[Tmhersey]

#31906

Hello, I am 53 years old. 13 months ago I had my 3rd neck surgery. 2007 – ACDF at C5-C6. 2015 – ACDF C4 – C7. 2018 – PCDF C6-C7. I continue to have severe left shoulder pain, left elbow pain and left wrist pain. My last MRI shows “chronic disc space narrowing and Anterolisthesis C7-T1 (4mm), shallow right paracentral disc extrusion T1-T2, mild uncovertebral joint hypertrophy C3-C4 with retrolisthesis and probable mild left neural foraminal narrowing at C6-C7, and the Anterolisthesis at C7-T1 has progressed when compared to previous MRI dated 7/30/2018.
My question is, how concerned should I be about the continuing deterioration of my neck and what can I do to prevent further damage?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#31919

So you’ve had a fusion of C4-7 with a fusion failure and posterior revision (“PCDF C6-C7″). Can I assume that you have a solid fusion at all levels now? Is there any residual compression of the foramen based upon new CT or MRI?

The anterolisthesis of C7-T1 is not unexpected as this level is loaded and the facets can commonly wear out allowing this slip (degenerative spondylolisthesis).

You note ” I continue to have severe left shoulder pain, left elbow pain and left wrist pain”. Have you had any selective nerve root blocks to diagnose the possible pain generators or have had an examination to rule out shoulder problems or nerve entrapment syndromes such as carpel or cubital tunnel syndrome?

See
https://neckandback.com/conditions/nerve-entrapment-compression/
https://neckandback.com/conditions/rotator-cuff-syndrome-shoulder-impingement-syndrome/
https://neckandback.com/treatments/epidural-injections-and-selective-nerve-root-blocks-diagnostic-and-therapeutic-neck/

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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