The Surgeon's Perspective: Cervical Myelopathy with Dr. Erich Anderer and Dr. Joves

In this week's episode of the Spine & Nerve podcast, Dr. Brian Joves is joined by a very special guest to continue the discussion on Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM). Dr. Erich Anderer joins the podcast today to give us the surgeon's perspective on DCM.
During his day job as the Chief of Neurosurgery at NYU Langone Hospital- Brooklyn, Dr. Anderer does his best to work with patients to develop a treatment plan that doesn’t require surgery- incorporating yoga, Pilates, or meditation into someone’s care. He has preached this "less is more" philosophy across Instagram, teaching yoga classes, or lecturing at wellness retreats. When not performing surgery on the brain or spine as an assistant professor of neurological surgery, Dr. Anderer is one of the most interesting men in the world - He practices Ashtanga yoga, spends as much time outdoors with his wife and two children as possible, and still has time to: be a founding member of the North Brooklyn Runners; an advisory board member of the Concussion Legacy Foundation; serve on the boards of the NY State Neurosurgical Society, the Japanese Medical Society of America, God’s Love We Deliver, and the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance; and play in a band...
You can find Dr. Anderer on social platforms under his name: Dr.Erich Anderer.
This podcast is for information and educational purposes only, it is not meant to be medical or career advice. If anything discussed may pertain to you, please seek council with your healthcare provider. The views expressed are those of the individuals expressing them, they may not represent the views of Spine & Nerve.

[@JoleiePitt]

Im getting ready for Cervical Myelopathy surgery and this convo made me feel so much better.. I love how both of you were slowly explaining and i feel better. thank you

[@Ttraye66]

I sooo wish I had a chance to talk with this doctor….

[@kithall1]

Thanks so much for this informative discussion. Maybe patients who are possible facing surgical intervention for cervical myelopathy should be provided with KZbin and podcast discussions like this as part of their treatment. This has been so helpful! You can’t have this kind of discussion in a 30 min allotted time slot with your doctor. I guess it helped that I am a nurse, but I am also a patient and I love being able to rewind and listen again until I understand. What a valuable resource this could be for practitioners AND patients! Thank you!

[@imveryhungry112]

Most doctors will always try to get you to have surgery because they make money off your surgeries.

[@Ttraye66]

I agree, this is a hard place to live and trying to find out the answers to all of your questions when you live in chronic bone and nerve pain it is a very drawn out process, and it’s very hard to find a doctor that is willing to help you. These videos are very helpful.

[@videochannel389]

Hello from Puerto Rico. I’m heading in for an MRI soon. I had one a couple of years ago with no cord compression from some significant stenosis. Given my recent symptoms it sounds like I may have some Myelopathy. I am not asking for a diagnosis but about the time I felt some symptoms all of the joints in my hands where I have arthritis become inflamed and painful. It has been some weeks and the joints are still painful. Have you heard of patients experiencing the same experience? Thank you…

[@Ttraye66]

Very informative, unfortunately I’m the patient that has been tossed around like a HOT potato… 11 years later I’m diagnosed with cervical myelopathy and had a full posterior fusion that has a complete fail 5 months ago, now scheduled for a redo in 3 weeks, with permanent nerve damage and chronic pain. I wish I knew about all of this years ago and maybe I would not be this bad. If someone had done their job and evaluated me when it was suggested on mri reports that I just saw in 2020…

[@marciaheuer6457]

You must be your own ADVOCATE forevermore!

[@charlesreidy2765]

Did you pull through your redo?

[@Ttraye66]

I lived but it crashed again, was told to go get MRI’s and CT’s and send them to my doc, I haven’t heard back from him to go over the plan. I am so happy I requested X-rays prior to my 3 mos follow up after what happened the last time, prior to starting PT… so another year waisted I will never get back. Ty for asking

[@charlesreidy2765]

@@Ttraye66 Bless you Tonya. I'm so sorry about your ordeal. I hope they fix you up soon. I'm not sure about surgery for myself at this point.

[@Ttraye66]

@@charlesreidy2765 thanks so much, I’m hoping I here something soon, I’m scheduled for surgery in a few weeks, but I’m not going there if I haven’t heard from the doc., it’s too far away for all of that. So I guess I will just wait. Thanks again, and yeah I don’t recommend surgery unless you 100% need it, if this had been addressed when it should have been, I wouldn’t be on here right now. I would be, hopefully, participating in my life instead of just existing …

[@AndyL940]

What a wonderful conversation and so informative . I am 55 and very fit and healthy. I have mild cord compression at 4/5 5/6 with very slight change in finger tip sensation . I will be watching my symptoms vigilantly however listening to you wonder gentleman has made me feel a little more relaxed about my condition and future. Thank you both sincerely.

[@imveryhungry112]

If you let them fuse your neck, youll feel even worse.

[@karemildred]

Hello I have the same with the ligament flavum. Idk much about this but I am in a lot of pain. My chiropractor said about a machine to do some kind of extension. He says it will help but I still don’t know.

[@areguapiri]

​@@imveryhungry112...Yep.

[@TINSAY888567]

I'm wondering about the affectiveness of EMG. My serious symptoms do not typically fully activate when the body is at rest. How can EMG show myelopathy when the patient is being tested at rest?

[@HeatherGaston-jv3ut]

I am so bad after I had the ACDF surgery that failed. I have home healthcare that takes care of me 59 hours a week and my home which is a family member. I can’t attend functions with family because the pain pain I cannot golf anymore. The more I move the more pain the doctors don’t listen sometimes I feel like I need to bring a KZbin video for them to watch before they even try to talk to me.

[@BigHeartsGetHealthy]

Praying for your healing. ❤

[@HeatherGaston-jv3ut]

@@BigHeartsGetHealthyThanks

[@cg00000]

I consider the spine part of the brain. One thing about fixing it later is the risk I face, osteoporosis. Had compression for 19 years. Pain. Now I have myelopathy, dropping things, at times excruciating pain, tandem gait, tingling. I'm scared.

[@HeatherGaston-jv3ut]

They saw Myelomalacia at C6 C7 I had a CDF surgery for the compression and surgery failed. There is a nonunion my surgeon wanted to do surgery immediately. I said no I went to go see three different other neurosurgeon and they said absolutely no more surgery. I’m just so confused at this point, the pain is, it’s so unbearable. It makes me not wanna live and I mean that sometimes I sit here and wonder how I plan to kill myself another day. I have a pain management doctor. I paid $5000 for a year for him. He put me on MS Cott45 mg every 12 hours with Roxy cone 30 mg breakthrough pain. I’ve been on Roxicodone for 3 1/2 years. It doesn’t work.

[@cg00000]

@@HeatherGaston-jv3ut i'm so sorry. it sounds awful. Bless you. xx

[@HeatherGaston-jv3ut]

@@cg00000thanks it’s super hard to get help I’ve been referred to palliative care and every hospital says they only help cancer patients! I’m like what ?? So untrue so I’m hoping the new primary and get me into palliative care so I can do PT to try to get stronger

[@DMaxx-e6p]

Will a Cervical MRI show cervical myelopathy?

[@franm.8343]

Yes. My Rheumatoid Arthritis Consultant saw mine on the first x-ray I had done.

[@larryprimeau5885]

it will, or should confirm the symptoms you are having.

[@johnklaman9548]

I have mixed symptoms and signs of cervical radiculopathy/spondylosis and ? Myelopathy. I also have grade 3 lumbar spondylolisthesis and spondylosis with DDD. I was denied a cervical MRI after PT. My home program is fair. I noticed subtle problems with balance and dexterity. Any thoughts?

[@marciaheuer6457]

Denied MRI? TERRIBLE. Keep trying to get the attention you deserve.

[@beatingbits]

This answers all my questions. Have a meeting with my neurologist coming week. I'm 60 years now. MRI shows: C4 C5 compression, no fluid and foramenstenose.Artrose. No pain but bad hand movement, numbness, loss of fine feeling in finger tips.etc.weak upper legs, muscle stiffnes, balance problem walking. Started slowly 4/5 month ago. Babinski positiv and Hoffman. So I'm like what to do? Surgery or not because I'm afraid it will progress. Thanks from the Netherlands.

[@imveryhungry112]

At least your in the Netherlands. The doctors there are nationalised so they probably dont get paid huge amounts for each surgery they do like in the usa. SO if a doctor there tells you to get surgery its more likely you could trust him. In the USA if a doctor tells you you need spine surgery you got to wonder if he really thinks you should do it or if hes just looking for a huge payout.