Found out that I have bone spurs on c5 (right) & c6 (left) Should I get surgery?

Question

I have been experiencing some numbness down my right arm to my thumb, and constant pain, almost like growing pains in my right arm between triceps and bicep. No loss of strength, but often experience extreme pain in back behind shoulder blade when I try to prop myself up with right arm when had been laying down. Went to Neuro doctor today with MRI's and he told me I have bone spurs on right side c5 and left side c6. He gave me 3 options, and it is my decision as it really is a quality of life issue. I am 50 years old and always pretty active, but due to this pain have been not working out for the past 2 months. The 3 options are to just observe it for the next 4-6 weeks and see if the nerve will try to adjust to the compression of the spur; next option is to get 3 steroid injections into the affected area to minimize the swelling to allow for the nerve and area to recover, this may solve the issue; and the last option is surgery with fusion of c5 to c6, this procedure is approximately 80-85% successful, and out 6-8 weeks of work. I am really torn at this time, any ideas?

John

In answer to you question, the Neuro did not tell me I had any ruptured or bludged disc, just the bone spurs on c5 (right) and c6 (left) which are both osteophyte encoraching upon the intervertebral foramina causing modrate narrowing on the right and foraminal narrowing on the left. But what is funny, I am only experiencing pain and discomfort on the right side, maybe perhaps I am right handed and use that arm the most, who knows?

Answer 1

Well, you have 3 options, each have their pros and cons. Doing nothing has the advantage of possibly fixing itself, but on the other hand maybe it wont, youll be in pain for 4-6 weeks, and have to do one of the other 2 anyway. A steroid injection like cortisol would reduce the inflammation, but steroids are also innumosuppressants, which might make you get sick more often. Surgery has the advantage of fixing it in like 85% of the cases the bad part is the 15% chance it doesnt help. Oh, and the 6-8 weeks off work can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.

Its a decision you would have to make on your own, and your age and lifestyle may play a role in it as well, but for me, a 26 year old, I would go the surgery route and just get it taken care of.

Answer 2

The results should be interpreted as a normal MRI study i:e No physical damage can be observed The MRI results can be totally normal, meaning that there is no physical anomaly in the vertebrae or the foramina, but the study is a static one, and does not reflect changes that might occur when you do certain movements or while you sleep If your mattress is too soft, then while you sleep the body adopts a vicious posture, curving the line of the vertebrae and compressing some of the nerves going through the foramina between the vertebrae. This results in chronic compression of the nerves and may be felt as pain. I suggest you examine your bed. If the mattress appears to have a depression in the centre, and if it is not made up of springs, it is time to renew it. If the core is of springs, try turning it upside down and see what happens. Finally try to make a list of all situations when the pain appears to conclude if there are any special movements or positions that relate to your pain and then talk this over with your doctor. Many of these problems are related to postural changes which are not depicted in a static MRI

Answer 3

Is there more to the story? Is the disc between c5 and6 compressed and bulging? Which would a reason to fuse the two.

I will give an anecdotal example.

My husband had the same two vertebra fused two years ago. With phenomenal success. His neck has not hurt since. And he had fusion do at L1 and 2. With great success. However he still have back problems. He has arthritic swelling at L3,4 and 5 compress the nerves in the spinal canal. He has tried the injections with minimal success. Waiting only made things worse. He is seeing both a neurosurgeon and a pain management doctor. Trying to find a solution for his constant pain.

Answer 4

C5 C6 Bone Spur