spinal instability

07/02/2013
Dear Doctor Corenman,
I would be grateful for your evaluation of my neck. c5/c6 fused in 1993 age 28. C3/C4 problematic with a closing of the spinal canal, but not fused.
Age 14, my head and neck were stamped on, since then further trauma. Occasionally, when standing, after sitting, I feel weak and begin to collapse, I hold a table 2-3,seconds until the blackout passes, the message from brain to legs, seem blocked. It seems more often and more intense of late, I quickly sit to avoid collapse, probably more after exercise when the neck joint becomes hyper mobile.
My doctor tested for hyper tension, my blood pressure was alike, sitting or standing. I suspect correlation with the standing motion, further narrowing the spinal canal.
In 1993 the surgeon suggested, come back if i couldn’t cope. I managed until now thinking neuro surgery may have advanced. Quality of life is pain medicated and sometimes fragile, age 48. I struggle to function some days, via C3/C4 nerve pain, movement of my neck can make me unwell.
Another surgeon stated that I had left it too long. I battle to work, it is difficult to sit for any time, type and talk as required and i can feel unwell driving on bumpy roads.
Gym work, arm use, affects my neck. I stopped swimming, 2005 as rotating to breathe, caused neck pain. 2010 stopped running, bad headaches (vertebrae banging together), now cycling, peddle motion and vibration, the more I do the worse the pain.
. I walk 3-5 miles, sometimes slow – nerve compression; however this provides a more comfortable neck position. Some mornings, I have clumsy hands, dull pain near the deltoid and I occasionally trip, misjudging the floor, my arms feel weak, but I am physically strong. My head can feel too heavy for my neck to support and takes hours, to adjust too.
In desperation, I hang by my neck, to pull the bone off the nerve. I also pull my chin inward, to stretch the vertebrae. The joint crunches and is hyper mobile, more so after cycling or exercise, due to movement, it breaks free from its arthritic position, sometimes I feel slightly dizzy and unbalanced and sitting leaning sideways, makes me unwell.
This occurred 2010, settled, but now returned. Last time the circumflex nerve jumped, I had numbness in two small fingers on both hands pending the side I slept, but less at present. Joint instability in sleep causes pain waking me. I turn over until the same occurs.
Last time, 17 hours daily in bed, caused a massive p/ emb going through the heart and wedging in my lung. I fully recovered, adage of being fit the doctor stated.
Ossification – My neck has self-fused with osteo-phytes at all levels, my bones apparently look aged, the last MRI shows a black or white spot on the cord at C3/C4. I now have a new Mri scan awaiting evaluation of which i can send to you.
I can brace the vertebrae, stopping motion, C3 seems close to the nerve. I feel that if c3 was raised slightly and stabilized, the disc may be left and the nerves survive compression. Would the bones just crumble? Could the vertebrae autofuse in time? I sometimes feel wiped out, fragile with pain and uncertainty of what I can do. Sport and activity was my life, now inconsistent. Making plans is difficult as I may be unwell, and managing to do very little is frustrating.
I see on the internet, successful operations with osteo-phytes Please explain what the risks are and what success rate you would expect of any procedure bearing in mind, I am fit and have never smoked.
I read a post on your site, about injections to purposely damage tissue to tighten ligaments. Do all vertebrae have ligaments and would this be an option.
Yours
Karen wagner.