C5-C6 posterior disc buldge/posterior disc osteophyte complex

Posted by stingerbee29 @stingerbee29, Jun 29, 2023

I recently had an MRI done of my cervical spine due to weakness, tingling and numbness in both hands. I have been consistently seeing a physical therapist for over a month with little improvement in my left hand. I have neck pain and headaches as well. Unfortunately my spine doctor cannot see more or even review my images for a month. NSAIDS are not really helping. I am just curious if I should prepare myself to have a surgery or if this is treatable with physical therapy! TIA

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jun 29, 2023

Hello @stingerbee29 and welcome to Connect. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and it does sound like you may be headed for surgery based on your symptoms. Did you look at your report from your MRI? I was wondering if the title of this discussion describes your report and if you do have a disc osteophyte complex at C5/C6 pressing into the spinal canal?

I had that with spinal cord compression and mine was caught fairly early. If you have spinal cord compression, physical therapy isn't going to fix that, and that would be treated by decompression surgery. For me, that was removing the bad disc and the osteophytes and doing a fusion with a bone disc spacer.

I know it is hard waiting, but prepare yourself for an answer and offer for surgery. It is a bit shocking when that becomes real, and your mind focuses on that. Right now you are in the stage of hoping that physical therapy or something non-surgical can fix the problem. Spine problems are tricky and can lead to paralysis and disability. It is best to catch them early. I initially was afraid of surgery, but came to accept it. I knew that I needed it and I had great results. I had a C5/C6 fusion with a donor bone graft and no hardware. I stayed in a neck brace until the bones fused which was 3 months. I didn't think spine surgery was horribly painful. Breaking my ankle was much more painful and for a much longer period of time than my cervical fusion. I actually was able to manage with no pain drugs after I left the hospital and I just slept a lot.

Do you have a list of questions you want to ask your surgeon?

sb4ca | @sb4ca | Jul 3, 2023

I'm very sorry your doctor is so booked up but let's look at the bright side--He must be good. I've had three cervical fusions though one was a repeat due to osteomyelitis caused by two pathogens. I would suggest you book an appointment with a pain specialist who should be able to help you and maybe get you scheduled for an epidural. Those can be incredibly helpful. Do you know the level of the spinal cord compression? My last one was really scary because one wrong move and I'd become paralyzed.