Hi!

DebsB

I'm Debs, have had cervical spinal stenosis and ddd for 11 years, no pain free days in all that time despite having ACDF 9 years ago followed by posterior laminectomy. Recently had full spine MRI (see below) as have been having issues with my legs and pain in lower thoracic/upper lumbar area (it started over a year ago after a few bad falls due to leg giving way). Now I can't walk to the end of the street because my legs are so painful. Am fed up as hiking was one of my passions. People around me don't seem to realise what we all go through with this, so thought I'd be better on a forum such as this where people understand the frustration and problems associated with this kinda thing.

 Reason for Exam: 

 previous C3/4 and C6/7 ACDF and C6/7 laminectomy. Recurrent L arm pain and L 

 leg heaviness. Please exclude cord/cauda compression thanks

 Comparison: external MRI dated 27/07/2021 

 Findings: 

 Allowing for movement artefacts and overall suboptimal imaging no clear 

 changes in the interval demonstrated.

 Status previous C3-4 and C6-7 ACDF together with C6-7 laminectomy.

 C5-6 level: mixed Modic type1 and type2 end plate changes. Disc / osteophyte 

 C5-6 level: complex degenerative changes together with left thecal sac compression as 

 well as foraminal stenosis and impingement to the C6 exiting left nerve roots. 

 Not significantly changed to the most recent one dated 27/07/2021.

 There are no signs of established cervical myelopathy.

 There are also T-spine degenerations most marked at the lower thoracic levels. 

 Visible thoracic spinal cord are surrounded by good CSF space without any 

 compressive lesions. No intra medullary cord signal change. There are also 

 T-spine degenerations together with Schmorl nodules throughout and biconcave 

 vertebral endplate deformities of lower-thoracic and upper lumbar 

 vertebrae.The MRI scans of the lumbar spine shows upper degenerative changes 

 with moderate spondylotic changes. 

 

noddingtonpete

Hello @DebsB and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well. I think a lot of people on here can relate to your feelings that other people don't understand, but you are not alone anymore. You are now among new friends, many of which will know what you are going through.

Have you had a look at our website - it contains a lot of useful information about arthritis, treatments and hints and tips. I've put a couple of examples in below.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/your-experiences/your-questions-answered/your-questions-on-pain-relief/

and

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-spine/

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on and I am sure others will connect with you to share their support and experiences as well.

With best wishes

Peter (moderator)

DebsB

Thanks for the welcome Peter 🙂