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Severe spinal stenosis: Would you do surgery?

Spine Health | Last Active: Feb 22, 2023 | Replies (186)

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@mincer

Good morning I have had a MRI done of my neck and it has reported as Central canal narrowing throughout the mid cervical levels, severe at C4/5 and C6/7 with associated cord compression. There is multilevel bilateral neural compression, I was working four days a week ( childcare) but now have gone down two days a week but I am still finding this difficult as when I finish my shift I am stooped over and can hardly walk when I get home I have to lye down and in the middle of the night I get massive cramps in my calf and my left toe curls up with lots of pain and I find that I am dropping things and I have constant pain in my neck and cannot turn my neck side to side without moving my trunk to see what I am looking at and I also have chronic pain in my legs and arms and in my neck it feels like that I am loosing control of it and need something to hold it up so I have been to a neurosurgeon and he said to my that I am okay and don't need surgery which is good but I feel I was being talked down to and now I feel awful with no answers at all I was reading one of the other questions in this group and I do wonder if I don't get a second oppion I will end up in a wheel chair 🙁 can anyone give me any ideas what I can do ? or say to my doctors and also I have a low income and find it difficult to see specialists as they can cost a lot of money.

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Replies to "Good morning I have had a MRI done of my neck and it has reported as..."

@mincer Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support. Members @collierga @wisco50 @sunnyflower @lotsofpain @lifetimepain @lindaferrara @bustrbrwn22 have discussed this topic in the past and may be able to offer support.

Your situation has multiple layers and it's clearly an extremely difficult situation. To help address the financial concerns, have you considered going to your local county and telling them your medical issues and that you've had to go down in hours. Do you think you would qualify for medical assistance state insurance? I think that may be an option to explore. Your local county human services should be able to help and/or direct you towards appropriate resources.

I think you've already decided that you need a second opinion but there are financial barriers. Did I get that right?

May I ask if you have anyone to help you navigate your local state and county system?

I am so sorry you are going through this. I too have severe cervical stenosis in same location
I would go for a second opinion.
Have you tried any physical therapy?
I did a lot of research when I was diagnosed and exercise to strengthen muscles especially legs was recommended.
Best of luck, will keep you in prayer