@jet1024 Welcome to Connect. Cervical spine surgery is not the same as lumbar spine surgery. What I hear from your words is a concern that surgery will leave you with pain. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and my result was that the surgery cured all the pain I had. There are some key differences, however. I had surgery before permanent damage had set in. Results are usually better earlier rather than later. Surgeons can't tell you exactly when permanent damage begins. When it shows up on an MRI for example in the spinal cord, what shows up is nerve axon cells that are missing because they died and dissolved from compression. My imaging never showed that, but according to my surgeon, sometimes myelopathy does not show up on imaging.

I had pain all over my body from spinal cord compression. I lost the strength and coordination of my arms and had trouble emptying my bladder. That was an early sign, and it can progress to become permanent incontinence of bladder or bowels if the compression remains.

Stenosis of the spinal canal or at the nerve roots tends to get worse in time. As spinal discs collapse, it also adds pressure and causes wear on the facet joints. I have seen comments by a person who chose not to have spine surgery, and she is unable to walk and requires a burden for family to be her care givers. It is a huge financial burden that has them always trying to fundraise to support her, and she lives in a reclining wheelchair.

I have been a caregiver to my disabled parents and understand how difficult life becomes when you can't walk or care for yourself. Even though surgery is scary and was a journey, I feel privileged to be able to have that choice to avoid a disability that would have been my future.

I know how you feel. We all want a miracle. I am not a doctor, but it is easy to understand how far your spine condition has progressed and how quickly. That may give you a sense of urgency to understand what your future may be. Find the best surgeon that you can and get as many opinions as you need. I think you know the answers to your questions, and it may get a lot worse without surgery. As you know, surgery is a compromise with some loss of motion in exchange for trying to preserve function. With aging, the discs lose moisture and shrink a bit. That can cause any cracks in the walls to open up and cause a herniation. The inflammation from ruptured discs creates inflammation and leads to bone spur growth as the spine tries to stabilize itself. Yes, as I explained, there can be permanent damage if the compression is significant and for a long enough period of time. Your spine specialist is going to have to advise you on these questions as it relates to your spine condition. You will need to advocate for yourself and your care, and you may also run up against surgeons who dismiss you. Surgeons want to have successful cases and good results. My case was misunderstood and I had trouble finding a surgeon to help me, and the 6th one did because he understood the issues that the others missed. My surgery was at Mayo.

Have you scheduled a consultation with the spine surgeon where your doctor has referred you? Are there some other surgeons you wish to consult? You need information in order to make an informed decision.