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Spinal stenosis C5-C6 and C6-C7
I have had a headache (in the lower back of my head) and neck pain for about 7 months. My Dr tried physical therapy and a cortisone injection in the spot that caused most of my pain. Nothing has worked. He did an x-ray that showed lots of arthritis. He sent me for an MRI. Results: Severe degenerative spondylosis C5-6 and C6-7. At C5-6 generalized disc bulge with endplate osteophytes and superimposed focal
left paracentral disc protrusion combine to cause a moderate degree of central canal stenosis. At C6-7 generalized disc bulge with endplate osteophytes and superimposed focal
left paracentral disc protrusion combine to cause a moderate degree of central canal stenosis.
IMPRESSION:
Severe degenerative spondylosis at C5-6 and C6-7. Disc bulges with endplate
osteophytes and superimposed focal disc protrusions at these levels result in a
moderate degree of central canal stenosis at C5-6 and C6-7.
I have recently stated having numbness and tingling in my left arm and hand. I can't hold things for very long in my left hand.
I saw a neurosurgeon yesterday. H did an exam and reviewed my MRI and x-rays. He stated that before we even discuss surgery he wants to do an epidural injection in C6-7. I was told that they will sedate me for this procedure.
My concern is I have read where people have to have the injections multiple times. Just wondering if I can get some advise from someone that has actually had this done.
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Hello, I’ve had three cervical ablations. These required that I go through a “testing” phase of local injection in my C4-5, C5-6. The test worked, the ablation worked well to help with headaches. Got about a year out of them. I would’ve done anything to get rid of my headaches.
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2 Reactions@lovef
I have what you have. I had ACDF surgery on c5-c6 in 2022 and need c6-c7 done as soon as possible. I never had spinal injections and physical therapy wasn’t going to do anything to help my degenerative changes and resolve symptoms. I was getting so bad I was losing control of my bladder and having a hard time walking (all tied to cervical spine). I had significant pain/weakness/numbness in neck/arms/hands and was dropping things and handwriting got really bad.
I would ask why your surgeon wants to do a spinal injection (temporary relief) rather than move straight to surgery. It sounds like your central stenosis is pressing on your spinal cord which can cause permanent damage over time (cervical myelopathy).
Check with your insurance to see what is needed to get prior authorization for surgery and look into getting a 2nd or 3rd opinion by a highly rated orthopedic spine specialist.
1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/cervical-myelopathy
2. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/cervical-myelopathy
3. https://www.orthobullets.com/spine/2031/cervical-myelopathy
4. https://spinehealth.org/article/cervical-myelopathy-explained/
5. https://myelopathy.org/wp-content/uploads/Cervical-Myelopathy-HandBook-10-20.pdf
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2 ReactionsI am having the injection done on Friday June 6th.
@lovef Welcome to Connect. Sometimes surgeons want to know how much their surgery can fix by doing an injection. The reasoning is that there is inflammation present, and the injection reduces some inflammation which made reduce your pain symptoms or improve dysfunction. Sometimes surgeons do this to put off surgery for awhile especially if they want you to go elsewhere. Sometimes the insurance requires it before they will authorize expensive surgery.
I had one cervical spine injection done as a diagnostic. I had a bad reaction to it in that it caused burning electric stabbing pains hitting my hand at random that were new. It did also take away all the preexisting pain I had that was being generated by spinal cord compression. The problem was that the surgeon didn't understand those results because I had pain all over my body from cord compression in my neck. He ignored the results, and because he couldn't explain it, he refused me surgery. The issue is called funicular pain or tract pain that is real and happens to some patients. At the time of my injection about 10 years ago, this was considered a rare presentation of symptoms, and I found some medical literature with a case like mine. I believe that the bad reaction may be due to an ingredient in the injection, likely polyethylene glycol or PEG. I have had similar reactions to other injections which may have been for the same reason. I won't do them again. There are also some very real risks to the injections, so make sure they explain in detail before you sign consent. It takes about 6 weeks for the body to dissolve the injected steroid, and that is how long it took for the stabbing pain to stop. I also had heat and cold sensitivity in my hand after that for about a year and a half before it returned to normal. I had a fusion at C5/C6 which resolved all the funicular pain that I had. I didn't have compression at the nerve roots.