Note I drafted to everyone, kinda depressed about it all.
Well, no answers, just more questions which mean mores tests.
MRI shows 2 disc herniations at c5/c6 and c6/c7, however, they say not impacting spinal cord and the clinical symptoms I'm having does not match, they don't want to treat without more info(ie more tests) so that they treat the right thing. The left hand anomoly was something I believe called Hopkins (may be wrong on that name), he sees it in my hand but spinal canal does not show compromised which can cause that type of reflex.
1. They also see slippage in the neck in non-flexed xray so want to see if the facets are what is causing the pain. So off to pain specialist to get injections into the facets for c5/c6 and c6/c7 (that I have to get somewhere else (appt made for wed, the 10th (I may need a ride if Don isn't available as I won't be able to drive afterwards). If the injection works, then they know the problem and can fix(we can hope---rhizotomy and cervical fusion was mentioned), after the injection I'm to go all out in exercise, test it out, see if it takes care of the pain. They've never put any exercise restrictions on me but it's hard to exercise when you know you will hurt later.
2. Go to neurologist to get EMG to evaluate radiculopathy vs peripheral neuropathy. That appt is Tues the 16th, and can be uncomfortable but I think I'm supposed to be able to drive afterward. This may also help them also analyze with the other slippage they see in C4 (but radiologist that reads xrays says no slippage, my neurosurgeon sees some so wants more tests).
Then back to neurosurgeon 2 weeks after facet injection to see if it helped or not and go from there as to what type of treatment to pursue.
I may have some of this info wrong, but I have it all recorded on Don's Livescribe pen that records the whole conversation....finally a use for his gadget.