Neuropathy from lumbar stenosis?

Good morning, Jennifer (@jenniferhunter)

Thank you for such a careful reply! I have tried going over all of the points you make with equal care.

I believe it is so true for many of us with idiopathic PN, and especially those of us with additional conditions, either related or unrelated, to know which therapies may help relieve some if not all of our symptoms. That's undoubtedly the conundrum I'm facing with my PN and cervical stenosis. You do refer to pain throughout your post. Here's where we encounter one of my situation's oddities, the source of considerable frustration when I speak with my clinicians, notably when I'm presenting for the first time: I have no pain. I have neither pain that I can associate with my stenosis nor pain linked to my PN. I only learned that I have cervical stenosis due to the MRI my neurologist's MA sent me to get in an attempt to decode my balance and gait issues. That led to my being referred to the neurosurgeon who further diagnosed my cervical malformity, offered surgery, but at the same time called my condition "borderline" and, as I had no cervical symptoms (at least none of the typical symptoms that might cry for urgent cervical surgery), we take a wait-and-see approach. I got that diagnosis a little under two years ago, and I've still no pain that I (as a person who has no pretensions of being a doctor) think of as stenosis-related pain; no dizziness or vertigo-like symptoms, either. An EMG a year ago pinpointed (bad pun!) sensation-loss in my feet. Even that sensation loss – if it hadn't been for the EMG – is yet another condition of which I might not be aware if it hadn't been for the EMG. I tell my clinicians: "It's a weirdness. I've no pain, but my balance is poor, my walking is wonky, and I don't know why." I should add that I've not been injured. One curious note: a brain MRI, which was otherwise A-Okay, did reveal my having been a heavy drinker, although my drinking days ended more than 30 years ago and I've had nothing alcoholic since. You ask toward the end of your wonderful message, regarding the wait-and-see approach, "Will the neuropathy obscure worsening of the symptoms that are coming from the spine?" That is a question weighing heavily on my mind. Should I get a fresh cervical MRI and return to meet with the neurosurgeon? I trust he'll not pressure me into surgery. He'll expect me to consider seriously what he has to tell me, but he'll also expect me to make that surgery decision. That the decision is ultimately mine? Therein lies the crux of my conundrum.

Again, Jennifer, thank you a millionfold for your thought-provoking reply!

Ray (@ray666)

I have been reading the evolving thread on neuropathy and lumbar stenosis with particular interest. I have idiopathic sensory-motor PN, giving me terrible balance and difficulty walking, even the shortest distances. In March 2022, I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis (“critical stenosis centrally at C4-C5, C5-C6 without cord signal change”: my neurosurgeon’s note). I had had no cervical-area symptoms then; I had been looking for an answer to my lower-body PN. That I had cervical stenosis came as a surprise. The neurosurgeon offered cervical surgery but cautioned that even a positive outcome might have no effect on my bad balance and walking difficulty. We decided on –– and are continuing with –– a wait-and-see approach to my cervical stenosis. Reading about others’ experiences with PN and lumbar surgeries has me wondering if any of you have ever had cervical stenosis surgery, only to be pleasantly surprised to find that it helped reduce or even eliminate your lower-body PN symptoms.

I have been reading the evolving thread on neuropathy and lumbar stenosis with particular interest. I have idiopathic sensory-motor PN, giving me terrible balance and difficulty walking, even the shortest distances. In March 2022, I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis (“critical stenosis centrally at C4-C5, C5-C6 without cord signal change”: my neurosurgeon’s note). I had had no cervical-area symptoms then; I had been looking for an answer to my lower-body PN. That I had cervical stenosis came as a surprise. The neurosurgeon offered cervical surgery but cautioned that even a positive outcome might have no effect on my bad balance and walking difficulty. We decided on –– and are continuing with –– a wait-and-see approach to my cervical stenosis. Reading about others’ experiences with PN and lumbar surgeries has me wondering if any of you have ever had cervical stenosis surgery, only to be pleasantly surprised to find that it helped reduce or even eliminate your lower-body PN symptoms.

I have been reading the evolving thread on neuropathy and lumbar stenosis with particular interest. I have idiopathic sensory-motor PN, giving me terrible balance and difficulty walking, even the shortest distances. In March 2022, I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis (“critical stenosis centrally at C4-C5, C5-C6 without cord signal change”: my neurosurgeon’s note). I had had no cervical-area symptoms then; I had been looking for an answer to my lower-body PN. That I had cervical stenosis came as a surprise. The neurosurgeon offered cervical surgery but cautioned that even a positive outcome might have no effect on my bad balance and walking difficulty. We decided on –– and are continuing with –– a wait-and-see approach to my cervical stenosis. Reading about others’ experiences with PN and lumbar surgeries has me wondering if any of you have ever had cervical stenosis surgery, only to be pleasantly surprised to find that it helped reduce or even eliminate your lower-body PN symptoms.

Is pain so bad for some. Takes my breath away. If you don't have it people tell you about their neck hurt. I am 69 and have a back with everything. When a surgeon tells you surgery would not work and will not even suggest. Just scary and don't know if others have the same.

I have been reading the evolving thread on neuropathy and lumbar stenosis with particular interest. I have idiopathic sensory-motor PN, giving me terrible balance and difficulty walking, even the shortest distances. In March 2022, I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis (“critical stenosis centrally at C4-C5, C5-C6 without cord signal change”: my neurosurgeon’s note). I had had no cervical-area symptoms then; I had been looking for an answer to my lower-body PN. That I had cervical stenosis came as a surprise. The neurosurgeon offered cervical surgery but cautioned that even a positive outcome might have no effect on my bad balance and walking difficulty. We decided on –– and are continuing with –– a wait-and-see approach to my cervical stenosis. Reading about others’ experiences with PN and lumbar surgeries has me wondering if any of you have ever had cervical stenosis surgery, only to be pleasantly surprised to find that it helped reduce or even eliminate your lower-body PN symptoms.

I have been reading the evolving thread on neuropathy and lumbar stenosis with particular interest. I have idiopathic sensory-motor PN, giving me terrible balance and difficulty walking, even the shortest distances. In March 2022, I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis (“critical stenosis centrally at C4-C5, C5-C6 without cord signal change”: my neurosurgeon’s note). I had had no cervical-area symptoms then; I had been looking for an answer to my lower-body PN. That I had cervical stenosis came as a surprise. The neurosurgeon offered cervical surgery but cautioned that even a positive outcome might have no effect on my bad balance and walking difficulty. We decided on –– and are continuing with –– a wait-and-see approach to my cervical stenosis. Reading about others’ experiences with PN and lumbar surgeries has me wondering if any of you have ever had cervical stenosis surgery, only to be pleasantly surprised to find that it helped reduce or even eliminate your lower-body PN symptoms.

I had cervical surgery. Mine did not take. The neurosurgeon said the doctor that performed that the acdf cervical fusion should have never been done. They should have done a laminectomy. That's what they did on my lower back. I had severe axonal sensorimotor peripherial polyneuropathy/ cardiac autonomic neuropathy/small fiber way before the stenosis. The problem they did not tell me about is I have to have my esophagus ballooned open every six months otherwise it closes off and you choke. It will not change the neuropathy problems. Motor neuropathy causes tremors in hands/arms/legs. It says movement disorders. I had to go to Boston to put two and two together. They kept calling it essential tremors but that is one sided. Now I am being tested for CIDP. Peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes, autoimmune, chemotherapy, some medications ( on the insert it does not say neuropathy it says pins and needles) and idiopathic. Mine is autoimmune and I test negative for everything almost. I tested 13 for rheumatoid arthritis and you have to test 14. Strong family history. I posted all the labs that I had to have done in order to see a research neurologist based out of Boston. I live in Texas. These are the doctors she recommended that I have. Immunologist,
Neuromuscular neurologist and Neuromusclar physical therapist. I get severe muscle spasms, tremors (can't hold a glass or cut up my food. Sometimes my husband holds my glass and if I can't get the food to my mouth he feeds me. I can't feel my hands so I constantly cut them needing stitches, bladder problems) I think the worst is the muscle spasms and tremors. Nerve pain wakes me up every morning at 230 am. The surgeries for my cervical and lumbar made no differences for me. Instead, it caused more problems. My cervical was done due to injury from a seizure. I could not hold a empty glass. I would drop it. I fractured T7 due to a seizure. I have spinal bifida also in my lower back causing problems.You can get seizures from neuropathy just an fyi.

My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry you are suffering. Do you think acupuncture may help? Best, CB

I had cervical surgery. Mine did not take. The neurosurgeon said the doctor that performed that the acdf cervical fusion should have never been done. They should have done a laminectomy. That's what they did on my lower back. I had severe axonal sensorimotor peripherial polyneuropathy/ cardiac autonomic neuropathy/small fiber way before the stenosis. The problem they did not tell me about is I have to have my esophagus ballooned open every six months otherwise it closes off and you choke. It will not change the neuropathy problems. Motor neuropathy causes tremors in hands/arms/legs. It says movement disorders. I had to go to Boston to put two and two together. They kept calling it essential tremors but that is one sided. Now I am being tested for CIDP. Peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes, autoimmune, chemotherapy, some medications ( on the insert it does not say neuropathy it says pins and needles) and idiopathic. Mine is autoimmune and I test negative for everything almost. I tested 13 for rheumatoid arthritis and you have to test 14. Strong family history. I posted all the labs that I had to have done in order to see a research neurologist based out of Boston. I live in Texas. These are the doctors she recommended that I have. Immunologist,
Neuromuscular neurologist and Neuromusclar physical therapist. I get severe muscle spasms, tremors (can't hold a glass or cut up my food. Sometimes my husband holds my glass and if I can't get the food to my mouth he feeds me. I can't feel my hands so I constantly cut them needing stitches, bladder problems) I think the worst is the muscle spasms and tremors. Nerve pain wakes me up every morning at 230 am. The surgeries for my cervical and lumbar made no differences for me. Instead, it caused more problems. My cervical was done due to injury from a seizure. I could not hold a empty glass. I would drop it. I fractured T7 due to a seizure. I have spinal bifida also in my lower back causing problems.You can get seizures from neuropathy just an fyi.