Treatment options for cervical spine arthritis

You didn’t say which doctors you visited. So if you haven’t, I suggest you start with an orthopedic spine surgeon. Mine was wonderful if you have nerve pain that radiates from your neck, it might be time for surgery. If you don’t, then an orthopedic surgeon still needs to look at your bone quality to make sure there’s no osteophytes that needs to be honed off. I have a severely arthritic neck and I had severe damage in my neck and my surgeon wasn’t sure I was ready for surgery, but I knew I was ready for surgery after trying absolutely everything for years. I went to an MFR therapist and he sat my head correctly on top of my neck and I was without pain for 24 hours. With that let me know after doing that once again was that my muscles could not hold the weight of my head on top of my neck and so the pain was being caused by the vertebrae compressing upon the discs. It is really important to understand your source of pain that’ll dictate the proper treatment. I couldn’t go one more month without scheduling surgery unfortunately, my orthopedic surgeon who did my lumbar fusion acquiesced to what I clearly knew was needed. I was right. I did need the surgery. However, it’s not the end of the story because my bones were not strong enough to hold the fusion so a week later I had to go in for a bigger surgery around my back and they placed a rod and bigger screws in. It was tough with the two surgeries to heal, but the surgery had to be done because I could no longer raise my arms and do my housework. Now I can do my housework and I still suffer from arthritis in C1 C2 where they can’t do much about it however but the rest is held nicely so that I don’t have nerve pain radiating down my back shoulders nor headaches. Try an MFR therapist to get some diagnosis and try a really good orthopedic surgeon to get a sense of what is needed. Good luck.

@slho6 That must be disappointing to be in so much pain and nothing helps. I am a cervical fusion patient and I have had a steroid injection for C5/C6 that was diagnostic. The anesthesiologist who did the injection told me that injections should not be done above this level because of increased risks. Consider that the nerves that control your heart and lungs are exiting the spinal cord in those upper levels near C3. Many spine surgeons will not operate at C3 and above because of risk to life support nerve function. Instability in those areas can also be serious and you need to know before anyone works on your neck. My PT had said this to me.
That being said, have you tried any physical therapy? My PT did a stretch called myofascial release that has helped me a lot. Neck spasms often accompany spine conditions and can move the vertebrae around changing alignment and causing pain. If you release the tight fascia and muscles you can gently get back to better body alignment. We have several discussions here on MFR that you can search for. Other resources are myofascialrelease.com and there is a provider search at mfrtherapists.com .
Even if your case becomes a surgery, you may benefit from looser tissues ahead of it that would make it easier for the surgeon.

Have you tried PT or heard about MFR therapy before?

You didn’t say which doctors you visited. So if you haven’t, I suggest you start with an orthopedic spine surgeon. Mine was wonderful if you have nerve pain that radiates from your neck, it might be time for surgery. If you don’t, then an orthopedic surgeon still needs to look at your bone quality to make sure there’s no osteophytes that needs to be honed off. I have a severely arthritic neck and I had severe damage in my neck and my surgeon wasn’t sure I was ready for surgery, but I knew I was ready for surgery after trying absolutely everything for years. I went to an MFR therapist and he sat my head correctly on top of my neck and I was without pain for 24 hours. With that let me know after doing that once again was that my muscles could not hold the weight of my head on top of my neck and so the pain was being caused by the vertebrae compressing upon the discs. It is really important to understand your source of pain that’ll dictate the proper treatment. I couldn’t go one more month without scheduling surgery unfortunately, my orthopedic surgeon who did my lumbar fusion acquiesced to what I clearly knew was needed. I was right. I did need the surgery. However, it’s not the end of the story because my bones were not strong enough to hold the fusion so a week later I had to go in for a bigger surgery around my back and they placed a rod and bigger screws in. It was tough with the two surgeries to heal, but the surgery had to be done because I could no longer raise my arms and do my housework. Now I can do my housework and I still suffer from arthritis in C1 C2 where they can’t do much about it however but the rest is held nicely so that I don’t have nerve pain radiating down my back shoulders nor headaches. Try an MFR therapist to get some diagnosis and try a really good orthopedic surgeon to get a sense of what is needed. Good luck.

@loriesco thank you for your help. Do you feel better now? How long ago was your surgery? What was done? Sounds like Cervical and Lumbar?

@kellyb58 yes I am recovered and my lumbar was 100% awesome although I’ll be going back for another one in the near future. My but it was 2018 so I’ve had awesome success and a full life. My cervical surgery in 2023 was a problem because no one realized my bones were soft so I had to have a second more dramatic surgery, which limited my mobility, but the debilitating pain is gone. I suggest everyone look around for the best surgeon they can find. My hip joints were replaced in 2012 in 2014. I’m still enjoying those a lot. I’ve had a few other surgeries in between. I am no longer fearful of surgery making the arrangements is a pain in the butt because I’m all by myself, but I will get it done.! 🙂

@loriesco may I ask how old you are while you’re having to deal with all of this? I’m 68 and I am probably looking at multilevel fusion. I’m scared to death.

@kellyb58 I'll be 70 in February. I have C2or 3 to T1 or 2. Also L3 - 5 and the two hips. I'm going back for L2 to S2 I presume in the next round. What can I do? I have degenerative disc disease and I want to LIVE. I want to be productive! Here, you can see what I do. Life is better after surgery for sure: https://www.google.com/search