legs and feet feel like there are 10 pound weights on them. It’s hard to walk as I don’t know when one or both legs will give out. I actually fell because my right leg stopped responding for a few minutes.

According to research I have done on Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and others it seems it can be caused by cervical problems. Anyone else see this happen?

Should add I have 3/4 cervical disk is herniated and stenosis all along cervical with spondylosis

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Jul 15 6:50pm

@rico2
What levels in your cervical and lumbar spine have disc bulges? Have you read your MRI reports to know what exactly is wrong and has the surgeon explained what is needed and why? Did they mention using hardware? I have a metal cage around my cervical spine at C5-C6 and I am still able to move my neck pretty well. Have you considered getting a 2nd/3rd opinion to consider other surgical options?

I also have lumbar spine problems L3-S1 (moderate to severe central/foraminal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica) and see a surgeon this week to understand what he would suggest. He did my ACDF surgery on my c5-c6 so I trust him. He may suggest doing a laminectomy and fusion plus foraminotomy to make more room for my L5 nerve roots on both sides. I have significant pain/weakness/numbness lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet and it makes it hard for me to do much. I can’t sit, stand, walk for long and need to change positions often.

My suggestion is to focus on your cervical spine first because damage to your spinal cord and nerve roots can become permanent if not decompressed ASAP. Do you know if your MRI shows spinal cord flattening/compression? Do you have any impact on bladder/bowel/standing up from seated position? That might make it more urgent for you to get 2nd/3rd opinions. How long have you been suffering with your symptoms?

Btw…I am a 55 year old female and my symptoms have been gradually worsening for 13 years but especially for the last 7-8 years.

REPLY
1 reply
asergio714 | @asergio714 | Jul 21 3:31pm

Yes! I woke up one day unable to walk and when I do I am very off balance and my limbs feel like they weigh 100 lbs! Hands and legs! I have a very bad low back. Had whiplash a few times years ago. N/t o. Hands snd feet. After 6 months they’ve found stenosis, bulging discs, myelomalacia, etc. Laminectomy in August. I hope nerve damage isn’t permanent they took so long finding it out

REPLY
rico2 | @rico2 | Jul 22 6:53pm
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@rico2 What levels in your cervical and lumbar spine have disc bulges? Have you read your..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@rico2
What levels in your cervical and lumbar spine have disc bulges? Have you read your MRI reports to know what exactly is wrong and has the surgeon explained what is needed and why? Did they mention using hardware? I have a metal cage around my cervical spine at C5-C6 and I am still able to move my neck pretty well. Have you considered getting a 2nd/3rd opinion to consider other surgical options?

I also have lumbar spine problems L3-S1 (moderate to severe central/foraminal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica) and see a surgeon this week to understand what he would suggest. He did my ACDF surgery on my c5-c6 so I trust him. He may suggest doing a laminectomy and fusion plus foraminotomy to make more room for my L5 nerve roots on both sides. I have significant pain/weakness/numbness lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet and it makes it hard for me to do much. I can’t sit, stand, walk for long and need to change positions often.

My suggestion is to focus on your cervical spine first because damage to your spinal cord and nerve roots can become permanent if not decompressed ASAP. Do you know if your MRI shows spinal cord flattening/compression? Do you have any impact on bladder/bowel/standing up from seated position? That might make it more urgent for you to get 2nd/3rd opinions. How long have you been suffering with your symptoms?

Btw…I am a 55 year old female and my symptoms have been gradually worsening for 13 years but especially for the last 7-8 years.

Jump to this post

I am going to have MRI of head, neck and back very soon. I have C2/3 and C3/4 bulging into spine according to MRI done in January. I have been told that I have cervical stenosis with myelopathy along with deteriorating discs in neck and back along with neural foraminal stenosis all along spine. I am a 72 year old male who has had leg problems since my army service. I was treated at Landstuhl hospital while in army for problems with legs and it has gotten much worse since discharge.

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