Question
I have long standing osteoarthritis  am MRI from a year ago showed

I have severe osteoarthritis throughout my spine with grade 1 anterolithedis C3 onto C4 and C7 onto TI.  There is extensive spondylitis of the cervical endplates most significant C4-T1.  An MRI from one year ago shows no abnormal signal. I don't know if this has changed since since my last MRI.   I have severe foraminal narrowing and facet changes C2/C3 C3/C4.

I have minimal range of movement, significant pain and now I have constant pain and heaviness in my upper right arm.

My pain management Doctor is ordering a new MRI to see if the bone spurs are now compressing the spinal chord.  He is also giving me an RX for a prescription pain medication (Nucynta).  I am so frustrated and tired of being in pain.  I have had chronic pain for several years.  Unfortunately, over the past 5 months, the pain has increased to a whole new level and now I have increasing pain and heaviness in my upper arm. I have been avoiding RX pain meds for years but am giving in to the pain. 10 years ago, I had a two level firanenectony without fusion to remove spurs that were compressing a nerve causing reduced function of my handbag  I have had trigger point injections, radio frequency ablation, PT and am seeing an Accupuncturist. I also get weekly deep tissue massage. I had seen a chiropractor for many years but about a year ago, a chiropractor said that I should not allow anyone to do forceful adjustments but stick to stretching to improve Rom  as adjustments could be dangerous due to the severity of arthritic changes

Are there any min invasive treatments that I overlooked ?

Answer
Amy ~

I would most certainly investigate non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. Spinal Decompression Therapy, first approved by the FDA in 2001, has since evolved into a cost-effective treatment for degenerative changes of the spinal discs; one of the major causes of back pain and neck pain.

Spinal Decompression Therapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment performed on a special, computer controlled table similar in some ways to an ordinary traction table. A single disc level is isolated and by utilizing specific traction and relaxation cycles throughout the treatment, along with proper positioning, negative pressure can actually be created within the disc. It works by gently separating the offending disc 5 to 7 millimeters creating negative pressure (or a vacuum) inside the disc promoting the retraction of the bulging disc tissue. This negative pressure also pulls water, oxygen, and nutrients into the disc, thereby re-hydrating a degenerated disc and bringing in the nutrients needed to begin the healing process.