C1-c2 arthritis

@snowmass
What regeneration are you hoping for? What is causing your cervical instability? Do you have weak muscles in your neck? Is the alignment of your spine off?

I’m not aware of anything regenerative that would help with stability or remove arthritis. NSAIDs for inflammation, diets that help reduce inflammation, neck brace, etc. may help a little but are not long term solutions. Fusion may be the only long term solution to provide stability and relieve any compression on spinal cord and nerve roots.

I have cervical Radiculopthy (bone spur pressing on a nerve). The most painful condition I have ever had. I have had one cortisone injection done by a physiatrist and it relieved the pain for a year and a half. The pain has come back and I am scheduled to see a pain specialist to have another injection. I am 83 and trying not to have surgery

Thank you for your input. There is some movement in the area c1 over c2 (2.5 - 3.5 mm) as well as slipping on the flexion. I need further DMX testing to confirm the specifics but my translational BAI was 4mm which he said was also borderline. So all in all there is some instability. PRP/Stem cell to reduce swelling as well as helping with the disc bulge and ligament/muscle laxicty or injury….

Do you mean in the same area? C1-c2?
I have not been able to find anyone who is willing to do anything in the area other than regen doctor. …

Just reading my MRI. It looks like problems from C2 down to C4. I have bone spurs pressing on my cervical spine. I wanted to go to the same Dr. that did the injection a year ago May. He is a part of the ortho system in the San Francisco area that I go to. However, I was put completely under and didn't feel a thing. When I wanted to go again I was told that Medicare wouldn't cover any anesthetic at all and I can't do that particular injection cold turkey. So I am being referred to a pain medicine MD who is also a anesthesiologist and he already told me that Medicare will cover it. They just won't pay an outside anesthesiologist. It's really bothering me now but I have to wait for the referral to go through before I can even get an appointment.

I see. Thank you for taking the time to look. Hope you get out of the pain ASAP. BTW, do you get a lot of spasms in the area or tightness or muscle guarding when pain is there?

good question. No I get a burning sensation like someone is holding a hot poker to my neck. Also the ache goes down my arm to my elbow but not to my hand. They start thinking about surgery when you get pins and needles in your arm and hands. I also have osteoarthritis in my feet. I had a toe operated on 5 years ago and it was great. He put a permanent pin in the toe and no problems. I had another toe done in September of this year and he did something to the nerve and I have the same "hot poker" feeling to my toe now. So much fun!

I have arthritis and a resulting cyst in the atlantodental interval that's narrowed as seen on CT. But I don't have any instability. I do get a lot of pain in the occipitals but that's it. Has imaging shown you have instability?
Unfortunately there's no such thing as resolving arthritis by any non-invasive ways. If you have actual instability that can be a danger to the lower cervical spine. Apparently it's either congenital, traumatic or inflammatory RA.

@snowmass The reason that a lot of doctors will not treat spine issues at C3 and above is because of possible risk to the nerves that control life support, in servicing your heart and lungs. This would also be a reason not to inject upper levels of the C spine. I had an injection just below C5/C6 and the anesthesiologist who did that said no one should be injecting the C spine above that level for patient safety.

You do need to find a specialist who does work at these levels just below the skull. The spine surgeon at Mayo who does regenerative spinal cord research for spinal cord injury is Dr. Bydon. I'm not sure what surgeons would be experts at C1 and C2 levels. You may not be a spinal cord injury patient. He has had some success with stem cells, but that doesn't help all patients, and he is researching this.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/bydon-mohamad-m-d/bio-20147826

Hi Jennifer,
Thank you again.
Jae