From summer of 2004 I developed a gait problem. My husband first noticed that my arm wasn't swinging properly when I walked and slowly my walking deteriorated. I was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis and had a laminectomy on Sept 2 (C4-C7). They said this was causing the walking problem, but may or may not cure it. Other symptoms that developed in the time before surgery - neurological weakness, tremors, numbness - mostly all on my right side are largely reduced/gone. I have some numbness and tremors in my right arm, but pretty minor and they go away and some ocassional numbness in my foot.

The ongoing problem is the gait. The PT says my muscle tone is fine and there isnt too much he can do (he is very good and knowledgeable about neuro issues). We are going to try water walking. When I walk, it sort of looks like a drop foot situation, but its not - I have full control of the foot - but he wants to have a brace made "for safety reasons" so I don't trip over my toe.

The doctor says I am doing great -- "give it a year" -- meanwhile I'm frustrated. Where I used to be a power walker, I can barely walk at 2mph on the treadmill. Doc says exercise as much as possible. I currently go to Curves 4-6 times a week, then 10 min on stationary bike and 20min on treadmill along with stretching and leg lifts with ankle weights. I'll add the swimming/water walking.

My questions:

1) anyone similar out there?? I see others on this board being told to give it 12-18 months -- the frustrated part of me finds this hard to believe, but I have seen improvements in other areas

2) I have mixed feelings about the brace. I don't want to feel defeated -- I want to do everything I can to "fix" this as opposed to "working around it"

Have you ever had a brain scan done?like an MRI or MRA/I realy think in your case,this definitely is needed just to rule out any possible problems stemming from somewhere inside the brain.not like a tumor or something nesscessarily,but there are many weird types of conditions/diseases and vascular malformations that could also be causing your ongoing symptoms.The foot drop is what really is making me wonder the most.This could also be stemming from a low back issue or a brain issue.You just need to be sure that every possibility has been ruled out here before just 'settling' for an easy dx given by your doc.I definitely would explore this possibility if this were going on with me,really.good luck and please keep me posted,K?Marcia

Marcia

I started with a brain MRI, then cervical (where they found the stenosis) and then the lower two sections (just to make sure) and they were fine.

-gloria

Gloria,

I use leg braces and they have been a GOD sent.I first thought I was surrendering and being defeated,but in all actually they have helped a tremendous amount.I have have a form of neuropathy called radiculopathy ---imflamed nerves exiting the spine,even though I have had 2 lumbar surgeries they suspect that the radiculopathy has extended from multiple sclerosis.They make the leg braces now that you can't even see them under you pants.I also exercise and it helps to some degree,I have come to terms with the walking problems and keep on plugging forward.
Don't look at the brace as a defeat,but a tool being used to help your forward progression.It is discouraging when they keep saying give it time.But in all honesty time is all we have.You sound as if you are on the right track to healing,try the leg brace,they do take time getting use to.This summer I'd like to try jogging,I'll do that in the dark,I'm sure it won't be a pretty site in the day light.
Prayers to you
Toni

I had a herniation w/slight impingement @ c4/5. Both c5/6 and c6/7 are degenerated buldging, but not herniated at these levels and not touching the cord.

I believe the c4/5 herniation affected the lateral corticospinal tract in my neck. This tract runs to the Thoracic spine, perhaps further? - and is responsible for gravitation muscles and postural balance.

My balance has been off for 18 months. Walking is a challenge, I hold walls. My gait is wide and akward. Feel like I am going to fall over. Better with neyes open.

Neurotologist does'nt know why. ENT's have been a waste of money, and yet to find a neurologists opinion I trust. Most my Doctor visits are short, expensive, and the doctor can't wait to push me out the door because I can read and take notes and they don't like questions. So far none know any thing about Barre-Liou (sp?), or cervogenic dizziness. I went to a balance center and took a bunch of expensive unpleasant tests. I was told I have "central" not "peripheral" problem.

To the point - stenosis of the cord can effect balance for some. It doesn't seem to be as common as pain. It must depend on the level and location of the impingement.

Ask you Doctor about corticospinal tracts (lateral and Medial) and see what they say. Doctors don't know how to diagnose complex (or eve simple) balance problems very well.

Please don't abandon post - let us know what you find out. Too many people come here looking for answers then never return to help.

I've had some of the numbness problems, foot drop on the left foot, and the drs can't give me answers to why. I had a mini stroke in Jan and was numb on the left side for several days, plus a bump on the left hip 3 days before and, hernia repair on the left side a month before that. So when they could figure out why I continued to have numbness, they asked for a B12 test and thyroid. So I did the test, and went to drugstore to get some B12 and 40% of the numb stuff is gone. Now I am having what I could call 'singing' in the nerves, like they are activated and running with sensations of coolness washing over them. Not sure about this stuff. But you might try a B12 test.

Hey notpain,just curious how you came up with the cortico as the culprit.the spinocerrebellar sounds like the most likely tract affected if any tracts were actually affected at all.did you or do you have severe impingement on the cord?i am just wondering as it would have to take quite a bit of severe compression to affect the cortico or even the cerebellar.The spinocerrebellar is responsible for whats called prioperception?This is basically the abiltity to recognize your extremitys in relation to space?this is what the cops actually test you for when they do the little 'sobriety tests where you close your eyes and try and touch your nose or standing with your eyes closed with your arms out stretched?

I had to become very familiar with the wonders of the spinal tracts after the inside of my spinal cord was significantly damaged because of a surgery done to try and remove a cavernoma from the c 7- t 1 area of my cord.I have damage to the thalamic,cerebellar and some slight affectation of the cortico too.life is wonderful now.

You know,the best and actually the easiest way to tell what areas of your cord are actually being even affected is to find a site(there are some good ones but unfortunetly i cannot post them here)by just googling spinal tracts.and if you actually have a set of your MRI films,find a good "slice' pic where it shows any areas that are dark in color on the inside of your actual cord(mine actually show the width and length of the damage as the dark areas start small then get bigger with each progressive pic and then get smaller again.they actually run through about five slice pics).if you cannot actually find any pics that show any dark areas,then you most likely do not have any sort of actual affectation of the tracts themselves.but if you do see the dark areas,find the site that has a diagram of the tracts,that shows kind of a "slice'pic like the one from the mri and compare them to see where the dark areas are and then look at the tract diagram.this will show you what and where the cord is being affected.always go with the slice pic that shows the most of the dark spot
i did this with mine and when I mentioned this to my NS he said I was dead on with the exact areas and boy did that ever match the symptoms that I was and am still having,since all of my damage is permanent.but really,this is the best way to actually find the real damaged areas in your cord with regard to actual tract affectation.Marcia

notpain:

thanks for the reply - at the moment, I'm trying to believe my doctor's view of give it time. If I don't see significant improvement by late summer I may seek out experts in a bigger city (we're pretty rural here)