← Return to Looking at neck surgery despite neurosurgeon's hesitation...

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Profile picture for mrmacabre @mrmacabre

Get a second opinion from another neurologist, or better yet get a referral to see a neurosurgeon. It took 4 neurologists and 2 neurosurgeons a total of 8+ years to get myself to the point that I'm currently at. The first one I saw did EMG and conductivity testing, only to tell me that I didn't have neuropathy, but he couldn't tell me what was causing my problems.
On my first visit to a neurosurgeon he looked at my MRI's and told me that I needed to have surgery on my neck. He did a spinal fusion procedure at the C5-C6 level using plates, screws, and a piece of donor bone.
About 18 months later my symptoms began to reappear, and I was referred to another neurosurgeon because the previous one retired and closed his practice. He did another fusion procedure at the C7-T1 level, again with plates and screws as well as a piece of donor bone.
See another doctor and request new MRI's of your entire spine if at all possible.

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Replies to "Get a second opinion from another neurologist, or better yet get a referral to see a..."

@mrmacabre Thank you! Yeah, ironically the EMG I had done last October showed nerve damage/issues, but the one in February showed only mild carpal tunnel 🙁 It is a neurosurgeon who has twice now told me my MRI shows the discs aren't bad enough to have nerve compression, but since all else has failed or been basically ruled out, she will do surgery. It doesn't sit well with me, but I also feel like having an MRI laying down may not show the same as seeing it upright, since laying down feels better. I also feel like the vascular surgeon really breezed through my appointment and I'm not convinced that thoracic outlet syndrome couldn't still fit more of my symptoms (especially now being bilateral?). Anyway, thank you!