New - Lightheadedness with Spinal Stenosis

Posted by juljul @juljul, 21 hours ago

Hello - I am new here. I am a 53yo F.
Since Dec 27 2024 I have had lightheadedness/dizziness every day. It comes and goes. Starting in late January I also have tingling/numbness in my left foot and hand. In the last week I have diarrhea all the time.

Brain MRI, heart holter monitor/ekg, all bloodwork is clear.

Cervical spine mri shows the following:

"At C5-C6, a disc protrusion and facet arthropathy results in moderate
narrowing of the right neural foramen. No central canal narrowing is
seen.

At C6-C7, a disc protrusion and facet arthropathy results in moderate
central canal narrowing. The thecal sac measures 8.5 mm in AP
diameter. There is moderate narrowing of the bilateral neural foramen."
"FINDINGS:
The cervical vertebral body height and alignment is maintained. The
marrow signal is normal. There is degenerative disc disease at C5-6
and C6-7. There is retrolisthesis of C5 on C6. Reversal of the normal
cervical curvature is centered at C5-6. The cervical cord demonstrates normal size and signal intensity."

I have been PT for four weeks with little to no improvement. I have some clear times. Walking seems to help. Sitting makes it worse. Lying down seems to help.

I see a neuro surgeon in two weeks.

I am terrified I will wake up paralyzed or unable to breathe or something worse. Will this move slowly? Does anyone have any experience with this or solutions/treatments that have worked?

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | 6 hours ago

@juljul
I am a 55 year old female and had similar symptoms and MRI. It seems you have cervical spondylotic myelopathy which is a spinal cord compression injury, stenosis and degenerative disc disease. You may need ACDF surgery on c5-c6 and c6-c7. I had my c5-c6 done when I was 52 (in 2022). I am now having c6-c7 done in 2025 due to a new herniated disc pressing on my spinal cord and causing bilateral radiculopathy to my arms/hands. Cervical myelopathy can affect your lower body/legs/feet which I didn’t realize. I also have lumbar spine issues and had surgery on that last year l3-l5 fused in 2024). When it comes to your spinal cord, it is important to get treatment asap to avoid further progression of the damage and risk for fall/paralysis.

I hope you get good information and options when you meet with your neurosurgeon.

loriesco | @loriesco | 3 hours ago

please don't be afraid. Although your anxiety is normal! You will get thru this! It sounds like @juljul and I have both been on this degenerative path you are on too. All of this can be relieved when you see a GREAT orthopedic surgeon and pain management doctor. You have a variety of issues which MAY need an interdisciplinary approach. I did. You are in need at this point. Do not delay and PUSH, and I think you should also be seeing an orthopedic surgeon. I always feel like the neurologists are just a waste of my time, its the orthopedic surgeon who informs you of the solution. The diarrhea can be anxiety its hard to tell. I take every term in the MRI and look it up in google. You can do this and get a great picture of what's going on to ask questions to your doctors. You should also be scheduled with a pain management doctor at the same time. The physical therapy is a waste in some ways, but it will keep you strong before surgery and also documents that they can't help you which justifies the next steps. I hate that it is drawn out like this but cervical spine surgery was not clear in my case so it was good that it was. Get a GOOD MFR THERAPIST NOW! Before you go any further. See if that brings you some nice relief! (there is a section here on MFR). Its necessary to clear up the direction this may need to go! good luck!

darienneadams | @darienneadams | 1 hour ago

I think that your dizziness is caused by the compression on your cervical spine.

I’m sorry that you are dealing with this.

linda6101 | @linda6101 | 10 minutes ago

Having surgery in your cervical spine is not bad. You have degenerative disc disease that could be fixed. Recovery from the cervical spine is nothing compared to the lumbar spine. My son had it. They go through the front of the neck. My son was back at work in two weeks.