OfflineI had a horrible car accident in January this year. Below are my damages:
C1 with 1cm fracture, C2, C3, C5, C7 all with fractures.
C1 subluxation.
C3-4 with 3 mm spondylolisthesis, C5-6 with 1.5 mm spondylolisthesis, C6-7 with 3 mm spondylolisthesis.
C5 compressed 30%.
C3-4, C5-6, C6-7 disc herniation
C6-7 longitudinal ligaments ruptured.
C5-6 thecal sac measuring 8.9 mm in AP midline dimension.
No significant encroachment on spinal canal and no compression on the spinal cord which retains it’s normal limits.
Symptoms: headache, can’ t lift right arm, right shoulder numb, right hand index finger and mid finger numb.
I was put in Miami J collar with some physical therapy to my right shoulder. During follow-ups in April and May, my doctor said that I was healing well and definitely don’t need surgery. My headache is gone and I can lift my right arm.
But during June follow-ups, my doctor said that due to bone settlement, my spondylolisthesis have gone a little worse. My spinal cord is compressed a little. After I told him I developed a little knee weakness (knee give away about one time a day during walk). He is forcing surgery now.
My MRI report in June is about the same as in January as for in January. The cervical spinal cord demonstrates subtly altered signal characteristics at the c6-7 level with subtle element of increased signal intensity with increased t2 weighting.
My knee is doing better in July, hardly any give away. I want to wait for more symptoms (if they ever develop) to make my decision whether to have surgery now. I can live with my condition now. Only thing I can’t do is moving my head. I don’t have any pain or weakness.
Can I wait? Your input is deeply appreciated!
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Cervical myelopathy, 15 surgeries to date, Severe OA, bilateral knee replacements, DDD, 13 MRI’s, 4 sets of spinal cortisone procedures and dozens of cortisone shots in other areas for OA. Upcoming scheduled surgeries include laminectomy and removal of synovial cyst located at left facet joint of L4-L5 (may require fusion); Right resection of A-C joint (left was done 12 years ago, by far the most painful of all my surgeries)
ladotd,
Wow, that sure sounds like a lot! I doubt you will receive a second opinion on here because we aren't doctors. If it were me I'd want a second opinion from a doctor, and maybe even a third, before I had this kind of surgery. From what I've read once you have nerve or spinal cord damage surgery is not guaranteed to reverse it and it may be too late. Maybe that's what your doctor is trying to avoid. Irreversable damage. Then again, who wants surgery if you're doing fine as you are? I wish you the best.
Teri
DDD, cervical spondylosis, radiculopathy, lumbar disc protrusion and lumbar spinal stenosis at L4-5, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, double crush syndrome.
MRI's, EMG, NCV, X-rays.
Physical Therapy, anti-inflammatories, heat, traction, lots of walking, weight loss.