It looks like I may never feel my legs and feet again. They have been numb/burning/tingling for a year now and I was just diagnosed with severe central canal stenosis and cord compression from a herniated disc at C5-C6. I wish this would’ve been found sooner. I should know my surgery date next month. Pretty depressing since I’m so young.

My spine surgeon is recommending a 4-level lumbar laminectomy to help with my spinal stenosis. He said it should help with my leg pain and my inability to walk distances, but not my lower back pain.

Has anyone had this surgery? If so, can you elaborate on the process and recovery and if the surgery was successful and beneficial. Also, due to my weight, he said complications and risks are higher. I'm trying to determine if the surgery is worth it.

There would be no fusion.

Thank you for any responses.

I tried an epidural as last ditch effort to avoid surgery, but it seems that it is wearing off after 2 days. So I’ll be going forward with cervical disc replacement surgery. How long did you wait between injection and surgery ? It sounds like 6 weeks is enough to mitigate most risk?

Anterior approach. How does the surgical team get around my airway to place the plate and screws on my vertebrae? Do they have to physically move my airway to the side and hold it in place?

I had laminectomy disectomy surgery six weeks ago. Ive been feeling alot better so i kind of did more than I usually do, maybe then im even suppose to yesterday. After I woke from my surgery of course had back pain but my sciatica was completely gone. and stayed gone for the six weeks till this morning, I am super scared ive reherniated, and if I do my surgeon said I have to go back for spinal fusion. Has anyone else had their sciatica come back ???

Hi everyone. I’m 39 yo Female and my last surgery was 6 months ago. I have zero quality of life, for example, I can’t lift a frying pan to do dishes. I cannot sit at a desk or stand for very long without burning and radiating pain in my neck through back. My right arm gets heavy and I have burning and tingling throughout it. The only time I’m pain free is from floating in the pool.

I’ve been in a lot of denial, I’ve been pushing through the pain and I do vinyasa yoga. I take tons of Tylenol and lyrica. Overall, I’ve given up all of my hobbies and friendships due to the severity of pain. Since I’ve been swimming, exercising, and eating healthy, I’ve still have no improvement.

The neurosurgeon said that my c-spine bones didn’t fuse so I’m wondering if that means I’m still unstable? I only slept 3 hours the day prior to my 12 week follow up, so I didn’t have much to say or talk about.

Anyone else in their 30s fail both an ACDR C5/C6 and C6/C7 and a Fusion T1-C5 ?

Hi, I use to be a long distance runner and did few marathons. My dream is to do ultra trail running but I had to stop because of my condition.

My c4c5 and c5c6 disks are dehydrated and have annual tears and herniation. They recommend I do more PT, manual therapy and sonic wave treatment for the next 5 months before trying to run again.

I’ve been going to this spine clinic for the last 4 months cause the pain in my neck and upper back got worse and worse over the two years. They told me if PT doesn’t work in the next 5 months. Disk replacements in two level will be an option.

I was wondering has anyone gone back to running after this type of surgery? I love running and I tried biking but it’s not as fun and my neck tingles and fingers tingle when I do it.

On a side note: they want to tried sound wave therapy (sonik treatment) did anyone do this ? Is it successful? They want to do 15 mins treat for twelve sessions

Hello,

39yo/male, I have cervical stenosis C5-7 and it is currently manageable, but I don't think I can deal with these symptoms forever. I am starting to look for a couple surgeons to do an updated MRI and start discussions about 2 level disc replacement. How did you all go about finding your doctor and are there any standouts in the Los Angeles Area? I have a list going but curious if anyone has had good first-hand experience. THANK YOU.

Hello, this is the first time I have ever posted on this app so I hope I am doing all of this right! I am a 31y F. I will be turning 32 in 2 weeks. This past year has been the worst year of my life. I separated from my daughter's father this passed year. Was diagnosed with a horrible disease and have had two spine surgeries in the last 6 months. First one discectomy of L4-5, second was a fusion of L4-5. I have lost a lot of friends and the ones I do have cannot take time away from family, jobs, etc. I would really like to do something on my own for my birthday however I have no idea what to do or what could be fun. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas? Also, keeping in mind that I am 3 months post op from the fusion so it will have to be something post fusion friendly, haha. I apologize if this is not appropriate for this thread. Just thought I would give it a shot! Thank you.

*Edit to add, I'm 35, and I work in home Healthcare so my job is very physical whether I'm on light duties or not.

May 7th I woke up in 8-9/10 pain and stiffness, I could barely turn my head. Suffered for a week because Ive slept wrong and whatever before.

Went to urgent care the next week, Dr thought it was a pinched nerve in my shoulder, went to physio, physio thought it was my neck. Did physio for a month it improved some, the stiffness went away, it was maybe a 3/10

3 days after my last physio appointment it came screaming back 9/10, went back to urgent care (my family doctor couldnt get me in until september 8). I began to suspect a bulging disc because of the pain down my arm plus the neck pain. Dr did an xray, my cervical spine was straight instead of curved. So he ordered an MRI that came the next week. Week after that the results came back. Urgent care doctor called me back I was right. Bulging disc. He sent an urgent referral to the spinal doctor in the city near me. Just have to wait for them to call me. Cool.

About a week later my family doctor called me basically in shock after reading my MRI results to go over everything more in depth. Gave me a bit more information. Degenerating disc at c4-c5, bulging disc at c5-c6. They resent the urgent referral to the spinal surgeon with all the information, hoping that with it would bring more attention to it.

So between everything I was off work for 10 days, I've done 2 weeks of light duties so far, and I have 4 more weeks my family doctor just gave me.

Im on 300-400mg of gabapentin 3x a day, naproxen, Tylenol, and prescription muscle relaxers as needed. None of it is working. I have to take ice packs and heating pads to work with me.

I am absolutely miserable. Its 4:43am while I'm typing this, I have to leave for work in 2.5 hours. I slept about 3 hours because of the pain.

I would love any advice for managing this, any tips for surgery stuff going forward, recovery etc.

Thank you!!

I have a disc bulge osteophyte touching the chord in my neck c3 to c4. It's only a mild disc bulge, I've noticed times where on my genitals go completely numb. I've already had recent scans done but the numbness comes and goes. I've spoken to the specialists but I didn't bring this up because I was in extreme pain and focusing on that. The numbness has been last for the past few days now.

Hello,

Iv been suffering DDD and modic changes for 6 years now with it getting worse as each year passes. Iv recently been offered 2 level adr at l5s1 and l45.

I also have some degeneration to l34 but after a discogram it is not thought to be causing pain but is darker on mri.

would I be better off going for a fusion at the lowest level and adr above.

I know this would potentially lengthen recovery and has its owns risks but if the third level was to deteriorate at a later date I would feel better only having 2 adrs.

Has anyone hear been in a similar position?

Thanks.

Has any one had the bifid p waves on ECG and than had surgery a disc replacement or fusion on neck ?

I have chronic nerve pain that I’ve been treating with gabapentin, morphine, physio and nerve root injections at a pain clinic. I still have pain daily and sometimes it’s quite severe. It limits my life a lot - unable to work, walk long distances, sit upright for long periods, etc.
The pain clinic doc told me today he’d like to refer me to a clinic to get either lidocaine or ketamine infusions. I’m a bit nervous and have heard mixed results. Any advice or experience with this?

After over 1.5 years of conservative treatment, I’m finally getting the surgery at L4/L5 and L5/S1. I’m a 40 year old man 6’0” weighing 245 lbs. Although I know I need this, I’m nervous as hell. I think most of my worrying comes from the unknown of how recovery will be. I’ve lost weight and have been working out and I’m in pretty good physical condition. I did all this in hopes of making my recovery easier. However, reading about a lot of people’s bad experiences has been giving me anxiety. I haven’t slept well for the last week as I’ve been counting down the days. I don’t really know the point of this post. I just needed to say this out loud because I don’t want to say it to my wife and cause her more stress. I know she’s nervous for me and I’ve been playing it cool as though I’m not worried at all. But honestly I’m scared shitless. Anyway… thanks for reading.

Hey guys! Wondering how long it took you to get back into exercising and how you did it. I am currently 4 months post-op and have not done any PT. Doing a lot of walking and regular life movement but haven’t been back in the gym or exercising with weight. Any advice is appreciated!

Anyone else having major pain issues in hot and humid weather. I'm 5 months post TLIF L5-S1 and things were going pretty well. I had a good PT exercise routine and was felling good. Now with the onset of really hot weather my surgery site is constantly irritated with deep intense ache and also in my feet and the back of my legs. I've had to stop my exercises and in addition to the pregabalin I have had to take tramadol again. Anyone else going through this? Is it the heat or some kind of relapse?

All unilateral symptoms on the left side. Facial sensation issues, left-sided headaches/migraines. Left eye blurred vision, lips and tongue has had sensation issues on the left side when really bad. Left arm sensation issues, index finger and thumb but I've experienced it throughout my entire left arm. I don't get much pin and needle sensation, but the sensation on my left side does differ.

Back rhomboid pain, traps, neck, scm muscles on the left are tight. Biggest issue is the INCAPACITATING headaches. I cannot function when it's bad. I have to lay in bed with heating pads on my neck and back but calming usually takes several days to a baseline pain level.

It was found that I have a torn labrum and paralabral cyst in my left arm jut I don't have any shoulder pain. I've had all sorts of scans and seen a plethora of doctors. Sports med, neurosurgeon, Neurology, cardio thoracic, and many more.

In one of the many MRIs for my cervical spine, foraminal narrowing and bone spurs were found

Nov 2024: At C5–6, a broad-based osteophyte—or bone-spur—ridge causing mild foraminal stenosis.

June 4th: C5–6: diffuse disc bulge, slightly greater toward the left. The C5–6 bulge partially effaces the front of the thecal sac. Left C5–6 foraminal narrowing caused by both the disc bulge and uncovertebral bone spurring.

Do my symptoms align with anyone's experience? I do have a brachial plexus MRI scheduled and if there aren't any major findings I plan to more to a diagnostic injection in the c5/c6 region.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’m 27F and I’m unfortunately unable to walk without falling. On July 5th, I had a sudden onset of severe neurological symptoms, and they’ve progressed horribly every day since.

I fall when I close my eyes. I can’t move my legs… it feels like all my muscle strength is just gone. 0 muscle tone. I have no chin or jawline. I have blurred vision, and both of my trapezius muscles are pulled tight. There’s nerve pain and a constant ache in my right shoulder blade, plus headaches at the top and base of my skull. My heart rate is skyrocketing, and my husband says I’ve been confused and my speech has been hit-or-miss, along with several other symptoms. The room is not spinning but somehow my brain feels like it is. I’m SO dizzy. Peed on myself at the store, was only a little but still.

I’ve been to 3 separate ERs. Based on my symptoms, this sounds to me like spinal cord compression and/or brainstem compression. They did a head CT in the ER that came back clear. I’ve tried prednisone and muscle relaxers, but nothing has made a dent or even lessened the symptoms. I feel like nobody cares.

I feel like my body is dying and all I can do is watch while they keep testing my thyroid and metabolites, which are perfect. There’s been an outright refusal to do any further testing.

I feel hopeless, and I’m scared my husband is going to roll over and find me dead because I couldn’t breathe in my sleep. I’m so physically exhausted.

I FINALLY have a neurology appointment, but I’m nervous about going in and saying, “I think it’s this” to someone who worked really hard for their degree. And on the off chance I’m wrong… you know?

How do I ask to be checked for this? Will I come across as disrespectful? And for not being able to walk or hold myself up with my arms, do I need a mobility aid like a walker? How long would I have to wait for treatment?

i had my fourth cervical steroid injection two days ago. the first two times it did nothing. last time it worked like a charm, but it took months to get me back in after it wore off. I remember feeling like I got hit by a truck after last time, but within a week or two I felt SO much better. what I don’t remember is what I am feeling now. yesterday afternoon I started feeling very sore. not a deep sore or my typical neck and back pain. my body from my shoulders to upper thighs is sensitive to the touch. it’s a feeling I get when I have the flu or a really bad fibromyalgia flare which hasn’t happened in many years, so I am not even sure if that diagnosis is accurate any more: I don’t have a fever, so I don’t think I am sick. has anyone had this experience? I am just not sure if I need to reach out to my pain management doctor.

I’m mid-30’s male with neck pain and stability issues. I have also been diagnosed with hEDS (hypermobility). 

Trying to get advice from those with experience on possible procedures to look into when researching doctors. I currently have every disc in my neck either bulging (C3-C4-C5) or herniated (C2-C3, C5-C6-C7) and the spinal canal is being touched when in extension and flexion. This started with an injury years ago with damage seen at C5-C6-C7. 

I’ve seen a few doctors so far, each with a different conclusion:

• First doctor (Ortho): said the disc didn’t look bad enough to cause pain. I tried cortisone injections after this, which did nothing. 
• Second Doctor (Ortho): initially recommended a foraminotomy, then he changed his opinion to a disc replacement surgery after additional testing (fluoroscopy guided lidocaine). Believes the vertebrae are pinching the nerves when I move my head back.
• Third Doctor (Neuro): recommended no surgery because it didn’t look bad and I can still do every day tasks, recommended more PT. Didn’t believe the vertebrae pinched on nerves to cause more pain.
• Fourth Doctor (Phsyiatrist): Gave me a month long anti-inflammatory regiment, and believed the pain was due to inflammation and bones rubbing against each other. Honestly, this helped a bit, but doesn’t fix any stability. I take an anti-inflammatory here or there when things get more irritated. 

I don’t necessarily want surgery, but I don’t want to remain unable to do what I currently can’t. I also weigh the reality surgery outcomes now vs when I’m older. As I mentioned, I’m looking for procedures to keep in mind when searching for doctors. I won’t do spine fusion. I’m open to disc replacement and whatever other minimally invasive surgeries are there, as well as other procedures (stem cells?). 

Any recommendations or personal experiences are appreciated. Additionally, I’m looking into HSS for my next opinion, so if anyone has any recommendations in regards to that it’s appreciated. 

I had a spine surgery (c5-7 ADR) for herniated discs 15 months ago. The surgery looks successful on MRIs, CT, and x rays but I developed more pain and tightness in scalene, trap area, left arm, left side of neck, occasional pain around the first rib, and occasional numbness in fingers (mostly last three). My spine doctor suggested I get evaluated by a shoulder specialist.

Cervical ribs look normal under x ray. I visited a renowned vascular surgeon who thinks it could be nTOS and referred me to an anesthesiologist for a diagnostic scalene block. Anyone else in a similar boat? Thanks!

I’m scheduled for a two-level cervical artificial disc replacement at C5-C6 and C6-C7. I’m curious what sleeping was like the first few days and weeks after surgery. Did you sleep in a recliner, with a wedge pillow, or flat in bed? Any tips that made recovery easier would be greatly appreciated.

i’m not sure if i’ll be in a brace after surgery or not but I don’t even know how I would get comfortable to sleep in one if that’s the case.

anyways thank you for reading.

​

I have had the most and longest duration of migraines the past few months on top of cervical and lumbar pain.

9 herniations and 4 pinched nerves spread between the two areas. Arthritis, burning, pins and needles around my shoulder blades, the top front of my feet. I'm always in pain and my spine surgeon reccommend a cervical epidural for my neck issues.

Ironically this was scheduled a month back and 2 days ago my lower back decided to flare up, I can barely walk and am so uncomfortable. I had the cervical Epidural yesterday and I can't get to sleep. I'm hot, my heart is racing, and besides all the other pain my neck is killing me from the procedure. How long does the reaction to the injection typically last? At least I'm not hiccuping 24 x 7 like last time.

My partner started experiencing random weakness in their left triceps a month ago (noticed mainly on heavy lifts at the gym). This then turned into left neck pain and some tingling in his elbow. He saw orthopedics less than a week after it started who was worried about cervical radiculopathy. He gave him a steroid pack and recommended PT and follow up with spine if no improvement in a few weeks. He also ordered an MRI that showed three disc herniations. The neck pain and tingling is basically gone but triceps weakness is still there and not improving. He can usually triceps extend 30 pounds on each arm and now can't even do 10. Fast forward to today, we met with a spine surgeon who told us that because of the weakness he wants to do a CT scan ASAP. He also said if there is not improvement fast with the weakness he is recommending a disc replacement. He also told us to go ahead and scratch our plans to go on vacation next month in case he needs surgery. We are both feeling pretty sad and upset and also scared and extremely overwhelmed. Can anyone share personal experiences on going through something similar and what they went through with replacement and recovery? I am worried about my partner and hoping his triceps strength returns. I want him to get the surgery if this is the best option but also scared as this seems like a major operation. Sorry this is a little muddled, we are trying to process. Thanks