lizzy76
04-02-2005, 10:38 PM
Hi everyone. I just got home from a five day stay in the hospital. I went in to have my heart monitored and l left with two new problems to deal with. The second night I was in the hospital I had a complex partial seizure. This is a new issue for me since I've never had seizures before. So as a result I met with a neuro doc and he did an exam and an EEG, brain MRI and neck MRI.
My neck MRI came back showing degenerative discs in my neck (arthritis). I don't know what discs are involved - all I know is they are in my neck. I'm a 29 year old female and I'm wondering if this will cause pain as I get older? I haven't really noticed anything as of yet, other than what I thought was just normal neck pain. Can anyone tell me a little more about this?
Ok, here's the part of the MRI that I'm most concerned about. There's a part of the spinal cord in my neck that is being compressed and there is barely any spinal fluid left in that area. The neuro said I'd have to follow up with him every 6 - 12 months to make sure it's not getting any worse. If it does get worse he said I'll need surgery. He said that the condition will cause weakness in my legs and as it progresses my legs will get weaker and weaker until I'd eventually become paralyzed. He said that is years away and won't happen if I continue to get MRI's each year - they'd just do surgery if things get worse. This is completely new to me and I'm wondering if anyone can give me any insight into any of this? I'm new to spinal/back problems. When I looked at the MRI I could see the area that is being compressed and to me it really looked like there was NO spinal fluid in that area. Can anyone help me here?
Lizzy
My neck MRI came back showing degenerative discs in my neck (arthritis). I don't know what discs are involved - all I know is they are in my neck. I'm a 29 year old female and I'm wondering if this will cause pain as I get older? I haven't really noticed anything as of yet, other than what I thought was just normal neck pain. Can anyone tell me a little more about this?
Ok, here's the part of the MRI that I'm most concerned about. There's a part of the spinal cord in my neck that is being compressed and there is barely any spinal fluid left in that area. The neuro said I'd have to follow up with him every 6 - 12 months to make sure it's not getting any worse. If it does get worse he said I'll need surgery. He said that the condition will cause weakness in my legs and as it progresses my legs will get weaker and weaker until I'd eventually become paralyzed. He said that is years away and won't happen if I continue to get MRI's each year - they'd just do surgery if things get worse. This is completely new to me and I'm wondering if anyone can give me any insight into any of this? I'm new to spinal/back problems. When I looked at the MRI I could see the area that is being compressed and to me it really looked like there was NO spinal fluid in that area. Can anyone help me here?
Lizzy
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flyonthewall
04-03-2005, 09:36 AM
Wow! At some point you should get a second opinion from an orthopedic spine specialist who has a spine fellowship.
fly
fly
Cindee 2
04-03-2005, 01:17 PM
I would get a second opinion from an OSS. This doesn't sound right if there is that much compression of the spinal cord. Let us know what happens.
Cindee
Cindee
lizzy76
04-04-2005, 07:47 PM
I'm meeting with my primary doc tomorrow and I'm going to try and go over this stuff with her. She always explains things very thoroughly and although she's a GP she'll probably explain it better than the neuro did. I am going to ask her for a referral to get a second opinion. It makes me uncomfortable having problems that deal with my neck and spine, and the prospect of potential surgery. The neuro said the surgery is invasive and that scares me too. I'll let you know what she has to say. Please, if anyone has any thoughts on this I would really appreciate it....I don't know a lot about this and I'm trying to educate myself but any info will help! Thanks,
Lizzy
Lizzy