QuestionI am having constant headaches,arm weakness,tingling in both hands,ankles and
legs ache and back is sore.
Had an MRI and the results were --
Multilevel disc degenerative disease with
osteophyte complex resulting in narrowing of the spinal canal and narrowing of the neural
foramina.
What does that all mean and will surgery be needed.
The problems are with discs C4-5 C5-6 and
C6-7.
AnswerThe spinal cord comes down from the brain, then sends off nerves which travel thru the foramina to the areas they supply sensation or motor function. When there is arthritis and disc disease, what matters is whether the structures start pinning down a nerve or starts pushing on the spinal cord. There is always a reversible component to the pressure, caused by inflammation... this is treated with Motrin like meds, or Prednisone, by mouth, or by neck joint injection. If it relieves just a little bit of the swelling, the symptoms can go down remarkably. If there still is too much pressure on the cord or the nerve roots, then the area has to be made bigger by going in and taking out some of the bone that is pressing inward or removing part of the disc, the hard rubber, jelly filled tissue that sits between the vertebrae. Depending on how much must be done, there may be plates and screws to help stabilize everything.
But, it only takes a little bit of decr swelling to help a lot of pain, so there is a good chance that you won't need surgery... on the order of improving enough to not need surg about 70% of the time.
Hope this helps...
