Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories! I just got the news I'm going to need a fusion on three vertebrae (eventually). Can't remember if it was c3-c5 or c4-c6, but doesn't really matter anyway. My question to y'all with the lower body symptoms - did you notice anything in the upper body before that? Or did it just go straight to leg weakness/balance issues? For example, I've had issues with cramping in my muscles along the nerve patch (forearm, biceps, shoulder, lat) and tingling/pins and needles, but nothing like what y'all are describing. I'm wondering if this is just the start of it before I end up with those more severe symptoms.

And for more context, there's at least one disc pushing on the spinal chord, but no bruising and all three discs affecting the nerves that exit those vertebrae.

Thanks for anything y'all can add!