Has anyone dealt successfully with Cervical stenosis without surgery?

I would ask for a referral for a neurosurgeon !They are more educated about the nerves in your spinal column!

@tony1946

I’m not sure which kind of MRI machine they have but my husband had one and he had to lie down.

Thanks for the advice to use a neurosurgeon. I think you’re right that they would be superior.

They’ve not told me I need surgery yet. However, it a minor surgery can help prevent things from worsening I’m not opposed to it. Especially if I can recover quickly.

I’ve learned you have to do research and fight for what you want.

I just Googled the surgery you got and it sounds like what I might need.

@jm1

Thank you so much for that advice. That sounds like a plan. My husband had one recently and they didn’t use contrast.

@clippertwo

Thank you for that advice!!! I will do that is they determine I need surgery.

Have you heard of ultrasonic surgery for cervical stenosis....I am trying to find out more about it. It just removes the calcification from around the foramen (the opening)

@irene083051 Irene, welcome to Connect. I think you may be talking about a surgical tool that is an ultrasonic vibrating scalpel used for cutting bone. This would not be used for cutting out bad discs near the spinal cord. You can learn about it in this discussion.

Answers about Controversial Trends in Spine Care
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/controversial-trends-in-spine-care/
This tool isn't always used or needed, and it's entirely up the surgeon for what methods they use in their procedures. When asking a surgeon about what tools they use, be cautious because you don't want the surgeon to think you are telling them how to do their job. Asking about pros and cons of a procedure is fine, and what other options there may be, but let the surgeon explain why they do things the way they do.

Are you seeking an appointment with a spine specialist or considering a second opinion?

Irene I went down the ultrasonic scapel for cervical stenosis. Dr Cantor from his spine institute has a YouTube video saying he can ultrasonicly treat cervical stenosis. I set up a Zoom call to see if he could treat me that way for my c3 to c6 cervicalstenosis. Lol he wanted to do a posterior 7 level with spacers n a level ACDF. That crazy. Also had a Zoom call with Duek spine institute he wanted to do 7 level laminectomy. Insane both fusion n terrible choices. Also had spoke to 2 big time NYC spine surgeons both wanted to do 4 level ACDF not good fusion too. Then saw 2 top doctor in Syracuse ny. One again said 4 level ACDF but the other suggested a 4 level laminoplasty non fusion but still open surgery but motion preserving. Better than all the above procedures. I finally found world class endoscopic spine surgeon Dr Shen of Shen-spine in Latham ny. Near Albany he looked at my mri n xrays n discs and said he could help me. He's going to do a 4 level cervical endoscopic laminotomy. He said it would be outpatient surgery 2 to 4 week recovery no neck brace. Anyone who is being told they need a fusion procedure don't do it until you see dr shen check out his website n healthgrades n YouTube. He's won tons of awards for his pioneering work in Endoscopic spine surgery. Dr's fly in to be treated by him. If you can be treated with endoscopic spine surgery this is the guy you should trust. I'm having my mine on 3/24/25. I saw 7 top notch surgeons but 90% of all them do open surgery and fusions most of the time to treat spinal stenosis. I'm not saying that there not good. But any spinal fusion will need revision down the road. Only a small percentage of spine surgeons take the years of training to treat spinal stenosis endoscopicly. Dr Shen good luck to everyone

Hopefully you haven't had a open spine surgery. My story is long but after seeing 7 top notch surgeons 6 who wanted to do my 4 level cervical stenosis with a fusion surgery. 1 suggested a 4 level laminoplasty non fusion but still open surgery longer recovery. Contact Dr Shen of Shen-spine he's a world class leader I endoscopic spine surgery least invasive spine surgery there is. Only a handful of Dr's do it because of the years of extra training it takes to be excellent at it. Dr shen is check out his website n healthgrades n you tube all of it. Dr's fly in to be treated by him. All these other surgeons say we do minimal invasive surgery. ACDF, LAMINECTOMY and other fusion style open surgerys I don't feel are minimal. Dr Shen is doing my 4 level cervical endoscopic laminotomy on 3/24 outpatient surgery. Good luck to everyone

I have severe c3 to c6 cervical stenosis. I've been to 7 top surgeons from NYC to Florida to syracuse ny. 4 wanted to do 4 level ACDF'S very bad 1 wanted to do 7 level Laminectomy very bad . 1 more wanted to do a hybrid with 7 posterior spacers and 2 level ACDF'S all the above terrible choice all fusion operations that will need a revision down the road guaranteed. 1 surgeon said I needed a 4 level laminoplasty that's where they cut one side of your lamina put in a spacer and metal plate. This is non fusion motion preserving but open neck surgery . Not wanting any open surgery or metal hardware in my neck I finally found Dr Shen Shen-spine in Latham ny and in staten island and new jersey too who is a world class endoscopic spine surgeon. There are only a handful of excellent endoscopic spine surgeon's because of the years of extra training it takes. Dr's fly in for his expertise in Endoscopic spine surgery. Check him out on his website or healthgrades or you tube. Do your own homework. You won't find anyone better. He's doing a. Endoscopic 4 level laminotomy and disectomy if needed all threw a small hole threw my lamina at each level. He said it will be outpatient and no neck braces less pain because it's not open surgery and quicker recovery he said golf in 3 weeks after because of it being endoscopicly. My stress n anxiety level is almost 0 know I'm not being fused or having metal plates in my neck. My surgery is 3/24/25. Don't get fused you don't have to check out Dr Shen or maybe you can a excellent endoscopic spine doctor near you. There's not that many as good as Shen. No fusion

Good luck with your upcoming surgery.
Please give us all suffering with similar conditions an update post surgery.
Thank you