Cord Compression

[patpxc]

Well, Sine surgeon and MRI say herviated/osteophyte complex with moderate encroachment on the thecal sac. It mean compression of the spinal cord. He also says surgery is the only option for keeping the function in my arms and legs. Has anyone alse developed this??? Have you heard of any non-surgical options?? Will the cord decompress if the inflamation is gone?? Help!!!! I don't want a slit throat and half a hip from a bone graft. Do you think this opinion sounds like my only option?? Should I get a second opinion??
Thanks for listening. Pat Q

[Kathleen M]

Hi Pat

Me too! My current study shows spondylotic changes with reversal of the cervical lordosis. The disc/ridge complex at C5/6 is causing spinal stenosis and mild flattening of the spinal cord. I have a "bright spot" just below this that has been there for the last 5 years and they think it is birth related - the report says it is certainly possible that the bright signal within the spinal cord represents a prior birth related trauma... This report is from the spinal surgeon in NY. He had an older MRI of the cervical spine that never noted the "bright spot" however it was there and has remained unchanged. He noted the function in the right arm is extremely limited and has marked limitation of range of motion. He did not recommend surgery at this time however explained that should I develop weakness or gait difficulties this would have to be reconsidered. Scary.

I must say that each report is a little different on the bpi MRI and that each doctor views things differently... it is hard for me to know just exactly what is going on because no one looks at the total impact this injury had on the entire body for those of us who sustained a more severe injury.

I would love it if just once a doctor sat down and explained the full impact and perhaps gave me a report covering everything. Most don't even notice the Horner's until I point it out... I just had an MRI of my head due to the fact that the asymmetry of my ear canals was off. The doctor thought it might be a lesion because there is no way and no documentation stating that bpi can cause the ear to be smaller or the canal to be different... even after the test was complete he said he did not think it was connected to bpi... ready.... because "Erb's Palsy is in the arm"... and not related to head trauma....hmmmm I tried to explain but he assumed that I did not know what I was talking about... I will at our next meeting give him some more information...

I hope this information helps. I believe someone else post about spinal cord compression and cysts also.

When we were at camp I ask one of the physician about the cyst - bright spots and he said that was where a cord was avulsed and that sac was filled with fluid to replace the empty space... at least that was how I understood it... anyone else remember it different?

I ask a doctor and she said it was a fatty deposit in my spinal cord and common... lost respect for her big time this was just a made up answer because I ask too many questions. She is not my regular doctor and won't be. This type of answer was insulting.

Hope all this information help
Kath

[Francine_Litz]

I've had two clients who had spinal stenosis surgery - both in the cervical area.

One client was an older man who started to lose feeling in his fingers. They diagnosed the problem, did the surgery almost immediately and 3 days later he was back at work. It's now 15 years later - still doing fine.

One other client was so bad off that he was becoming so twisted from it - losing inches fast and was in terrible pain. He also had immediate stenosis surgery and he was riding his bike one week later - gained the inches back - no longer twisted - no longer in pain.

In this town (Phila) they are doing many of these surgeries with great success (have heard from others as well). They go in there and shave down the calcification and that's it - decompression gone instantly.

I'm not sure if this is the same surgery though...
I don't know if this has been helpful... hope so at least. I wish you the best.
-francine

[patpxc]

Thanks. This says central disc/osteophyte comples with moderate encroachment on the thecal sac. The Dr. says my spinal canal is too small and that it has nothing to do with the Erb's Paly--as he was trying to explain ,is a disorder of the C-5 and 6, cuased by blah blah.
The concern is-- how do you know if this is going to clear up on its own and how do you know who to trust???? Pat Q

[Judy-T]

Pat, I just got the results from my mri and c5 and c6 has problems. I think that alot of the adults have this in common also. I believe it is related to the bpi injury. My doctor is treating me with meds. I will e-mail you more about it.

[patpxc]

This Dr. gives me the " I'm talking to a poor dumb person look " and tells me that this has nothing to do with the BPI. He tells me that my spinal cal is abnormally small--not a normal size--but this is not rellates--just like the bone spurs are not related due to the overuse. The reason I have to have surgery is becuse of the central cord compression. It's causing my left ( non- BPI) arm and leg to go numb and sstrange--like losing control of deliberate movements. When I read the MRI again it says central cord compression. I am scared to death of this. They also take a bone from your hip and fuse it in the disc they take out. I'm having nightmares about getting my neck cut and losing movement on the other side. If I don't have the surgery, the cord compression will eventually paralyze me. I feel that some of my fear is from already having a paralyzed arm and shoulder. Wish I could get over this. I feel irrational about it. I've had surgery before and it didn't bother me too much beforehand. This one is going to put me in an insane asylum befre the 22nd. They tell me it can't wait any longer than that.
But, on the bright side, I think I'll go to Kath's to recuperate. I hear she makes good chicken soup and has a lot of chocolate in her house.
Thanks for listening. I'm glad I have someone to talk to. Pat Q

[patpxc]

I have straightening of the cervical lordosis--whatever that is-- mild stenosis at C5 and 6 and 6 and 7. Impression just says Central C4/5 disc/osteophyte comples with moderate encroachment on the spinal cord.

Bet you can't wait to make me that soup!!!!! Pat

[Andrea53]

I haven't been on in a while because I was depressed.Went to dr and was told my spinal chord has spots inside due to birth trauma and no surgery can fix it.He told me bpi and spinal chord problems are related!!I have erbs in both arms.Right was my dominate side but now am losing function fast.I had three surgeries strictly on left arm.It wasn't until 10 years ago this wonderful dr listened to me and diagnosed rbpi.Unfortunately I had a cyst in my spinal chord at c4-c6.Had a shunt put in.He got me ssa.Last year thought I had another cyst at c1-c3.had surgery at big hospital who talked to me like I wasn't an adult.No cyst but my neck brain stem and spinal chord were glued together.Un glued and made a larger opening.Because of spinal chord problems I willk eventually be in a wheelchair.I stillk see my local neurosurgeon who answers all questions in language I can understand.The point of all this rambling is erbs affects more than just arms or hands.Depending on delivery and on how hard the dr pulls on us.My nerves were pulled from my spine.50 years ago they new nothing.If it happened today there would be alot more options.I will be praying for you.If you don't like dr find one who treats you the way you should be treated.Good Luck