Please share about severe cervical spinal stenosis

Hi Lesley,
I'm currently waiting for 11/24/25 to arrive when I will finally have posterior cervical surgery. Over a year ago I had anterior cervical surgery. The Dr. performed a discectomy fusion C3-4 and C4-5 with bone graft taken from my Iliac Crest. I had a lot of pain in recovery the first couple of weeks and then it started to get better. I would say that I felt pretty good after the initial first few weeks. I have Osteoarthritis pretty bad and I'm growing osteophytes everywhere. My hands are swollen and sore. The real pain comes from the flattened spinal nerve at my C-6 and C6-7 leaving me with muscle loss to the point that I've lost my balance, my left side is severely weak. I cannot raise my left arm up over my head. Dexterity is about all gone. I cannot stand on one leg, I quickly fall to the side. I have had a few falls but didn't hurt myself too bad. I'm 68 and I never thought I'd be dealing with this kind of thing. I'm a Grandma and I can't pick up my babies anymore. And I'm not suppose to pick up anything that is over 30lbs With my current weakness, I can't even pick up 5lbs. I was hoping that the first surgery I had in 2024 would have helped me out more. Here is the problem, my nerve is FLAT between C6-C7. I'm hoping to regain the use of my arm again. If the surgery doesn't correct the problem then at least they can stop the progress is what I'm hoping and praying for. It's to the point that I need to have this surgery. I spoke with my surgeon recently and he said that posterior cervical surgery can be quite painful and I might be in pain for awhile. He also said that it will probably require more surgery in the future. I obviously didn't want to hear all this but it's the doctors obligation to be honest and tell the patients what to expect. For me, I think I'm pretty strong but I'm still very scared to go into the operating room again. My surgery will concentrate on C6-C7 with a laminectomy decompression. The remove part of the lamina to relieve pressure on the spinal cord that has caused me to have cervical myopathy. Along this journey, I have had MRI's, CAT scans, testing of all kinds. I had a electromyogram that measures the electrical impulses transmitted along nerves, nerve root and muscle tissue. I have lost the use of my left arm and the 3 main muscles in that arm are measuring 90% loss of strength. In other words, I could end up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Cervical Myopathy takes it time and slowly takes away the use of your arms, legs and all kinds of bad things. During all these tests they have found that I have a 4.6 Aortic aneurysm, nodules on my thyroid, osteoporosis throughout my spine, a large hiatal hernia, white spots on my brain and carpal tunnel so bad my nerves burn at times. I already have diabetes and severe sleep apnea. On a more positive note, I have lost 70lbs over the past 8 years. I'm so very grateful that I got control of my weight issues or I feel like things would be much worse. I hope it has helped you to read my story. If I can help someone, that certainly makes me feel better. Mayo has a lot of good information online and hearing your story made me want to respond. I totally understand the feelings you're concerned about. After a posterior laminectomy I have to remember I am susceptible to the risks of infection, nerve damage, bleeding, spinal fluid leak etc. It's just scary to think about that so in the next month before surgery I'm going to eat healthy, maybe lose a few more pounds and try and find some peace in my head that won't turn off at times. Thanks and hugs to you all and thank you Lesley for starting this interesting post.

Hello my name is LeighAnn and I am knew here, just needing someone to talk to me and help me to know that I am not alone. For the past few years I have known about my problem in my c4, c5, and c6 area in my next but it seem to have gotten worst over the last few months. If I move around too much like cleaning or moving things around I start getting nauseated to the point of having to vomit and then for awhile my stomach stays nauseated and I am either vomiting or sitting on the stool doing you know what and afterwards I get this fullness feeling in the back of my head that is terrible and feels like so much pressure is building in my head and it makes me afraid to even lay down at night. The tingling and heat sensation that goes from my neck area to down my left arm into my fingers are very scary. Just need to know if other people are going through this

@jehovahgod1 Hello LeighAnn. Welcome to Connect. With cervical spine issues there can also be muscles spasms that start shifting the vertebrae. Inside the cervical vertebrae are the vertebral arteries that supply part of the brain. If those arteries are getting kinked or stretched because the vertebrae are in a bad position, it may cause nausea and vertigo.

That would happen to me prior to my spine surgery because my vertebrae were rotating on their own without me turning my head. It all calmed down after spine surgery to decompress my spinal cord from the pressure of a herniated disc. Something like this isn’t going to get better on it own and because every signal from the brain to the body moves through the neck, it can affect other parts of the body and affect function. Some patients end up in wheelchairs and become incontinent when spinal cord damage happens from compression.

Are you seeking an opinion from a spine surgeon? It’s important to get answers and know what the future may be and what choices you can make to prevent disability.

Hello this is Lesley reporting post Acdf surgery at Mayo Phoenix. I had C4/5 and 5/6 diskecktomy and fusions. They used 3D printed cages to fit my personal disc spaces and then fixed plates in the front for fusion. The surgery went fine at first but by morning I was vomiting profusely and in an unusual amount of pain. I stayed drugged up the next night but on day two was sent for xray pre discharge and they discovered a complication had happened in surgery, not the neuro surgeons fault at all. Some info about my lungs caused me to have a pneumothorax and I had to get a chest tube put in. It's been a very rough and painful time but already on day four my incision looks great and I'm eating anything I want here in the hospital. Delicious salmon btw!
The care has been amazing by my nurses and medical team. However I don't remember anyone reading me a risk list at all pre op, no not once. I fell into a 2% risk category and hit the jackpot but actually did not know the risks so be sure to ASK!!!
My tube is out, I'm improving daily but feel weak from all the drugs I think. And the trauma.
I think the staff here are top notch and this has been so much better than any previous hospitals I've been in in Oregon for sure. Well worth the trip.
Any questions just ask, I think I'm getting discharged tomorrow day five.

Thanks for all the reassurances!
The preop Dr appointment the day before was very disappointing. I had wanted to ask my surgeon some questions but his nurse just handed me a printout what not to do post op.
Anyway it's a week today since I had ACDF on 4/5 and 5/6
Somehow I was very sick over the first night and day. Then on the discharge they sent me for an X-ray to check the hardware and found why U had been complaining so much!
I had one of those complications that only 2% of patients get , had to stay 5 nights. I had a pneumothorax, no one knows how or why it happened but then I was taken off for twilight sleep and a tiny
The other things like

@jeanstewart Leslie, I’m glad to hear from you and know that you are getting better. I agree, Mayo staff are very compassionate. Will you be following up with a pulmonologist during your recovery? Take it easy since your body has been through a lot and recovery takes some time. I slept a lot after my cervical fusion.

@janagain hello again! I only just read your post and am wondering if you are still facing surgery on the 24 Th?. I will pray for your recovery and future. At 75 I always considered myself very young but the old spine was busy degenerating and making osteophytes ! I had a rare complication in surgery. I stayed six days in hospital. I'm still struggling with nausea and weakness all over my body. I had to have a chest tube placed after surgery.
I was horribly nervous as well going into this. My surgeon reassured me I have a very good fusion and the cages and screws are all holding fast. My lungs are healed up as well. I'm focusing on the positives here!
. I do hope you have a successful surgery and recovery. Follow the rules closely and be sure not to overdo things. I hope you have help afterwards as well
That's important as well. I also know now not to compare ourselves to younger patients who have endless energy and quick recoveries. All the best, I hope to see you on here with good news!

Hi Lesley, Jennifer, LeighAnn,
My surgery was rescheduled and it's on the 26th of November. And it will be here before I know it. Lesley, how are you doing today? It sounds like you had a successful surgery. Thank you for posting, it gives me hope.
This is one heck of an ORDEAL!
I've never been so concerned as I am now about how this could potentially change my life, better or worse. I just keep busy till the day comes. I'm making a baby quilt for a very good friend. Her sister asked me to make it for her and all the guests at the baby shower signed 5" squares with colored pens etc. to make this a really special quilt.
Thank you all for your support, it means ALOT to me. HUGS!!!
Janagain and again and again lol

The 26 th will be here before you know it. Ask all the questions you can think of. I didn't. It's two weeks now and I don't know why I still have such neck pain and lack of strength. Maybe the pneumothorax has something to do with it but it's like having a stiff sore neck all the time. I flew home though and that was very tough packing and moving with neck stress from my hard brace I wore. I'd like to know is all this sore neck at the back and over my shoulders normal? I never had any pain before surgery at all. My spinal cord was compressed but never painful. I've seen young people having no pain post op. Is anyone out there who can tell me is this pain is normal?