Long post alert!
Hi
@Lamont D I have had cervical spondylosis for around 30 years, I also have stenosis of the neck but I am not sure I can offer helpful advice as I do not seem to have the symptoms other people describe. If spondylitis flares up it makes me feel quite unwell - something like car sickness along with headaches and just I just feel pretty meh for a couple or three days. I generally need to rest until I feel better so as I do not like these symptoms I try to avoid those physical actions that cause them For example, I was told to only carry upto 10lbs in weight at a time so don't carry heavy bags, I also limit anything that involves looking down a lot, so controlled reading, any kind of craft work, too long on the computer etc. I usually get by and it gives me great excuse not to do to overdo the housework. I think for me posture is key as my vertebrae around C3, C4, C5 and C6 is slightly out of key and is compressing my spinal cord giving me cervical stenosis in that area.
I was first diagnosed with stenosis 9 years ago when my symptoms were the ground coming up to meet me when walking, weaving about when walking and my brain tricking me to think my arm was in a different place. Very strange ! I could actually "see" my arm seemingly to come out of my chest and I had to tap my left arm for my brain to realise where it was. All of my symptoms were relieved with physio, the exercises I did were mainly neck stretches, pushing my neck to the side until there was resistance, pushing my chin back and down into my neck (I could hear it crunching) and walking my hands up and down the wall. I don't know where I have put the exercise sheet but physio were happy to send me out another copy, (which I have also mislaid) so they should be readily available similar exercises can also be found on the web. One thing that really helped was the physiotherapist pushing down gently manipulating the back of my neck to stretch it. As regards eating low carb, this should not have any impact other than it is what I now eat..
Sadly I became complacent over the years, particularly during the pandemic and I am once more experiencing the effects of the stenosis. Basically I cannot walk in straight lines I veer off to the right and I am stumbling fairly frequently. I also live with headaches but not so bad that I need to take pain killers, they are just annoying. Unfortunately I irritated my neck a couple of weeks ago so also have pins and needles in my fingers at the moment but over the years have experienced numbness in fingers many times which have always resolved over time. Other than that I don't experience the pain that you guys have been describing. My stenosis seems pretty localised although at the moment I do have other back issues - I tried ten pin bowling with the grandkids the other week and twisted my back so now have pretty awful aches in my lower back but hoping this will resolve but I won every game, not bad after not having played for more than 40 years.
Because I was experiencing these issues with my neck I went to the GP who referred me to the consultant. There was supposed to be a 20 week waiting list but I must have been fast tracked as I was seen within the month. When I was first referred 9 years ago I was offered an operation to fuse my neck but I chose the physio route however the op will surely come back on the agenda as the consultant has already mentioned it, saying to me "I don't offer people operations unless they are necessary" and he is concerned about my spinal cord so I am now waiting for an MRI appointment after which I will see the consultant again. He has also booked me in for physio. Hope the info is of some use.
