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Posted 12/7/2012 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am facing a big dilemma; Neuro-surgeon says it's time for surgery, Neurologist says if I do it, I will probably end up with Complex Pain Syndrome on top of everything else. I have appointments with Neuro-surgeon, Neurologist and Rheumatologists next week to get the skinny and opinions. The MRI from last week shows 2 discs abutting the cord and another that has collapsed with the nerve now between bone on bone.   I do not want surgery now; 3 years ago when this all started and I was stronger, maybe, but not now.   For those of you who have had cervical spine surgery, did it help? Make things worse? Feedback please.
Posted 12/8/2012 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Yrsilly- I have had a 3 level cervical fusion. I had spinal cord compression. It was a big relief after surgery. Yes, it's painful and I always respond bad to surgery. I know other people that had similiar surgery and responded ten times better then me. I always get nausea after surgery so it makes post so slow. The surgery it self is all worth it. I don't have pain in my neck unless I pick up too much weight. My Dr. told me never pick up more then 5 pounds. If I lift any signicant weight, I can truly feel it. So you might want to discuss this with him. I am not sure if you are working, but this will play into what profession you do. When I was working, I could no longer lift patients as a nurse.

I tried to do injections and tried to wait it out. Next thing I knew my arm lost its feeling. I went to ER and they took me to emergency surgery for spinal cord compression. It was a very long surgery. My arm strength is some weak and I have trouble lifting my arms over my head to do my long hair.

In the old days of doing this surgery people had very limited movement in the neck after surgery. Now I have almost full movement each way. If I do get neck pain today, it's because I lifted too much weight. I think that is the hardest thing to not lift and ask for help. A giant slab of water at Costco will set it off. It's a learning lesson.

Wearing the collar for several weeks is a pain, but you just have to. You will need some help for several weeks like shower and clean house. Ambulating is so important. Because bone surgery is easy to get blood clots. I didn't have physical therapy afterwards either. I hope I could help you. If you have more questions just ask.
Posted 12/8/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yrsilly- I forgot to tell you most of the time they use grafts. I went with a cadaver bone because I didn't want them having to use mine from the hip. It's painful and then you have two pain sites. It's completely safe. Sometimes Dr's ask you to make a choice.

Post Edited (ak angel) : 12/8/2012 2:55:26 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/8/2012 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
I had 4 level cervical fusion done summer of 05. Cadaver bone too. Anterior position. The J collar was hot and itchey, sleeping with it was interesting, to say the least! Post op pain, not bad, keep on top of it, don't let it escalate.

I have good ROM now, no more pain. I'd do it again, and am considering lumbar fusion now. But first must deal with double mastectomy .
Posted 12/8/2012 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear of your upcoming surgery Spookies mom. Thank you both for the info. I have been wearing an Aspen collar for 3 freaking years for most of the day! I can no longer open doors that are not hollow, carry a purse; reach above my shoulder or below my waist. I have had the 5 lb limit the entire 3 years as well. I worked up until this last June when I was given the additional diagnosis of Fibro as well. I swell but cannot take the steroids because they are worse than the pain and swelling. Ironically after I posted, I received in the mail the approval for disability retirement from the state; I worked for a school district in a clerical position and I was dying the last 6 months I was working. I miss working a lot, but if I use my hands too much, I pay the price.
Posted 12/8/2012 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
Well, at least you got some good news! I'm so glad you got the disability retirement. One fewer thing to worry about!

That's a tough decision you've got to make. Don't you love having dueling doctors telling you the exact opposite thing? Geeesh. Too bad you can't get them all in the same room together.

Debbie
Posted 12/8/2012 9:52 AM (GMT 0)
I can't believe you been in a cervical collar for that long. I can, but did the Dr's not suggest surgery earlier? Your neck muscles must be very weak by now. My Dr. Told me not to wear the collar unless he gives permission. It will make your muscles weak. Once in a blue moon my neck feels real tired as if I could use a brace. It sounds like the surgery would be very beneficial to you.
Posted 12/8/2012 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear about this...

I would make sure that you seek out a Fellowship trained, Board Certified Neurosurgeon. They are the only ones qualified for this type of surgery....Rheumatologists do not have this type of knowledge...and a Neurologist is not a surgeon.

May I ask who has been telling you to wear the collar for so long? It is only meant to be on a short term basis or else your entire neck muscles will lose their strength as well as loss of ROM...So this is why many of us are shocked that any BC Neurosurgeon would prescribe this for you to be worn so much.

I'm not quite sure I understand the part about steroids and why you can't do the injections or take them orally?

Have you had other injections done like lidocaine? Physical therapy? EMG (nerve conduction study) done? How about usage of nerve pain medications like Neurontin, Lyrica, or Cymbalta....or any muscle relaxers?

Sorry for the questions....it just helps us understand what has been tried for treatments to make sure that everything possible has been done before considering surgery.

The only downside with looking online about these surgeries is you are going to get more negatively skewed opinions as many people who had great success are out living their lives without any pain and never thinking about it again...

I have had 3, two-level, cervical fusions and they were all needed and done on an emergency basis. I still have 3 severe herniations for the last 6 years (two in lumbar and one in lower cervical/upper thoracic), as well as Stenosis, and Spondy....But my PM and Neurosurgeon are doing all we can to not have to do another surgery until absolutely needed.

And I don't have much nerve pain at all which is a benefit from my last surgery that was done both from the anterior and the posterior approach to really "shore" things up this time.

Most all surgeries are done to fix a mechanical issue and not strictly for pain relief. And it's all about finding the absolute best Neurosurgeon (they are better trained for the cervical area than Orthopedic surgeons) and make sure that the recovery plan is a good one that includes PT when appropriate..

But I have continued the daily PT (at home) and daily yoga/stretching (use different colored stretchy bands). As well as I walk 1.4 miles each day. I also get massages as well as get acupuncture treatments. I do aqua therapy, injections when needed, ice, heat, and a muscle relaxer on the bad days. Biofeedback and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has helped too.

If it were me (and obviously I am not a medical professional) but since you have waited this long...unless you get 2 and 3 opinions from Board Certified Neurosurgeons who all say you need surgery asap...I would take the next 3-6 months getting your neck and back strong again and go through rounds of PT. As well as make sure you are as healthy as possible in other areas if that is needed.

I hope that you are not a smoker as this is now proven to cause disc degeneration and bone loss with dehydration. My Neurosurgeon actually won't do surgery on smokers as the percentage of failure for the fusion is so high.

So, if you can hold off for a bit longer and get strong/healthy then a surgery like this will be much easier to handle all around...

Just some thoughts/suggestions.....
Posted 12/8/2012 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
He is a highly rated neurosurgeon here in the Los Angeles area affiliated with one of the top hospitals and has been chief of neuro-surgery staff there for over 20 years, teaches at Cal-Tech and is past president of the California Association of Neurological Surgeons .   I am to wear the brace whenever I am actively using my arms such as in cooking, dusting…that type of thing. I was wearing it much more when I was working but since then I am down to maybe an hour a day total.   When I was wearing it often, I would take it off and do neck exercises at break and lunch.   He’d love for me to wear it while driving, but since most of my driving is freeway driving, that’s a no go.   He is VERY conservative in his approach to surgery and much more so with me. Yes, I have had 6 MRI’s and additional CT scans and X-rays over the past 3 years to watch the progression of the degeneration. Also have had NCS and EMG testing which shows abnormalities in my hands and arms now. My own regular physician had a 4 level fusion with him last year and I have also had 3 other friends who all had successful surgery with him; he has also done surgery on my Orthopedist’s son.   He and the Ortho served together in the Armed Forces, so he comes to me with the high regards of many different people.   I am highly allergic to most medications and we (doctors and I) hesitate to do injections again since I react so violently to just about anything.   Cymbalta was like an acid trip, Gabapentin made me feel as though I had an elephant on my back, Flexeril gives me rapid heartbeats…and the list goes on.   I am in PT currently having rung a few visits out of the insurance company; this is my third session in the 3 years.   I am also doing weekly massage and acupuncture for pain management. Here are few of his comments in his letter to all my doctors in September:   Impression:   CERVICAL SPONDYIOSIS CERVICAL SPONDYOTIC SENOSIS C 5-6 AND C6-7 CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY C6-7 PROGRESSIVE E X ACERBATION O F CERVICAL RADICUTOPATHY THORACIC DISC DESICCATION T11-12 THORACIC SPONDYIOSIS BILATERAL CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME ( Othro disagrees with this one) FIBROMYALGIA HISTORY OF GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD/FACE   “I am quite concerned about the increasing symptomology secondary to her spinal stenosis. “     PT gal said I am very confusing to her, she has been doing this for forty years, since I am supple and can easily move, but when I do, I cramp up, fasciculate and basically dance about like Steve Martin in The Jerk from the waist up.   Rheum has ruled out everything known to man with multiple testing and he is as confused as the rest of us.   Yes, I have Fibro and spinal issues but they all agree there is something else in the mix that they cannot find.   It is so frustrating.   So now I just wait until my appointment with him and make a decision from there.   I must say of anything I have done to help myself physically, acupuncture is the tops and massage the next.   Emotionally, I pray a lot and remind myself it could be worse.
Posted 12/9/2012 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Yrsilly-I have denegerative thoracic disc too. I haven't need to do nothing with it. It was caught on the scans. I had mine for many years. I fell out of a swivel chair and that is what caused my neck injury. Then I went down hill quick with fibro symptoms. I use to think they were missing something also. I have come to conclusion that it's all fibro related. I do have one problem with my hardware. Once in awhile a screw hits my spinal cord. They found this doing an MRI. I knew something was up at different times I position myself. It's not worth going back to fix it. The surgery was worth all the relief of pain I get.
Posted 12/9/2012 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
We've known about the pinched nerve since I was 25, so for 27 years it sat pretty much dormant and then went for the gusto one day. Several of the doctors semi believe that my exposure to toxins in the work place maybe behind some of this since the chemicals it is known I was exposed to for years do cause neurological issues, but at this point in time, there is no way to prove that. Most days I can deal with it, but sometimes.....WOW! Thanks all for the input and concern.
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