Bone spur on cervical spine with breathing issues? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

alex12 · 03-12-2007, 09:53 AM

I am wondering if anyone has an opinion...I have a large bone spur on my cervical spine right behind the tracheo area...I have been having a lot of air hunger and a lump int he throat feeling, especfially when I lean forward...could this be caused by the location of the bone spur? If so, what type of doctor due I see for this?
Thanks

PNo · 03-12-2007, 01:40 PM

Your problem could be from the bone spur, but it could be of other origin as well. Your thyroid could also be a culprit if it is enlarged or has nodules or what they call goiter. Even if you go for the bone spur, make sure you have them rule out any involvement from enlarged thyroid.

The doctors that address these issues are either neurosurgeons or orthopedic spine surgeons. Ask your primary care doctor for some help determining who to see.

alex12 · 03-12-2007, 05:09 PM

Thank you for that reply...I had my thyroid checked and it's only slightly enlarged , I ill see a doctor and show them the x-ray. Thank You

julyg · 03-12-2007, 09:00 PM

you may want to see an ENT to rule out vocal cord problem. POST ACDF surgery I was air starved with swallowing issues (also had large osteophytes in same area PRE surgery, removed during surgery) Unfortunately I found out how vital the vocal cords are for breating , swallowing as well as speech.
THey can easily see your vocal cors with a painless scope in a matter of minutes.

ICC · 03-13-2007, 05:31 AM

I seem to have the same problem. 10 months of Dr. after Dr. Have multiple cervical issues. Bulged disks, stenosis, A large bone spur indenting my cord at the C5-C6 and a possible pinched nerve at the C7. About a month after the dx and taking a medrol pack, I started to have problems swallowing. Have seen the PCP, 2 ENT"S, Have a slightly enlarged thryroid that was biopsied, had vocal cord surgery 5 years ago, have GERD, asthma. NO answers. The spine specialist does not feel this is coming from the spurs. All seem to believe that the medrol pack aggravated my esophagus and is now causing spasms. I have given up because after so many Dr.s and test and it being almost a year without answers i don't feel anyone wants to claim this. Sometimes my throat is so numb I can't feel it. Very hard to swallow saliva when you can't feel your throat. All very coincidental that I did not have this problem before the neck injury or the medrol pack.

ICC