Thanks for your input. The last surgeon who did my L4/L5 laminectomy in 2021 ordered a Lumbar and thoracic MRI together in September 2024 only for the possibility to trial a SCS. I was totally against the trial because I felt something else was going on. Thats why I reached out to new doctor. I met with his PA who noticed the C6/ C7 on top of thoracic MRI showed same problems as MRI in 2016 except the Radiologist failed to point out that problem this time and she caught it. Within 4 days I had the cervical MRI and showed all of my cervical issues.
I always get a CD of images after scan.
I was shocked to see the images I was seeing.
Over these years of pain I have become adept at reading images and spinal cord is only being compressed at the cervical area now. The 3 back surgeries corrected any spinal stenosis issues. There is some foraminal stenosis at L3/L4 which a couple of Transforaminal epidurals did confirm local irritation but does not relieve the lower extremity bilateral symmetrical leg heavy leg feeling and feet issues. I recently repeated SI joint injections which had no effect,
I can only suspect that it is actually cord compression which effects everything below my cervical problems which is Funicular or Tract pain.
I actually had to suggest to pain management doctors where to try injections because they seemed clueless at times. Healthcare in this country is not in a good place. Everything is about how many patients to see in a day with little effort to help people and listen to issues.
Hopefully I have found a doctor that has listened and this ACDF works out,