Spinal Fusion for Numbness in the Arms

Q:  I've been having numbness and now some weakness in both of my arms. My doctor sent me to a specialist who is recommending an operation that would remove a disk and fuse some vertebrae. The idea of surgery on my neck is more than I can fathom. Is there anything else that I can do?

A:  The bones of the spine sit one atop the other like well-matched building blocks. In between each is a cushion or disk that also allows flexibility. With time, and sometimes trauma, bone spurs can form. That can cause arthritis, and the disks themselves can wear and begin to collapse. The result is pressure on the nerves as they emerge from the spinal column. That can cause pain, numbness and sometimes weakness, leading to loss of function.

In some situations, physical therapy, exercises and medications can provide significant help. When that fails, surgery is often necessary. Removing the disk and fixing the vertebrae will often allow reversal of the symptoms described above. You need to ask your surgeon to give his or her best opinion as to the amount of improvement that can be expected. A competent physician would not be offended if a second opinion was requested, especially if that were to set your mind at ease.

"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.