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Am I destined for surgery? Anyone manage this without?

Posted by melissa711 @melissa711, 5 days ago

MRI results show - Mild canal, and moderate to severe bilateral foraminal narrowing at C6-C7.
Mild canal, and moderate LEFT foraminal narrowing at C2-C3.Moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing at C5-C6.

I have constant pins and needles on my head and face as well as my left arm and chest. No real pain.

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annie1 | @annie1 | 4 days ago
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@annie1 I had pain from spinal cord compression that came up all over my body and..." + (show)
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@annie1 I had pain from spinal cord compression that came up all over my body and the location changed when I changed my body or neck position because my spinal cord was shifting within the spinal canal. I had muscles jumping in my thigh or calves, some tingling or sharp stabbing type pains, and some numbness that came up in my legs and feet. There is a condition called "funicular pain" or tract pain that happens when a tract in the spinal cord is irritated. This causes pain that comes up that seems random. In contrast, radicular pain is caused by compression of spinal nerves at the nerve roots between the vertebrae. That is very predictable because it affects a specific nerve. With the spinal cord being a big bundle of everything, it's kind of pot luck what part gets irritated. Here is medical literature that explains it, and this is what I found that explained my diagnosis that several surgeons missed.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3111492/
My surgeon at Mayo is Jeremy Fogelson, and he is familiar with funicular pain.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/fogelson-jeremy-l-m-d/bio-20055624

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@jenniferhunter
Thank you jennifer. My pain is very consistent though in that it's always in my calf muscles and sometimes upper hamstrings. And I don't know if fusion will help that. I'm going to look up your surgeon at Mayo. Did you have fusion though for that compression? Is that the standard way they deal with spinal cord compression?

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melissa711 | @melissa711 | 19 hours ago
In reply to @dsonderhouse "@melissa711 I would suggest an open conversation with the surgeon about PT and risk of doing,..." + (show)
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@melissa711

I would suggest an open conversation with the surgeon about PT and risk of doing, not doing surgery. Also suggest a second opinion if the primary is not a spinal neuro surgeon. It all is very tricky with the spine. Wishing you the best.

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@dsonderhouse unfortunately I will not be seen by a neurosurgeon for a month. In the mean time I need to be doing something to help myself but I’m afraid to move practically for fear of making something worse.

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dsonderhouse | @dsonderhouse | 19 hours ago

Please try acupuncture. It's a great temporary central nervous system reset. Also maybe muscle relaxing or nsaid meds with PT until your appointment

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