Have zero pain but c5 to 7 c spinal fusion recommended due to mri, EMG

@boriesmom Spine problems don’t always cause pain. The problem is loss of function if nerves or the spinal cord are compressed for too long. When you say there is no spinal fluid, I presume you are talking about spinal cord compression. In advanced cases of this, it can cause pain, incontinence or severe constipation and even trouble walking. Your best bet is decompress the pressure before the nerves die and cause permanent damage. I know that’s not an easy answer and I had spinal cord compression with a bad C5/C6 disc. I had a fusion done without hardware and just had a bone disc implant and wore a neck brace. I was in my late 50s at the time. I takes a few months of recovery and every patient is different. I still have stiffness in my neck and periodically stretch it out including the scar tissue because it tightens.

You’ll need to ask a lot of questions and also ask how your condition would change in time if you avoid surgery. Ask if it would eventually lead to a wheelchair. That would also have other consequences as you may need a caregiver if you can no longer care for yourself. It’s always good to get several opinions from different surgeons before you decide what is best. There is also a chance that your arm pain is caused by the spine problem. You need to know that in case it isn’t from carpal tunnel. That does happen where surgeons miss the real cause and do an unnecessary surgery. You could also have both problems at the same time.

I am the same age, 77 and suffering from many of the same issues. My worst problem is at L3-S1 but I do have nerve pain down my left leg and some numbness is my foot. I have been trying to decide whether or not to have surgery since last April. It is definitely not an easy decision. I had scheduled surgery for this month but had to postpone due to complications from a trigger finger release in August. I still can't decide whether or not to go through with the spine surgery. I need to take care of my hand first so that I can manage to use a walker after the spine surgery. I also have C-spine problems similar to yours. My neck is going to have to wait until I get my hand and my lumbar spine taken care of. None of this is easy and I understand your feelings. PM me if you want to talk.

@boriesmom I would be very hesitant to get a fusion without a second and possibly even a third opinion.. I have seen too many people(myself included) who rushed into a spinal fusion, only to regret it later(as I do).

@llander1966 I am meeting with a hand surgeon this week to discuss carpal tunnel surgery, did have a ring finger that was stuck in position a couple years ago, had surgery for that. Now that hand is gradually becoming stiff, well, the fingers all are . The spine surgeon Suggests I get the fingers taken care of first, says it is carpal tunnel. . Went through my med. records and discovered I did have a bone density test back in 2021 and have osteopenia which I also had back in 2017 so will let my doctors know that , I’ve switched clinics here in past month). and probably insurance only pays for so many and I have met my quota.

@heisenberg34 i have discussed this with another MD , a different ortho .doc, But, and I know it’s not the same, but before my hip surgery. I discussed that issue with two separate surgeons, two separate clinics and they said the identical thing and I have considered checking with that clinic and that surgeon again, but, well, I’m considering it.

Probably a good idea to stand back on all the med interventions until you feel secure in going ahead…I have had a neck issue that is part of my headache/neckache problem, diagnosed as ‘occipital neuralgia’, meaning some nerves were being compressed— docs recommended simple exercises, being careful to not have head too far forward while awake and sleeping (the right pillow helps). .and low-dose amitriptyline….the docs were osteopaths and the one who did manual work very helpful…don’t know if any of this helps, but put it out here just in case one or another thing will help.

I believe Medicare will pay for bone scans every 2 years.
Get another opinion. I waited too long, I think. Pain and numbness, shooting pain down my neck lasting only a second, for 10 plus years.
The issue with waiting is the risk of permanently injuring your nerves or your spine. I waited too long.

I've had spinal fusion procedures done on my neck at the C5-C6 level, and then 18 months later at the C7-T1 level. They used a piece of donor bone, along with a plate and screws both times, and the results have been positive. The last surgery was in 2018, and I know that having them done was an absolute necessity in my case because the discs had ruptured.
I've also had 3 carpal tunnel surgeries, one on my left hand and twice on my right. The first procedure didn't work, and I ended up with numbness in my thumb and index finger. A neurosurgeon did the second operation, and told me the numbness might go away, but it didn't. I can't feel anything with those fingers, and just trying to pick up or hold something in my hand is frustratingly maddening at times.
If your neurosurgeon thinks the surgery is necessary I'd go through with it.

@mrmacabre @boriesmom I have had carpal tunnel surgery that helped partially, but didn’t resolve a hand problem and I also had a whiplash injury that eventually lead to spinal fusion. The big thing that was missed by the hand surgeon was TOS thoracic outlet syndrome because they cause the same symptoms by compression of the same nerves but in the shoulder usually between the collarbone and rib cage area. TOS can be caused by an injury such as a whiplash or repetitive stress. My TOS treatment has just been physically therapy.

My suggestion is to find a neurologist familiar with TOS or a thoracic vascular surgeon familiar with it. Look for a specialist at a medical center that lists it as a condition they treat. If your spine issue was an injury, TOS may have happened as a result of the injury. Having conditions with overlapping symptoms really confuses the problem and many doctors do not understand TOS and patients (myself included) are misdiagnosed and go several years before getting a correct diagnosis.

Do you think it would be wise to get an evaluation for TOS before having hand surgery? Certainly there can be more than one problem area at the same time or it could be one issue masking as a different problem. I think the spine surgeon is looking for you to clean up anything that could muddy the success if he does surgery. Spine surgeons can also miss TOS. They do not cover it well in medical school according to my neurologist.

Hmmm interesting! I have not had an accident so this neck/spine thing could just be ‘aging’ degeneration. As for the hand I will mention this TOS to the surgeon ; what is interesting is that when I looked him up he is under cosmetology! His office is in that section but apparently he also does hand surgery and I am meeting him in the Orthopedic section. So who knows where this may lead.