Connect
I am being steered towards injections despite progressive symptoms…
Hi everyone,
I’m hoping to hear from others who have navigated complex cervical spine issues and can share their experiences or insight.
I have multilevel degenerative cervical spine disease (C3–4 through C6–7) with canal narrowing, foraminal stenosis, and nerve root impingement. Over the past several weeks my symptoms have significantly worsened and are now constant — severe neck pain, deep shoulder blade pain, electric-type sensations, persistent numbness/tingling into my arm and fingers, weakness, and some balance issues. This feels very different than earlier flares and is affecting my ability to function day-to-day.
Despite this, the recommendations I’ve received so far have been focused on nerve ablation and injections. I completely understand the role these treatments can play, especially for pain management, but I’m struggling to understand how they address the underlying mechanical compression when symptoms are progressive and neurologic in nature.
After speaking with many people in spine support groups, I’ve noticed a recurring theme where injections or ablation were used as temporary measures until surgery was eventually needed — sometimes after significant delay. That makes me concerned about whether these approaches are simply “buying time” rather than truly addressing the root problem.
I want to be clear that I’m not anti-conservative care or assuming surgery is the only answer. I’m genuinely trying to understand:
• When do ablation or injections make sense in cases like this?
• At what point does mechanical compression outweigh symptom-management approaches?
• For those with similar multilevel cervical issues, did you find that these interventions helped meaningfully — or did you ultimately need surgical decompression?
I am now contemplating consultations at UF (Jacksonville and Gainesville) to get additional opinions, but I would really appreciate hearing from others who’ve walked this road.
Thank you for taking the time to read — any shared experiences or advice would mean a lot.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.
Connect
I am very wary of injections…most contain steroids, something of concern to me…so I’m seeing my osteopath, doing PT, exercise/stretching when i can and walking…so far the only med I take for pain is Tylenol— and I am even careful with that…heat helps, too. Best of luck to all !!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@marialyce I would agree. Those articles do not impress, based on my experiences with health providers.
Hi Heather,
I’m 52 years old, I had ACDF (fusion) of C6-7 two years ago, and just had 2 discs replaced a couple of weeks ago.
I’ll get to the point and encourage you to look at Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM). This fact sheet from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is a good start, and it includes links to additional resources:
https://www.christopherreeve.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Degenerative-Cervical-Myelopathy-QA-5-25-A.pdf
I also like how information is presented in myelopathy.org (a UK-based non profit).
The symptoms you listed mirror all the literature I’ve found on DCM, and the fact that they are progressing puts you in the category where surgery is recommended.
My last surgery was done by an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon assisted by a Neurosurgeon, meaning either of those specialties would be appropriate.
I hope this helps and wish you the best.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@marialyce The BMJ article with the guidelines is linked in the article and the BMJ article has the sources. Here's the link to the guidelines: https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj-2024-079970
Also, if you are referring to sources for the back surgery article, here is a version with sources: https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/the-faulty-rationale-for-most-surgery-for-back-pain
@nycmusic
It’s better to be aware and informed. I wholeheartedly agree on being wary and cautious. Alternating ice and heat does help some days, Tylenol barely takes the edge off for me at least more recently. I hope with your PT, exercising/stretching and walking you find significant relief.
@ireth
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this and for the thoughtful resources. I really appreciate it. After further digging into DCM more deeply, I agree with you—especially since my imaging clearly notes moderate to severe canal compromise, and my symptoms continue to progress.
What’s been most discouraging is feeling like, despite what the imaging shows and how much my function has declined, the approach has been to manage me conservatively until things become dramatically worse—almost as if I need to reach the point of not being able to function at all before surgery will be considered. In the meantime, it appears the hope is that a few injections or ablation might “hold me over,” even though this is clearly a structural and mechanical issue, not just inflammatory. My aunt suffered a severe spine injury in a car accident, had major spine surgery and in the recent years has been doing ablation and injections yet now suffers from debilitating muscle atrophy.
Your insight about both orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons being appropriate is also reassuring, and it helps validate that continuing to advocate for a surgical opinion is the right move.
Thank you again for the encouragement and for pointing me toward such helpful information. I truly hope your recent surgery brings you relief and that your recovery continues to go smoothly. Wishing you the very best
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@steelme43 what I do doesn’t eliminate all the pain, but makes it far more manageable, so I can get on with my life…PT especially good for me, in combination with manual osteopathic treatment…my osteopath is also an MD and I trust him. He advises me to be patient.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@steelme43
I’m very glad that information resonated with you.
Trust your gut and keep advocating for yourself.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI completely understand your concerns. Now that you are having balance issues and numbness it seems clear to me that this is now a different ballgame. Has your urinary habits changed? It’s time to discuss difinitive treatment with your neurologist and surgeon. I believe you require a comprehensive neurologic physical exam. You already have the imaging. It is the combination of the physical exam (along with your history k or storytelling) and imaging that should decide the treatment strategy,
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions