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What needs to be done next?

I was just in the ER with pain on my whole left side of my upper body. I can hardly turn my neck to my left or right side without pain. Severe pain in the back of my neck and then it can follow down my left arm and elbow to my hand. I feel like I am loosing strength on my left side. Hurts to even lift my arm to blow my nose. I have severe pain on the inside of my elbow. Had a C5-C6 neck fusion done about 10 yrs. ago. Hospital done a CT scan when in ER and this is what the report says:
There is no evidence of an acute fracture or subluxation.  At C5-C6 level, mild to moderate left central posterior disc protrusion is noted causing narrowing of the anterior subarachnoid space and the left lateral recess.  Postop changes with fusion of C5 and C6 vertebral bodies are noted.  What does this mean?
They are referring me to a spine specialist and may have to have surgery.  Is there another option?
Thank You for taking time to read this.  Hope I get my answer before I have to go see doctor tomorrow.
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17775090 tn?1459973303
It likely means that the disc protrusion is pressing on your spinal cord which can and will cause Myleomalacia which ultimately can kill you by suffocation.  You only have a short window in which the damage can be  reversed with another surgery and PT if diagnosed in time.  If this is what is happening then you can expect tingling in your fingers and even complete loss feeling in arms and hands.  You may also have them do an MRI to see if the fusion failed at any time and the plate is coming apart?  This would cause more pain than usual and needs to be ruled out.  The Myleomalacia still stands either way as long as there is compression on the spinal cord.  Hope this helps,
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