Please help me understand my condition.

[Susie923]

I was told today that I have extensive myelomalacia within my cervical cord, but not alot about it.  
My MRI says:
Severe degenerative disc disease and spondylolsis is seen at C5-6 and to a greater extent at C6-7.  there is some high signal seen in the central cord consistent with myelomalacia.
C3-4= there is a central disc protrusion with minimal impingement on the anterior thecal sac producing mild central canal stenosis.
C4-5= The is broad based disc protrusion with partial effacement of the thecal sac. There is evidence of abnormal increased signal in the central cord.
C5-6= there is broad based disc prtrusion producing moderal central canal stenosis especially to the left of midline.  There is evidence of mild left neural foraminal stenosis also reflecting facet arthropathy.
C6-7, moderate to severe central stenosis due to spurring and a large central disc protrusion.  there is no definite evidence of neural foraminal stenosis.
There is extensive laminectomy defect seen beginning at the inferiar aspect of C4 and extending through C7.
IMPRESSION:
1. Extensive post surgical changes
2. Severe degenerative changes especially at C5-6 and C6-7, with evidence of spinal stenosis as desribed.
3. Extensive myelomalacia seen within the cervical cord.

What I have researched on myelomalcia talks about gradual paralysis and necrosis of the spinal cord.  Is paralysis inevitable?  Can this damage be helped with injections/surgery?   I had a laminectomy done in 2002 with no fusion.  My neurosurgeon has retired and I am trying to find a good neurosurgeon to help me.  I was obviously very frightened by this news.  Can a spinal cord rejuvenate itself?  Can you point me to other links for more information?  Any help would be appreciated.  I would like to find out more about this condition while I am waiting to see a neurosurgeon. I would just like to understand what I am facing.  Is this problem serious?  Or am I making it out to be more scary than I should.  
Thank you for your time and may God bless you!
Susie

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
Myeolomalacia is softening of spinal cord with progressive loss of tissue. The most common factor responsible is trauma to the spinal cord.
The spinal cord once damaged cannot grow back. Steroid injections may help to reduce the swelling and pain but will not help in reversing the damage.
The option of surgery for relief of symptoms of nerve compression and medical treatment for pain can be explored.
Please consult a neurologist as soon as you can and discuss the best option in your case.
Hope this helps!

[goia]

Abnormality was noted within the posterior central cord of my neck involving approximately 1/3 of the cord transverse diameter posteriorly. All this is likely reflecting myelomalcia. (These words are new to me – I am just copying from the report.)