Has anyone dealt successfully with Cervical stenosis without surgery?

Hi, Jennifer. I'm going to pursue this matter of insurance. Even though I don't see my insurance on the Mayo's list, I'm going tobask both Mayo and my inurance company if there's any possibility of coverage. My plan is still to meet with the local neurosurgeon, but I'm still waiting for a return phone call to set up an appointment. I saw on HealthGrades that thisfellow got 26 5-star reviews for his surgery and one 1-star review for his office staff's not returning calls … so I'm going to move ahead in any way I can. ––Ray

Ray, I hope it works out for you. You have to be in network because spine surgery is very expensive. It is worth a phone call to your insurance and to Mayo. Perhaps your insurance will have a procedure to apply for coverage at Mayo if that is not something they normally cover. I will face this in a few years too and I plan to choose an insurance plan that will be in network for Mayo for the future.
Jennifer

I'll let you know how this goes. I agree: if I'd known I might one day be needing expensive surgery, I would have looked for a plan that included Mayo. But who knew? I thought I'd live forever. Ha! ––Ray

I've not posted in a few weeks. My last post followed my most recent meeting with my neurologist. In light of my cervical MRI, she advised that I (1) meet with a neurosurgeon to discuss my "options," and (2) begin PT. The way the two referrals worked out, I was approved for PT first and had my first session yesterday. (I'll see the neurosurgeon on 8/18.) The goal that the therapist set for me is to so improve my situation that I'll be able to avoid surgery. My question (finally!): Have any of you been able to avoid surgery thanks to PT alone? If so, how bad was your situation prior? I'm curious. I'm not afraid of having surgery––if I've no alternative––but I'd sure like to avoid it if I can. ––Ray

@ray666 Hi Ray. To answer your question, I had a lot of PT and was working on thoracic outlet syndrome working on my neck and shoulders, and during that time my progress stopped advancing. Then it was discovered that I had spinal cord compression from a ruptured disc and bone spurs. No amount of PT can help you avoid surgery if that is the situation and the bone spurs keep growing and mine doubled in size in 9 months. If the compression is worsening, surgery is the logical choice. It all depends on your situation and if it is getting worse or remaining somewhat stable. PT will help realign the spine and try to preserve normal curvature and improve posture. That can ease pressure on the spine and it could be enough to relieve symptoms. What also happens is muscle spasms in muscles along the spine that change the curvature and/or moves the vertebrae which usually increases symptoms. PT can temporarily relieve that until the next spasm happens and those become more frequent as the spine condition worsens. Discs also collapse and the vertebrae get closer together, so the space between them where the nerves exit the spine get smaller. There may already be a problem there with bone spur growth or a herniated disc in that space, and it gets worse as the disc gets smaller. Failed PT for a certain period of time is also used to justify surgery for the insurance company. They review everything before they will pay for surgery, so this is a part of that. It is always worth trying PT to see if it helps or if it can delay surgery. My situation got bad enough that all I had to do was bend my neck forward and I sent an electric shock down my body. I didn't want to wait that long, but I had consulted a number of non-Mayo surgeons who would not help me. That is why I came to Mayo for my surgery which was a fusion at C5/C6. Your neurosurgeon is the best one to answer this question for you and how it applies to your spine issues.

Hello. Jennifer

As always: thank you! Your letters invariably give me much to think about. I'll have to keep this short. I've got a meeting across town in a short while. The one note in my MRI report that I cling to (perhaps too much so?) is "There is no cord lesion or compression." Of course, there's no denying I've got identifiable problems between a number of my vertebrae. I'll do my best with PT while continuing to educate myself until I can chat with the neurosurgeon.

Best wishes,
Ray

Hello, everyone! It's been a while since I last posted. I'm the fellow whose been diagnosed with cerebral stenosis and whose chief complaint (almost only complaint) is ever-worsening stability while walking (without any pain). Since I last posted I've been all that I could to educate myself, and then, only this past Wednesday, I had my first meeting with a neurosurgeon. He and I went very carefully over my various MRIs and X-rays. Although I've varying degrees of arthritis up and down my cervical spine, the "oddity" needing the most immediate attention (the surgeon's opinion) is some encroachment by one of my vertebrae and its above-and-below disks on my cerebrospinal canal (very visible, even to a layman like me). Where things stand at the moment: I'll be getting a set of neck flexion X-rays and a thoracic MRI next week, then meeting again with the surgeon on 9/8. If all systems are "Go" after that meeting, I'll likely have some anterior surgery before year's end. The surgeon called my situation "borderline," and therefore a short wait shouldn't worsen my condition. Cheers to you all! ––Ray

@ray666 Cheers to you Ray! Are you planning on getting any second opinions? That all depends on how you feel about the surgeon and their ability to help you. Choosing a great surgeon is important. I'm glad you came back and checked in. I have had some slight symptoms that are familiar from when I had spinal cord compression. I'm trying to get a followup with my surgeon to check it out and see if something has changed. You have to listen to your body because changes happen even though they don't always show up on the MRI. I did wait 5 weeks after my consult at Mayo when I had my spine surgery and that was OK. Pay attention with neck flexion and see if it increases pain symptoms. Make sure to ask questions too.

Please keep us posted!!

Hi, bustrbrwn22. I'll definitely keep you posted! ––Ray