Cervical Spondylosis

[diamondlights]

Hi does anybody have this condition, I have just been told by GP this is the cause of my neck and shoulder troubles, being reffered to hospital for a scan and appointment with orth surg.

[Angela123]

Yes but it's not severe. I take Amytriptyline which has helped a lot.

[nomoreheels]

Yes diamonlights I have Cervical Spondylosis, diagnosed at my initial Consultation of RD in 2008. I suffer cervicogenic headaches as a result but this has been pretty much kept under control with nightly amitriptyline & co-codamol when needed. I've more recently been diagnosed with Lumbar Spondylosis & the OA is now affecting my hands quite considerably, my knees less so. BuTrans patches take care of the pain mostly though very recently been experiencing it returning noticeably but as I'm on the highest dose I think a pain med review will be necessary before too long, maybe even next week.

I hope your appointment with the Ortho Surgeon is a positive one. I'd be interested to hear how it went if you're willing to share.

[Hidden]

Yes I have this too - picked up in a cervical spine MRI recently. I see my rheumy a week tomorrow and will ask for clarification but I believe mine is just viewed as part of the ageing process - normal for someone my age (52) with an arthritic condition. In the neurologist's letter he wrote "some evidence of C6 root damage" but I don't think it's regarded as anything too serious by my doctors.

Perhaps mine is just early and mild as it doesn't touch my spinal cord. I do have frequent bouts of neck and shoulder pain but they come and go and don't affect me nearly as much as the arthritis in my lumbar region - which has never been x-rayed or had an MRI taken of it. My physio says there are exercises to keep the CS at bay but been concentrating more on my lower body with her. It did get worse when I had to come off Amitriptyline a few months ago.

[Hidden]

I have it but it's not bad enough to treat... it sure makes noises when I turn my head.. I hear grinding and popping. It's not severe and not really noticeable unless I am sitting alone and I listen for it. I have some tension in the neck and shoulders that cannot be taken care of even by massage. I don't look like I'm having troubles from the outside but I sure do wish that I had better treatment than TENS machine.

I had the scans MRI, CT, Bone Scan... all show inflammation. Physical therapy helps more than anything for the entire spine.

[oldtimer]

Unfortunately there seems little connection between the appearances on an X-ray and the amount of pain in that area. So be prepared to explain exactly where you get pain and how much. Treat the symptoms, not the X-ray!

[Gerardus]

I was told wear and tear and Rheumatoid Arthritis was the cause of the problem described variously as spinal stenosis / cervical spondylitis and I went from being normal to broken in the space of three months. Initially suspected as trapped nerves in the shoulders and then referred to a rheumatologist because of joint pain/stiffness, unable to stand for any length of time, muscle weakness, virtually no upper body strength. Tested +ve for erosive RA, the medication worked according to the blood tests but the symptoms remained. Then came pins and needles in fingers and legs, skin felt like spiders were crawling over me, muscle spasms in bed and during the day i.e. involuntary knee, ankle and arm jerks, ankles and knees giving way without warning. Worst of all piercing pain like toothache behind my right ear where the nerves enter the brain would come and go during the day or night without any apparent reason.

My mobility was decreasing as time went by to the point where a wheelchair would be required. 6 months on an MRI revealed the problem, spinal cord stenosis. Nerve conduction tests showed it was not MS, so next a referral to a neurologist the examination showed I could feel pressure but no pinprick everywhere below the shoulders and but both pressure and the pin above.

Treatment is usually 'conservative', pain management etc. no surgical intervention until bowel / bladder incontinence sets in. It was thought I was close to that happening and was referred to a Neurosurgeon, who explained surgery outcomes - typically 60% improve, 20% don't, 20% get worse.

The operation described as a posterior cervical laminectomy with screws on 4 1/2 vertebrae was performed in November 2014. Cutting away the horny back part of the vertebrae to make space for the cord with screws and steel posts supporting and stabilising the cervical spine. The immediate impact was relief from the pain behind my ear and some improvement in muscle strength in my right arm. Otherwise 14 weeks on, my gait is still poor, walking like a drunkard, stiff legged, weird sensations on my legs and skin, pins and needles all the time and the muscle weakness remains. My joints still ache too but that is possibly the RA. The only pain meds I take are naproxen and the occasional paracetamol. I was told it could be 12 ~18 months before I can expect substantial improvement if at all and hopefully it won't deteriorate any further. It is important to keep active so that the nerves have something to reconnect with if and when they heal.

The rheumatologist said that it was a common problem several years ago but early RA treatment meant it was now rare, such problems were more likely caused by injury or wear and tear. Now 12 months on the blood tests and reduced joint swelling show RA remains under control. I am told the on going symptoms are nerve related i.e. the bruised spinal cord is still recovering.

Sorry, I cannot be of any more help, it is early days for me and I can only hope for the best, initial signs were encouraging and I have not got worse. It was clear to me conservative management of CS was not an option and decided the operation offered the only solution. It is possibly no surprise that the symptoms dictate the potential treatments and risks vs benefit the option chosen from those on offer. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had such an operation as to it's outcome for them in the short, medium and long term. I know such an operation has helped people with lumber spine problems but don't know anyone who has had the cervical operation.

[carotopgal]

I have cervical and lumbar spinal Spondylosis. I had my first lumbar fusion 20 years ago, and the second one a level up from the first fusion 3 years ago. I just found out this past week from an MRI that I now have it pretty badly in 3 levels of my neck (along with significant herniation), hence all the pain and numbness. The orthopedic surgeon doesn't think it's to the stage that we should do surgery yet. My rheumy thinks we have to do something because with that pain along with my RA pain it is about to put me over the edge. So my rheumy has referred me to a pain specialist and wants him to do injections under fluroscope into discs in my neck. I see the pain specialist doctor on 3/30 for my first consultation. I'm keeping fingers crossed that they can get this particular "pain" under control soon. The two spinal fusions totally took away that horrible pain, but I'm really loathe to have a three level in my neck done. So I guess I said all of the above to say this. It's scarey, but there is treatment and things you can do to help it. Hope you get better soon!

[earthwitch]

yes. Mine is beginning to be more of a problem now. Glad you are being referred for more investigation.

[SheRa13]

Am I crazy? I have lumbar stenosis and spondylolisthesis in my back and I use a cane, but even with the cane, I can only walk about three blocks in a day. Maybe more if I rest for a long time, but the total walking time is very limited. What happens is that when I start walking, it is fine at first, but then I start to feel as if something is winding up in my back, like a piano string is being pulled tighter and tighter and tighter, and I slowly keep going as long as I can, using as many other muscles as I can, until finally, I reach a certain point and I pretty much literally can't.  At that point the pain is very sharp, I am sweating, I am biting my lip, my legs won't move, I have to stop--if I'm in the middle of a city street, a mall, whatever--until enough pain subsides to let me take a few more steps. Which are also painful. And then a few more steps. More waiting. Then a few more steps. Also painful. Until I can get back to my car. I do exercise--I go to the gym and use the recumbent bike, do floor exercises I learned from physical therapy--every day. But I can't walk. If I try to push past this barrier, I am in  pain that lasts for days. Does anyone else have this experience?