I've been dealing with on and off, sometimes lingering neck pain over the past 6 months, finally got an MRI and trying to better understand what I'm dealing with. The call from my pcp's office said moderate compression and signs of degenerative joint disease, to be referred to a neurosurgeon for next steps.

Hearing neurosurgeon and degenerative joint disease had me on edge but after some time on Google it seems this is most often treated conservatively with physical therapy. Of course I'm planning to see the neurosurgeon for their recommendation, but has anyone here dealt with similar, or what can I expect going down this road? I'm averse to immediately pursuing surgery, but this condition also seems uncommon in someone my age - 35 yo male.

Details on the MRI were moderate broad disc herniation, mild narrowing thecal sac, and moderate narrowing foramen - at c4/5, c5/6, and c6/7.

ETX14.16 said:

---

I've been dealing with on and off, sometimes lingering neck pain over the past 6 months, finally got an MRI and trying to better understand what I'm dealing with. The call from my pcp's office said moderate compression and signs of degenerative joint disease, to be referred to a neurosurgeon for next steps.

Hearing neurosurgeon and degenerative joint disease had me on edge but after some time on Google it seems this is most often treated conservatively with physical therapy. Of course I'm planning to see the neurosurgeon for their recommendation, but has anyone here dealt with similar, or what can I expect going down this road? I'm averse to immediately pursuing surgery, but this condition also seems uncommon in someone my age - 35 yo male.

Details on the MRI were moderate broad disc herniation, mild narrowing thecal sac, and moderate narrowing foramen - at c4/5, c5/6, and c6/7.

---

Definitely sounds like PT should be a first stop for you. And maybe pain management as a second stop for some local steroid injections to shrink some of those disc herniations. Nothing you said screams that you need surgery. And to be honest, surgery often leads to worse problems in the long run for many spinal issues. It would be one thing if you had weakness somewhere, or radicular symptoms. But general degenerative changes diffusely probably not a good surgical candidate. That being said, I'm not a surgeon, let alone a neurosurgeon.

Are you having any weakness in your arms or hands? Physical therapy is a good first choice here before moving on to see the neurosurgeon. Injections are considered if physical therapy isn't showing progress.

Where are you located?


Axiompt.com

No weakness, but have had tingling across from neck to shoulder but not down my arm. When I'm having pain, it's at its worst in the morning feeling like lifting my head off the pillow is almost unbearable. I seem to loosen up throughout the day and can more or less function fine once a little time to get up and going. Located in Longview

This will usually respond well to physical therapy. I would stay far away from surgery based on your presentation.

ETX14.16 said:

---

Details on the MRI were moderate broad disc herniation, mild narrowing thecal sac, and moderate narrowing foramen - at c4/5, c5/6, and c6/7.

---

That's prob the same as everyone else on here if we had c-spine MRIs too

If you see a surgeon they will likely try fix it with surgery

A Physical Therapist will likely try to use physical therapy

Appreciate all the feedback - will plan to get in with physical therapist too

Agree with the above. Neurosurgery isn't to fix or reduce pain; it's to correct an immediate problem or else risk losing critical strength, function, or possible paralysis.

Now there are other, more minor, less invasive procedures that they do, like pain stimulators, injections and such, but actually having an operation on and in your neck is a big decision with hefty risks.

Got some of the same issues but I'm 76. Developed neck pain last week while in Europe and came back and had a XR then a MRI and was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis.

Prescribed Tramadol for pain and using a heating pad. If not better next week will have physical therapy.

What complicated my case is that I had a couple of months ago radiation therapy on my neck and they were concerned that I might have a compression fracture. I had prostate cancer a few years ago and one of the cells located in my C2 after treatment was over. Them my PSI started going back up and after a MRI found the cell that escaped the previous treatment on my prostate.

I had a bad fare up of neck stiffness, pain, tingling in both of my hands back in Jan/Feb. I felt so bad that I asked for an MRI. My pain management doctor told me that if PT didn't work I would be looking at surgery. Upon hearing that I booked an appt with a reputable neurosurgeon here in DFW just for a consultation. He looked at my MRI and said I was not a surgery candidate yet and told me to stick with PT, and if needed do injections and RFA. And he scheduled a follow up with me. I share all this to say that a good neurosurgeon does not always want to do surgery on you. He also added prescription anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers to my current medication (already taking Tramadol for pain). This combination, plus PT, avoiding things that trigger my pain… has helped a ton. All this to say, as others have mentioned there are a lot of conservative things to try first. Having a neurosurgeon (mainly for a plan) and a pain management doctor (typically these are the ones that do the injections) is important to have if your pain is ongoing. I hope you get relief.

IrishAg96 said:

---

I had a bad fare up of neck stiffness, pain, tingling in both of my hands back in Jan/Feb. I felt so bad that I asked for an MRI. My pain management doctor told me that if PT didn't work I would be looking at surgery. Upon hearing that I booked an appt with a reputable neurosurgeon here in DFW just for a consultation. He looked at my MRI and said I was not a surgery candidate yet and told me to stick with PT, and if needed do injections and RFA. And he scheduled a follow up with me. I share all this to say that a good neurosurgeon does not always want to do surgery on you. He also added prescription anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers to my current medication (already taking Tramadol for pain). This combination, plus PT, avoiding things that trigger my pain… has helped a ton. All this to say, as others have mentioned there are a lot of conservative things to try first. Having a neurosurgeon (mainly for a plan) and a pain management doctor (typically these are the ones that do the injections) is important to have if your pain is ongoing. I hope you get relief.

---

Thanks for your comment. I just started Gabapentin to help with the pain along with Tylenol and Tramadol. Pain is still there with all of that. Waiting for a phone call to start PT. My doctor is not in favor of shots because of the radiation therapy that I had on my neck. So will see.

Oh gotcha, sorry I missed that part. I hope PT will be helpful.

What type of work do you do? I ask because I had very similar diagnosis. I'm at a desk most of the day now. Poor posture was a major contributing factor.

Also, check out this book: Back Mechanic, by Stuart McGill. Provides some great information on relief and strengthening weak areas in your back area.

I found instant relief from some stretches once I identified the trigger, started a walking plan, stuck to it and I have little to no issues now.

Went through PT at the beginning, but once I learned all the stretches/exercises, they recommended stopping unless it came back.