Cervical Myelopathy Podcast

[@kaylal-skii9162]

I just received two cervical spinal fusions and I am in recovery after 3 weeks I can now walk and my hand grip and motor skills are back to normal, I didn’t know why I was numb and then kept falling and couldn’t walk anymore. I am an artist, and my hands stopped working. I had a bad fall and the doctors in the ER told me that there were dead vertebrates in my neck which were crushing my spine. They said if I do not get these surgeries I will certainly be paralyzed in no time. I am only 31 yrs old, an active person. I thought I’d never walk again and spend the rest of my life bed bound. I am home and cleared by the PT and OT and making a miraculous recovery according to the surgeons. They said I am very lucky and that most patients do not recover or heal this well, this soon . May I please tell my story on the podcast? I want to spread the word and thank the doctors especially neuro surgeons out there and give back to people who have been in my shoes.

[@BayAreaBikeLife]

Wow you give me hope it took me a year and 2 months just to find out i had this but im fearing the worst cause it feels like its been so long im just hoping its not too late to reverse this!!

[@Pauly_______]

Sounded like you were talking about me. Went for my lower back and ended up being my c5c6 disc replacement. All the symptoms at 45yrs old

[@tczuma72]

This is who I need to talk to. My Mom went to Princeton!!

[@NotSoFast100]

Well done. Good coverage of the symptoms and treatment options. Dr. LaRocca is an excellent explainer.

[@gregmacdonald3559]

Hello all I have been suffering with cervical myelopathy for 3 years. I am also having some nasty spasm burning pain in the under side of my feet. Does anyone else have this with Cervical Myelopathy? Great content gentleman. 🇨🇦❤️

[@gregmacdonald3559]

@@johnrayeocto5987 Thank you so very much! ❤️

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I'm actively working with my current job and working with the team

[@BeachLife61]

Great podcast , I wish I could talk to this Dr., although this video is 4 years old !im willing to travel for help .i am in also in NJ ( South )

[@bart2923]

Thank you DOCTOR. Well done. Broke a complicated subject into simple components.

[@trudyboschert4472]

After a neurologist reviewed my cervical MRI I was told I would become paralyzed from my neck down without surgery.How exactly does she know this for sure?

[@dohc22h]

I can feel it in the back of my neck when I try and walk up stairs. I have lost about a Third of my mobility on the left side of my body. My Left Index Finger and Thumb are completely numb and my nerve going all the way up my left arm is swollen.. Very High effort to move. I have lost the "bounce" in my step and cannot run anymore. My balance and complete control of my Bladder have been Compromised.. I know exactly where it is in my neck... i can feel the "electric shock" coming from that point in my neck every time I try and walk at a faster pace or like going up stairs, etc. The VA diagnosed me with a Cervical Spine Myelopathy and I'm just checking out what the Internet says about it. I have an appt. with the Neurosurgeon next month to discuss my options.

[@PrincetonSpineJointCenter]

Hello Joseph, thank you for your note. I hate to be alarmist, but those symptoms you are describing are very serious. If someone called our office with those same set of symptoms, I would want them seen today or tomorrow, not next month. In, fact, I would not even want to wait until tomorrow. I would highly encourage you to talk to your doctor about being seen more urgently, ideally today. This isn't a forum for direct medical advice, and I'm not giving you any, but what you're saying is too concerning to ignore. The sooner a myelopathy is addressed, the less likelihood there is for there to be permanent nerve injury or paralysis. And the flipside is also true that the longer it is not addressed, the greater the chance for these bad outcomes. So, talk to your doctor about getting seen immediately. Perhaps your doctor can call the neurosurgeon's office. Or perhaps you could call the neurosurgeon's office again and describe your symptoms and situation . And, finally, if you can't get anyone's attention and your symptoms are worsening, you could go to the emergency room.

[@luketimber4679]

Dohc22h -Did you have treatment? Was it helpful? How are you doing now?

[@dohc22h]

@@luketimber4679 I had surgery a year ago. I had disk replacement surgery that stopped the progression. The damage that was already done before the surgery is still there but as far as that everything else is fixed.

[@barbarakirsch2538]

Severe pain with cervical myelopathy just for you to know up front.

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

How serious is that? You guys are good!!

[@thaidomain]

You just mentioned in passing that also inflammation is involved in the process of cervical myelopathy. Therefore it seems to me that some non-surgical treatments may have benefit. Also what about myelin regeneration ?

[@alleyes9911]

Exceptional from these 2 gentlemen, pity about not being able to Q.& A. though .

[@microsteadinguk]

I have cervical myelopathy and myelomalacia. Mine is caused by degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

[@ahmadabras2846]

I m so sorry , What is the difference between myelopathy and myelomalacia please ...

[@jeyan65]

Same . C4/5,C5/6 with myelomalacia. Just underwent anterior microdiscectomy with motion preserving implants two days ago . One night stay and back to work tmw. Amazing how much advancement being made in addressing these problems . However , as once neurological damage as occurred , surgery cannot guarantee return of those functions but rather to preserve what we have , it makes sense to fix the stenosis early esp when there’s already myelomalacia . In addition the thought that one day a sudden hyperextension of the neck trying to see a plane flying above can lead to paralysis , was scary enough to undergo surgery . Of course in consultation with your neurosurgeon/ spinal surgeon

[@KyDairyGoats]

I hate it when a doctor asks if I want surgery. My question is do I need surgery or is there an alternate treatment that will stop progression and of the problem once a person has the symptoms in hands and legs.

[@ahmadabras2846]

Thank you doctor, can the symptoms of a spinal cord contusion return and get worse after it has improved well..?

[@gaylecheung3087]

C4, C5 and C6 degeneration, 58 2021... “slight” Left side neck shoulders throughout arm hand or fingers tingling pins and needles sleeping no pain on shoulder ultra posterior and some new paint upper arm rest is either muscular pain otherwise his hands tingling pins and needle’s extreme still can do a full fist heart attack survivor 2019 70% blockage medical stent - excellent presentation thank you for sharing ♥️🇨🇦🌏

[@annanicole1717]

What?

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I do drop things sometimes and a slight rubbery feeling in my hands sometimes with slight difficulty in tying shoes

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I have this in vertebrae c3 mainly

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I've been trying icy hot cream and heat with stabilization of the vertebrae

[@djelliott4524]

I have the leg numbness. Surgeon sees something in T spine he would like a stronger image of..but also wants a brain scan? He was reluctant to explain why he wanted to see brain when he told me openly he sees an abnormality in the t spine? Not the cervical spine...the thoracic spine.

[@donaldwilbur2479]

I was dx with cervicolumbar radiculomyelopathy in the UK 5 years ago with multiple neuro signs and symptoms. Surgery never mentioned, only prescribed pain relief...is this normal?

[@vaibhavtomar4732]

I am 31 years old and suffer from myelopathy at C4-5 levels. I have partially lost sensation of pain and temperature from left abdomen till feet. Also there's some coordination issue in my right hand because of which my handwriting has changed. Other than this I don't face any issue in living a normal life. I am careful with my neck movement, safeguarding it from any jerk. I am in a dilemma whether I should go for surgery or not.

[@mylovleybabe]

Hello. I have similar problem. Do we survive whiteout surgery? I’m very scared. How are you feeling today?

[@mayankarora2539]

Mob no

[@mayankarora2539]

Mob no

[@vaibhavtomar4732]

@@mayankarora2539 give me yours

[@garydunn3037]

My mother had a revision knee surgery 2 years ago, and a week later she developed infection in the wound. She had to go for a "Washout" of the wound, which has since healed. However, after that "Washout" she began to develop stiffness in her left arm, and began to lose control of her left hand. She had an MRI scan, and was told she had Cervical Myelopathy, but due to her age, in her 80's, they refused to operate. Now a couple of years later, she has just about completely lost the use of her left arm and hand. They have put her on Gabapentin 100mg 4 times a day, but these are making her worse, affecting her speech, and making her very unstable. Is there any other medication available that would help her? She was offerred Pregabalon but declined using it, because it can cause pressure in the eyes, which she has had surgery for.

[@garydunn3037]

My Mother "Passed Away" 5 weeks ago in a Nursing Home. She was to me, Just a "Living Corpse" in the end. She lost all her Motor Functions, even her speech. She told me a while ago, while she was still able to speak, that she wished she had the surgery to correct her trapped spinal cord in her neck. Maybe she would have still been alive if she had it done.

[@cg00000]

i am so sorry, that's a shame. My neighbor is 85 and she just had her shoulder replaced. I would shop around, bless your mom. xx

[@garydunn3037]

@@cg00000 She sadly "Passed Away" in March. She was just a "Bag of Bones" not able to Move her arms or Legs, or even able to speak in the end. I was there when she gave her last breath. And she managed to say, and this was her "Dying Wish" and that was "I just want to go Home"

[@cg00000]

@@garydunn3037 aww, I'm so sorry. SO sad. Bless you.

[@catherinemurray2211]

To both of these guys sorry but I had a bad accident and have fifteen disks problems I had incontinence but with training I don’t have this anymore So sorry ……. You can train back your body it will heal I do not agree with any surgery on the spine The doctors couldn’t give a damn if it goes wrong ❤

[@StarHarvestOfficial]

Did you have worsening weakness in the arms and legs? That's my main issue right now.

[@areguapiri]

Good point! Spinal surgery is too risky.

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I'm doing pretty good right now but nights are eh

[@mariatheresalaborada8420]

What are the causes?

[@mariatheresalaborada8420]

Thank you so much

[@trudyboschert4472]

My neurosurgeon suggested laminotomy c3-c6 with fusion.Im not a candidate for surgery due to osteoporosis.I started experiencing tingling and numbness radiating down my right arm.. I'm having neurologic deficit in my hands.. What is your advice?

[@cg00000]

i am in the same boat, but even with severe osteoporosis they said this is urgent and must be done. I haven't asked yet but read they can use screws that they inject with bone cement. Or the artificial discs, no screws, way more costly but medicare covers at least two levels. Best wishes.

[@trudyboschert4472]

Are you having surgery? Best of luck to you​@@cg00000

[@dixi1951]

What is solution they say ???

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I have to go to you!

[@SheilaMcMillan-s1h]

I truly don't think anyone wants to help ME cause of MY age! I saw my NRI RESULTS, AND THEY ARE NOT good. Everyone has turned their backs on me! I have no family or friends either! What is people like on earth now? Hi 7 c

[@trudyboschert4472]

I hope you have someone to help you. I wouldn't be able to live in my home without my husband.

[@SheilaMcMillan-s1h]

God Bless you for that!

[@mariatheresalaborada8420]

I have s good friend of mine, she has been suffering for almost three years, pls help her

[@albanymountainhomestead]

She needs to see a neurosurgeon and have an MRI

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

Physical therapy

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

I would surgery

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

Can play the pianos

[@nancyellenbridgetallen]

Hmmm

[@trudyboschert4472]

I have been diagnosed with cervical sponlitic Myelopathy.Everything that's happening to my body is the same as ALS progression.. My PC and two Nero surgeons have told me it isn't ALS.Can a cervical MRI rule out ALS?

[@mariatheresalaborada8420]

I feel pity on her

[@synovium]

Do you consider a laminoplasty for degenerative cervical myelopathy?