this is a new topic to ask - other than PMR related - but I’m just feeling a tad concerned (well, v.concerned tbh) about something else & just want some kind of offloading time.
My husband recently saw the neurosurgeon for what he thought was just some kind of routine appointment following a recent MRI scan. Unfortunately it showed that the pins & needles in his arm proves to be cervical stenosis & he’s been advised that surgery will be his best option.
Reading the literature provided makes sober reading & im so hoping the surgery will be beneficial (it’s the only option to try & prevent the stenosis deteriorating). Otherwise, without it, if he had a fall & banged his head it could 'cause some paralysis.
I just wanted to offload on here as i always feel better after posting on here to all my fellow posters…
thanks for reading….
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Doraflora
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Sorry to hear your husband’s news, no medical advice to offer, but sending best wishes to him for upcoming operation and you for the extra stress you will be out under until it’s done and he’s on the road to recovery. 🌸
My reply is exactly the same, sorry not to be of practical help … what a worrying time, but I’m sure you will find the right advice, and I send you strength and very best wishes. Karen
Well it was his own GP who sent him for thr MRI and he also made the urgent referral to see the neurologist consultant (who’s at our renown leading teaching hospital). That’s where we went last week
OH had very succesful decompression for symptomatic spinal stenosis at lower back level. Hopefully your surgeon gave you a thoughtful explanation with reasoning as to risk / benefit etc?
The neuro surgeon explained it all to my husband (it’s spondylitis that’s maybe the culprit).
He told my husband that without the surgery he’d be at great risk of falling and banging his head, which would possibly cause some paralysis.
Your husband’s success gives me great encouragement. Thank you!
Can I ask how old your husband is & if he’s made a full recovery?
He was 60 at the time, not the smallest bunny! He completely regained the power in his thigh that he had lost. Oddly is all started with very severe pain on his knee that initially defied diagnosis and needed emergency Ketamine infusion to get the pain under control. He has made a full recovery, back is a bit rigid. Doesnt get any pain. I think necks are a bit more delicate post op due to their inate shape and the fact that your head waggles about more on top. He was operated on by a robot, manipulated by the surgeon in the next room.
My OH is well in his 70’s, but extremely mobile and pretty fit tbh.
We’re guided in all this by the “experts”, but it is very scary stuff.
In all the literature we’ve been given it does spell things out, but it also offers encouragement about a relatively ‘normal’ life, unless there’s any complications….
Presumably other options might have been discussed but surgery reccomended. Big surgery always daunting untill you get it over with. At present we have a knee surgeon, a back surgeon and a hand surgeon on OH's speed dial ! 🤞🤞
My wife has had two cervical fusions in separate surgeries. In addition to disc issues, both surgeries addressed cervical stenosis as well. The second was emergency surgery due to a chunk of the disc having broken off and pressing on her cord. This disc broke whilst they were doing a cortisone injection. We will never again go the route of spinal injections.
I know the outcome these surgeries varies. But in her case they resulted in an overall improvement for her. The second prevented a much darker prognosis.
She turned 50 years young this Jan. 😊 Both of these surgeries were in her early 40's. Both surgeons commented that she has the cervical spine of a 90 year old. Hopefully her's came with an extended warranty.
She has had very little problem since these surgeries for which we are grateful.
I hope your husband gains such relief from his surgery.
Good morning I was diagnosed last week with spinal stenosis in my lower back at L4 and L5
and am being refered onto the surgical team for a spinal injection under magnification. I have pins and needles in both feet. Sorry its no answers but more of a kindred spirit message. I also have a friend who last year had the surgery you mention and was very pleased with the pain relief.
I'm sure you are worried. You don't say how long he has suffered with pins & needles, or what type of surgery has been suggested. It is unusual that spinal surgery is offered as "preventative" especially if he has no history of falls or banging his head, isn't in constant pain, has no mobility issues. My husband had had 5 spinal procedures over the last 30 years, so I'm pretty well versed. Stenosis comes with age, so I would ask for a second opinion before going down the surgery route, especially if the suggested procedure is not being offered on the NHS. My very best wishes to you both.
Hi genesini. Hubby has suffered with spondylitis for decades. He has no mobility issues and is very mobile and pretty fit generally.
He’s been getting pins & needles in his arm for several months and, after about 2 months of seeing a physio and doing daily exercises, he is much improved pins & needles wise.
However: the MRI scan showed a lot of wear on the spinal cord, with no fluid at the top. Therefore the surgeon has said that surgery will be needed to prevent the stenosis getting any worse. (Cervical stenosis/Myelopathy).
And also, that if he didn’t have the surgery and fell, banging his head, that compression could cause paralysis.
So he’s possibly hanging decompression anterior surgery, but we’ll know all the details tomorrow when we have a meeting with the surgeon, who’ll go through everything.
Hi Dora. In my late 40s I had two different surgeries and now I am fused from C-2 to C-7. Stenosis was the culprit but I had more drastic symptoms than pins and needles in one arm. I could not hold a pen to write my name. Or pick up laundry to fold. Or walk very far. Electrical shocks in my head. And more. I agree with others to get a second opinion. Surgery of this kind is offered to people who have no other choice. Best to you.
I can’t find anything out about the consultant concerned at the mo. Don’t know if he’s new to the hospital or what. But, as I’ve said, I’ll find out much more tomorrow.
My husband does tend to bury his head in the sand, but I’m the one to get every detail I can.
Sorry to hear that - all the best to you both for the op and recovery.
I don't think it is the wrong place to ask - it will impinge on you and your PMR in several ways as a carer, might make it worse and it does modify how you can do things.
I had an ablation procedure recently - reading the information leaflet made me laugh a bit, couldn't imagine most people agreeing to it given the possible outcomes listed! They have to list it all even if it is rare. And I don't think the NHS would be offering it if they didn't think it was needed.
Thanks so much for that, PMRpro. They wouldn’t do this surgery so often if it wasn’t safe. You’re so right there. And they do that particular surgery frequently at the Hull teaching hospital.
I was looked after by a neurosurgeon and subsequently a spinal surgeon from St. George’s. I had a spinal decompression L5 and S1 in 2018. I was 67 at the time. I have subsequently had injections, nerve root blocks and epidurals but these were to treat the effects of my scoliosis not b ecause the surgery wasn’t successful. Neurosurgeons tend to be very cautious and in the U.K. will only suggest surgery if the risk of the surgery is less than the risk of leaving things as they are. I know that my surgery was not in the cervical region but I was amazed that the post-operative pain was far less than I thought it would have been. It is terribly important to avoid constipation as the drugs post surgery are very constipating. My husband was hugely helpful when I got home picking up everything I dropped. I like to think that I am not clumsy but everyone drops more than they think in the course of a day! The best of luck to you both as it is a joint venture. I was so appreciative of a good husband!
That is so reassuring to hear, thank you, Maxgate2.
It’s such a scary situation when my husband is looking so well and fit. Guess I’ve got to be more positive (which I usually am, believe it or not). And, as you rightly say, they wouldn’t do the surgery if they didn’t have to.
It cant really be left as it won’t get better - just progressively worse. I know that.
And on a cheerful note: my husband never usually has any trouble with constipation, so I’ll be filling him up with the foods which I know effect him🤣
it’s a worry for sure, however, try to remember that they do these ops all the time, day in day out. They train for sooooo long too. My daughter is training to be a surgeon and they are rigorously selected and have a close eye kept on them. I’m sure it’ll go well and you’ll no longer need to worry about him taking a tumble and the pins and needles might disappear! X
Thanks Bramble2000. You’re absolutely right. These are highly trained experts, who are doing major surgery all the time.
I’ll be wearing my big girls pants tomorrow as we meet with the neuro surgeon to go through everything, and my list of questions is already in my handbag!
The very best of luck to your daughter in her training. Hope it all goes well for her😁
I definitely had my biggest - and best - big girls knickers on but, alas, we were just about to get our coats on & set off when the hospital phoned to postpone the appointment until next week!!
Frustrating to say the least, but I’ll wash the said pair of special knickers ready for next week🤣
Just one of those things, DL. Out of our hands - unfortunately.
My friend told me about her best friend today who’s got gall bladder cancer (was a very urgent referral) and her surgery on Sunday has been postponed. Now that is bad….
Don’t know if I’m posting this update where everyone will see it but….
We had the meeting with the neuro surgeon this morning and he’d met with the MDT. Without saying it in so many words, the consensus was that the surgery couldn’t guarantee my currently fit husband a better quality of life, in view of the possible high risks involved with the surgery. However, they had to offer my husband the choice and it would be his final decision..
He said that the surgery (posterior procedure) could make the neck muscles weak and at worse the surgery “could” possibly cause some paralysis.
As my husband is currently very fit, and atm just has bad pins and needles down his arm, he’s decided to leave alone and not go ahead with the surgery.
He now has been discharged from the clinic, but he does have the option to get a re-referral at any time.
He’s confident he’s made the right choice, so we’re now going to go full steam ahead and get our December trip to Oz booked and enjoy life.
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