@dwlandi
I am in my mid 50s and if I had your MRI results, I would get surgery.

Your MRI shows that you have multiple levels of disc issues and bony growths that are compressing/flattening and injuring your spinal cord. If surgery is not done to decompress your spinal cord/nerve roots, there could be worsening symptoms and permanent damage. This is called degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) also called cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Definitely look this up to understand your condition. I really wish doctors did a better job communicating imaging/test results with their patients using terms people understand. You may also have radiculopathy if you have symptoms affecting arms/hands/fingers. Do you have headaches, neck shoulder/shoulder blade pain/tension/knots, weakness in arms/hands which impacts writing and notice you are dropping things, bladder/bowel control issues, and heaviness in legs when walking with balance issues?

I know this from experience. I was misdiagnosed for over 5 years and now have permanent spinal cord injury due to DCM. I was born with a congenitally narrow spinal canal and worked on a computer/desk job for over 30 years. I have straightening of my cervical spine, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, myelopathy, osteoarthritis, etc. My spinal cord was flattened at C5-C6 and finally had a 3rd orthopedic spine specialist finally diagnose me properly (felt validated and heard for the first time in a long time) and recommended surgery right away to stop the worsening of my symptoms and permanent damage. I had ACDF surgery on C5-C6 in 2022 (helped with bladder control and walking) and now need to get C6-C7 done in May 2025 (symptoms worsened in 2024). I may have permanent damage at C5-C6 which affects arm/hand strength and I’ll need to see if surgery on C6-C7 regains better control of my bladder and walking/balance.

Have you seen a neurologist for EMG/nerve conduction studies of your upper and lower limbs and reviewed the results with your orthopedic spine specialist?