@debbiepinkston59 I did not have nerve root compression, and my symptoms of muscle atrophy came solely from spinal cord compression in my neck and some shifting of my vertebrae that made it worse or better depending on how it all lined up. I would encourage your son to apply for Mayo now because there will be a wait to be seen. Mayo would need to answer on scheduling, but a typical wait time may be 3 months or more as I was told when I applied. They do prioritize cases. If there is a cancellation, you could be called sooner for an appointment, so you may want to look at logistics of travel and accommodations, so you'll be able to act quickly if an appointment is offered. You may want to also send in measurements of losses from muscle atrophy and perhaps photos of that when they ask for imaging for review. You can also write a letter detailing the history of this condition and the symptoms he is experiencing. How long has it been since you noticed the muscle loss?