@bobbythebrain only speaking from my experience.
In September 2021, everything started to happen so fast in my body.
I also only had x-rays in September, The orthopedic doctor that took the x-rays .
Said there was nothing wrong with my cervical part of my body everything on my body gradually started to go numb. They did a Lumbar MRI Diagnosed with DDD. My symptoms were not going away.
I took it upon myself to research as much as I could . The answers that were coming back to me was I needed to seek out surgeon in neurology. I live in mountains of northern California , 3 excellent spine centers nearby.
I called three different surgeons office described my situation.
No response,
I took all of my information and went to the office and pretty much begged them to see me.
The doctor did see me and he said he did not have enough information to make an accurate diagnosis
He sent me downstairs to do a full MRI on my cervical thoracic and Lumbar
The cervical MRI came back with a 14 mm herniated disc bulge in my neck, that was causing SpinalMyelopathy.
The x-rays missed that.
As I have Read on some other Peoples treatment plans and their severity of their issues with neuropathy and spinal cord and DDD .
Someone has pointed out to me , on this blog “ I only need to do me “
So if I am saying anything here , that is offensive I’m very sorry this is the first time I’ve ever been on a blog.
I do believe everyone needs to take their own case history and make a decision which best fits themselves.
For me, this was all very new. I took Yoga for 25 years. I had acupuncture. I’m a hiker. I eat healthy. I thought I was doing all of the right things. I felt like this came out of nowhere.
I was extremely scared. I was going to be paralyzed.
I never had any pain in my neck. I only had symptoms in my body. My arms and hands were going numb, my feet, Felt like I was walking on glass.
Then my legs were going numb. Then my torso started to go numb.
And the x-rays came back , with nothing
Again, this is only my experience
The MRIs are what saved me
I hope your wife gets more answers it’s awesome you’re supportive of her.☺️