Treatment options other than surgery for bone spur on cervical vertebre

Treatment options other than surgery for bone spur on cervical vertebre

Q:

Age: 46 Sex: M Concern: Bone Spur on Cervical Vertebre

My doctor is recommending fusion surgery to relieve presuure on nerve between C6/7. I have weakness in left arm and numbness in index and middle fingers of left hand. Pain in neck, left shoulder and left arm has been acute at times, but is currently minimal. Based on EMG results, my doctor does not believe there is any significant nerve damage yet but is concerned that left untreated, weakness in left arm could become permanent. Are there other treatment options beside surgery? Also, if I go ahead with surgery before July, should I have any concerns about a trip to Europe at the end of August?

-- Richard

A:

If you don't have progressive neurologic loss, you probably can wait and see what happened. You may or may not get worse. The best way is to get a second opinion from another surgeon so that your case can be reviewed.

-- Sherman Nam Tran, M. D.

to ask Dr. Tran.