Injections vs surgery

Hi cinfullangel, I was afraid that your disc might be the problem. With that said, yes I have had this surgery done, I had my first disc surgery done on my neck back in 1985 when the frontal approach to this type of surgery was new. That surgery was for C6/7. They have come along way since that time. Fast forward to September of 2009, I had to have surgery again this time at C5/6, this surgery was much easier, and the healing time was much faster, and I had no difficulties with this surgery at all! They again went through the front of my neck, they removed the herniated disc and they put in a cage with donor bone for the bone graft. ( what they do is remove the bad disc which is cartilage and they replace it with bone graft so the vertebra above the removed disc will grow together,) thus the name fusion, they fuse the two vertebra together. So instead of having two vertebra and a disc between them, you have just one large vertebra so to speak. By removing the bad disc they take the pressure off the nerve roots that the disc is pressing on. Thus relieving the pain in your arm and hand! They also put a titanium bracket across the front of the two vertebra, to hold them together while the bone graft grows. It stays in there and you don't even know it is there, except when you see the x-rays

It is a very easy surgery for the neurosurgeon, because the disc are so easy to get to in the neck. When I had the surgery in 2009, I went in early in the morning, and woke up in the hospital room that afternoon and my arm pain was completely gone! I had a small drain coming out of my neck, and a soft cervical collar on. I was in the hospital two nights, I was only suppose to be in one night, but the surgeon wanted to leave the drain in a bit longer, because of the amount of drainage. I had to wear a soft cervical collar for about two weeks, and I hear now that some don't even have to wear one at all! It is all up to the individual surgeon and what he prefers! Anyway compared to my first surgery done in 1985 this one was a piece of cake. My first fusion in 85 they took the bone for the graft from my pelvis, and they didn't use a bracket or anything so I had to wear my cervical collar for many many months. As I have said they have come along way since that time!

When it come to the injections, I have had many of them, and none of them last for more than a few weeks, and they are not a cure, They only stop the inflammation of the nerve being impinged up, but they do not remove or actually relieve the pressure that the herniated disc is putting on the nerve. By removing the inflammation of the nerve, with the injection, it is suppose to relieve the pressure that is being put on the nerve, makes the swelling go down. But again it doesn't do anything for the herniated disc. Often a surgeon will want to have the patient receive the injections first before going ahead with the surgery, but it all depends on how bad the damaged disc is, and what it is doing to the nerve root.

From what you described before, I suspected that you had this problem! I am glad you had the MRI, and you will be seeing a neurosurgeon! I wish you all the best and if I can be of any help to you don't hesitate to asks! I understand your fears, and it is scary but, it is good that you know what is wrong and can now get it treated.

Good Luck to you, and know that everyone on this forum is here for you!

White Beard

cinfullangel Please just be really careful about what you do, between now and your appointment with your surgeon. Don't be lifting anything or doing anything that will put a strain on your neck or arms or upper body. You don't want to make things any worse until you see what the surgeon tells you! I am always maybe a little over cautious because of what I went through, especially the first time. It is better to just play it safe until you know for sure what your dealing with.

Keep us all informed as to how you are and your progress.

White Beard

Cinfullangel when I first had trouble with mine it felt like I hit my crazy bone in my elbow really really hard in both arms! I had a intense burning achy pain that shot down my forearms into my hands and fingers making my finger tips numb and tingly! My forearms and hands hurts so bad and it was all the time and just wouldn't let up. I was like that for three months before they finally found out what was wrong! They finally done a myelogram at the base hospital in Anchorage, and when the seen what was wrong then immediately wrapped me up in blankets and rushed me down town to Humana hospital. There they did an MRI and had me see a neurosurgeon right away, and by that time it was the evening. They admitted me to their hospital and did surgery first thing the next morning! That was March 1985 I was stationed in the Air Force up near Fairbanks Alaska. I was sent down to Elemendorf AFB in Anchorage for the myelogram, At that time my wife and children were up there and I was over 450 miles away having emergency surgery down in Anchorage. Back then I spent 8 days in the hospital. I was 33 when that happened, and I knew nothing about medicine or the medical career, as I worked in flight simulators at that time.

I think I do understand what your going through. As I said before I had my second one done in September of 2009, and then in November of 2010 I had to have the articular joints at C3-4 fused they went through the back of my neck for that surgery and put pins and rods on both sides to hold it together. That was the worst of all my spinal surgeries! But the good folks here on this forum helped me through those surgeries. I consider everyone here on the forum like my family. They have all been so supportive and have helped me through some very rough and difficult times! I really do feel blessed to have been introduced to this web site and forum!

I really do wish you well! We really are here for each other, and that means you too!!

White Beard

cinfullangel the foraminal opening is the opening in the vertebra where the nerve root from the spinal cord is coming out of. It is saying that the disc protrusion at C5-6 is causing severe narrowing of that opening thus impinging upon that nerve root coming out through that opening. In other words that disc protrusion is pressing into that opening thus putting pressure on that nerve root. It is also saying that the disc is protruding enough that it is causing the spinal to be mildly deformed. In other words it is pressing against your spinal cord and causing it to bend a little! Which is not good! Also that narrowing of the foraminal opening is what is probably causing your arm and hand pain because it is pressing on that nerve root.

Please Please Please be careful till you see your neurosurgeon. Just don't do anything that will put a strain or pressure on your neck.

Please keep us informed on how you are doing.

White Beard

I am surprised that you have to wait so long to get in to see the neurosurgeon. Could you call the neurosurgeons office and explain your situation and see if he has seen your MRI report. You might ask if they could notify you of any cancelations that they may have that you could take? You might also talk with your doctor about your pain and if it was possible if he/she could possibly get you a an appointment not so far off. These doctors and surgeons do that all the time. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You just might have to squeak a little louder! With what your MRI shows I would think you have reason to squeak. So you might want to try talking with them anyway!

Good luck to you!

White Beard