Several MRIs over the years have all confirmed compression of my spinal cord and exiting nerve roots. The MRI reports are tagged with "urgent action required." The problem is the pain coincided with flares of my autoimmune condition. I took prednisone and other anti-inflammatory medications to quiet things down. The biologic I'm currently taking seems to prevent the flares from recurring.

I have symptoms of dysfunction but my gait is still "functional." I have an antalgic gait but a rollator helps. The surgeon says surgery isn't likely to improve anything but surgery may slow down the progression. I'm afraid surgery might make everything worse so I avoid going to the neurosurgeon as much as I can. Surgery will also involve a "lengthy time to recover."

My last visit with the neurosurgeon was over 2 years ago. I was encouraged to call to make another appointment when I was ready to do the lumbar fusion. I'm still not ready for surgery so I guess there is no need for me to call.

I don't think there has been too much progression but I don't really know. I don't feel much of anything below my waist anymore. I only wish for things to stay functional. I have had cauda equina syndrome (CES) symptoms in the past but only during flares of my autoimmune condition.

I developed heterotopic ossification after my knee replacements. The orthopedic surgeon said I shouldn't have anymore surgeries. I don't know if that meant spine surgery too.

"Immunologic processes involving cytokines and chemokines, which are prominent in various rheumatologic conditions, contribute to the pathogenesis of heterotopic ossification and may be reduced with early treatment with biologic therapeutics."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4417939/