u/Professional_Buy39

Hi, 35M - 185CM - 220LBS from Canada.

I would love to get some suggestions/comments from experienced fellows/Doctors.

I’ve had neck pain/stiffness for 7–8 years, with worsening arm/hand symptoms over the last 2-3 years. Main issues now are constant neck/trap/shoulder blade pain, headaches at the base of my skull through temple, severe forearm pain, constant hand tingling/numbness, weak grip, and difficulty using my hands normally (my NCS has mild ulnar neuropathy).

I’ve tried physio, meds, epidural, trigger point injections, nerve blocks, and PRF. Nerve blocks in the neck gave temporary relief in both neck and arm pain, but only for a few hours.

Attaching my MRI images, Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

Hi everyone,

Apologies if this one doesn’t match the posting criteria.

I’m currently waiting for a neurosurgeon appointment but the wait could be long, so I’m trying to understand my situation better in the meantime given a lot of you has gone through way worse.

Background:

Suffering from symptoms for about 5+ years. Significant past 2 years.

- Diagnosed with cervical spondylosis with disc protrusions and foraminal narrowing at C5–6 (left) and C6–7 (right)

-MRI also shows disc bulge at C4–5 indenting the spinal cord but no cord damage

- C6-7: Mild-to-moderate central and right paracentral broad-based disc osteophyte complex indenting the

anterior thecal sac. It measures 0.7 cm in AP diameter. Moderate right uncovertebral joint hypertrophy seen

with moderate-to-severe right neural foraminal stenosis likely at least contacting and mildly compressing the
right exiting nerve roots. Mild left neural foraminal stenosis without nerve root compression.

• EMG showed cubital tunnel syndrome

Symptoms (worsening recently to the extent where I think of hurting myself sometimes):

• Severe forearm pain in both arms

• Constant numbness in pinky and ring finger

• Increasing grip weakness and difficulty closing fingers during pain episodes

• Neck pain, trap pain, and shoulder blade pain

• Arms feels heavy and fatigued

Treatments tried so far:

• Gabapentin

• Baclofen

• Physiotherapy / RMT

• Trigger point injection, Epidural (helped a little), Nerve blocks

Question:

For those who have had similar symptoms or imaging findings:

• Did this eventually require neck surgery (ACDF/disc replacement), ulnar nerve surgery, or both? My pain doctor mentioned I will eventually need ACDF.

• I want to check if I am missing anything else treatment wise before I am put through surgery.

Thanks in advance for any experiences or advice.