Question
Hi doctor,
I started getting occasion numbness on my left little finger and acute left shoulder plate strain/pain six months back. the pain seems to come and go; while irritating, is still bearable.

I have attached my report below.

MRI Report 5-Mar
Loss of normal Cervical lodosis , loss of disc height at C4/5 and c5/6 levels is noted indcating disc degeneration
Craniocervical junctions is unremarkable

C2/3
Left paracentral osteochondral bar indenting the anterior theca

C3/4
Large left paracentral osteochondral bar compressing the left side of spinal cord
Extending into left exit foramen - causing MODERATE left foraminal stenosis

C4/5
Large left paracentral osteochondral bar compressing the central, left side of spinal cord
Extending into left exit foramen - causing SEVERE left foraminal stenosis
Right unconvertebral osteophytosis causing mild left foraminal stenosis

C5/6
Central osteochondral bar effacing the thecal sac and causing mild spinal cord compression
Extension into the unconvertebral joints causing MODERATE right and SEVERE left forminal stenosis

C6/7
Central disc osteophyte complex indenting the anterior theca and effacing the cerebronspinal fluid space but not compressing the spinal cord
Unconvertebral osteophytosis causing MILD right and MODERATE left foraminal stenosis
---

My orthopedic is referring me to a spinal specialist for opinion but told me to be mentally prepared for surgery.
I am 35 yrs with kids and wife and am really not expecting this.

(1) my disc degeneration seem to be due to a fall i had about 12months back. I remember i skidded and fell with my butt on the floor and still sitting straight. I heard my spinal bones knocking as my butt hit the floor. no serious damage then as i only had stiff neck for a short while which i recovered in a couple of days.
=>would any surgery help with my situation and with "dried" up discs?
(2) Is surgery absolutely necessary; i was cautioned for risk of paralysis? Although i do not feel any pain or weakness in my limbs even now.

(3) Hope to get an opinion and your views on non-intrusive methods.

Thanks very much for your advice.

Sincerely,
Cheng

Answer
Sean,
DO NOT GET SURGERY!  Send me the pictures from your C-spine MRI and if you have X-Rays, send me those too.  Once I get a good look at what is going on I can then advise you further.  
Hopefully this will put your mind at ease:
Of all the cases that were told to have spinal surgery that consulted our services over the years, we have yet to have 1 actually need the surgery after our specific care.  I have not even seen your films yet and you have over a 90% chance at this point that you do not need surgery.  Once I see your films your chances can then go up or down, but they almost always go up for you to not surgery of any kind.
Now, you have to keep in mind that I am not at all suggesting that you do not need surgery and that you will be fine and not need anything else.  We will have to discuss your care options and what you will need in order to get well, and it will be something that focuses on correcting the cause.  Because anything other than correcting the cause will allow it to continue to get worse and then at some point you will need surgery.  So hopefully I am making myself clear.
You can email me any of the pics that you have and we can go from there.

Yours in Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor
"Cervical Spine Specialist"
Arnone Family Health Clinic
711 Old Ballas Road
St Louis, MO 63141
314-995-5719
[email protected]