herniated cervical discs

Lol White Beard..... That sounds about right!! I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed that.... They've got to have an ego, to be confident enough to cut into someone's brain or spine..... They should have to go through bedside manner training or something.... ;) hehe

I've tried to be realistic about what to expect from a surgeon. Like I said previously.... I would rather have a surgeon with the God complex that is at the top of his game, than a really sweet, compassionate one, that doesn't have the credentials I want to see....

Sounds like you lucked out my friend :) since your odds are good, you should go play the lotto.... Seems to me, we have a better chance at winning that, than finding a surgeon like you did!!!

Thankfully my neurosurgeons team make up for his lack of bedside manners. I deal with them, more than him anyway. I'd still rather have him holding the knife, regardless of his ego....lol. He's entitled to have an ego I guess... :)

Me too Abilene. I spoke to the case manager yesterday, and she told me they have 10 business days to send the reports and surgeons notes to the IME, who will then either agree or disagree.

My surgeon assured me that any competent Dr, will have to agree because the standard of care for spinal cord deformity is surgery.

I also decided to call the old neurologist office and discuss why the Neuro never actually read the original MRI that he ordered. I looked at the images and you can clearly see the deformity in the cord, but his assistant said that sometimes they just go by what the radiologist said without actually looking at the images.....???????

The reason for my confusion, is that I presented with myelopathic symptoms over a year ago, and he insisted this was a stretched braxial plexus injury. If a patient is presenting with abnormal neurological signs, wouldn't he want to look at the the darn images. Especially after a year where symptoms were progressing. I am so discouraged.

I am concerned that the damage may never heal because the cord has been compressed for so long. I just want the symptoms to go away and feel better!!!!

It's been a long week and the lyrica is still affecting my balance, so I'm stuck at my house, unable to drive and unable to do the things that need to be done around the house. It's really frustrating....

End rant..... Lol

Hi 'slow and steady'

I have a question. I have a disc herniation and also bone spur compressing my central spinal cord at two levels c4-c7. Recently diagnosed but haven't seen neurosurgeon yet. My question is, occasionally when I have a bad day, I get left shoulder and collar bone pain, like a heaviness, sometimes even pain wrapping around to my chest at a lower level. Been ruled out for MS, normal MRI of brain, seems to all be related to spine and discs. Hard to describe but I worry if that is a symptom of the cord compression or just muscle spasms??? Or is it just me making it worse in my own mind??? Is this nerve pain or spinal cord compression also??? They say well if you lose bowel/bladder function to go to ER, I want to say really?!? No kidding! When my pcp evaluated my left arm pain all my reflexes were intact, and strength wise I am equal. But at what point do they get worried? Are these bad signs before the reflexes go? What is the progression of symptoms for spinal cord compression. My arm pain is described as like a muscle fatigue feeling. Like I have been lifting weights and now I am spent, but without actually doing anything. I think loss of function is the worse of the worse and usually symptoms precipitate before this? Are these those symptoms??



Anyone have any thoughts???