I am a 25 year old graduate student in psychology. I've had unexplained pain since Jan 2005, when I returned from South Africa with an unspecified febrile illness, and I've consulted numerous specialists of various sorts since then.
Most recently, I began having sharp, shooting pains intermittently in November 2008. I had Xrays and then MRI of C-Spine and was referred to a spinal neurosurgeon, whom I saw this week. Apparently, my C5-C6 disc is greatly degenerated and a large disc osteophyte complex that is deforming my spine. He said the disc space is collapsed enough that he couldn't put in an artificial disc, which would normally be preferable in someone my age. He also told me that they usually would do more conservative treatment due to my age and such, but that I had a positive Hoffmann's sign, which indicated that the spinal cord is compressed.
So far, he said, it doesn't look like I have any permanent damage, but he wanted to do surgery "the sooner the better" -- within the next 1-2 weeks. This seems rather rushed, especially because my pain and hand/foot numbness/tingling are intermittent. I've always had an exaggerated knee reflex, but I think this might have also worried the surgeon.
I'm planning to get a second opinion (at least one), before doing anything drastic.
So I have 2 questions:
1. I was told I'd have to wear a cervical collar for at least 6-8 wks. following surgery. I have no way of getting to my practicum site if I cannot drive. So, am I putting myself at serious risk if I wait until the end of April, when my practicum will be over and I will be able to walk or take public transportation to everything I really need to be at?
2. What would cause such a severe condition in someone who's 25, relatively healthy, etc.? Especially given that I have had 2 other cervical X-rays since 2005, for which I was never referred to any neurosurgeon or orthopaedic specialist. It's just so confusing, because I'm young and it happened so fast.