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Anyone have pressure in your neck back and front or lower back of head
Spine Health | Last Active: Sep 11, 2023 | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
@jenniferhunter I am not opposed to surgery. I would just like some answers to what is going on. Instead of seeing a neurologist I saw an ARNP. Under the impression it stated there was no definite abnormal cord signal. So based on that I should not be worried according to her. I am not by any means finished with that. Under the impression they put History: Pressure, head pressure and headaches. I don't know where they got headaches from. I don't get those. I have lost some of my trust in Doctors based on what I have been seeing and hearing lately. I am gonna talk to my new Dr. and see about getting a referral. My main thought is this. If I have severe stenosis do I have to wait for something to happen? Impression from my MRI: 1. Posterior disc bulge at C6-7 slightly flattens the ventral cord with moderate canal stenosis. There is severe bilateral foraminal stenosis. 2. Posterior disc bulge at C 5-6 slightly flattens the ventral cord with mild central canal stenosis. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis. 3. Bulging disc at C3-4 without canal stenosis. Right-sided uncovertebral spurring and facet arthropathy results in severe right foraminal stenosis. I can see from the cervical MRI's that I have had a definite deterioration in my neck. That is to be expected when we age I do know that.
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@rnlorena You do not have to wait for something to happen before getting decompression surgery. I also had a normal signal through my spinal cord along with symptoms that were caused by spinal cord compression. My surgeon said mild myelopahy does not always show up on an MRI. When you see an MRI that shows cord compression with whitish areas inside the spinal cord, that shows nerve axons that have died and dissolved. Obviously, you don't want that to happen. I also had bone spurs. If your discs have not herniated yet, that is good. When they herniate and spill the jelly like stuff, that causes inflammation which causes bone spurs to grow in that area. I suggest keep a journal with dated entries so you know what your symptoms are, and if there is pain, etc. You will know how fast something changes by looking back. You do have a significant amount of foraminal stenosis and I suspect you may have pain or weakness from that. A spine surgeon would also clean out those areas where nerve roots exit the spinal cord.
According to my physical therapist, aging does cause stenosis in the spine in nearly everyone eventually.
Yes, you need answers. It is likely your decision if and when you have any surgery. I am not sure what an ARNP is?