Help! Need Surgery for bilateral foraminal stenosis at C5/6
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi I have been referred by my Orthopaepedic Consultant to a Spinal Consultant and put on his list for surgery (NHS). However I have been told by friends that I should have been referred to a Neurosurgeon for the operation on my spine as it involves pinched nerve. Can anyone tell me if this is correct or what has happened in their case please? Really anxious anyway about surgery but have had pain for about two years. Only Gabapentin has helped but do not want to take long term due to apparent side effects. Any advice welcome! I live in Wales.
0 likes, 9 replies
crista44751 marilyn69818
Posted
marilyn69818 crista44751
Posted
gabriella44865 marilyn69818
Posted
marilyn69818 gabriella44865
Posted
Hi Gabriella
Thanks for your reply. The Gabapentin makes me feel drowsy and lathargic. Also causing weight gain and affecting cognition i.e memory reasoning. I do not want to stay on it long term having read about negative effects but maybe just need to decrease dosage although when I have done this pain starts to breakthrough. I don't think everyone has side effects though so I don't want to worry you. Hope you do well on it yourself. Thanks again.
Carolineq8 marilyn69818
Posted
What surgery are you having?
Have you tried other conservative treatments
If a fusion is involved then I personally would try and speak to people who have had the same surgery, it may help with your symptoms but your pain may stay the same or even worse, I do t mean to scare you but dont take surgery lightly, that being said you may not have an option just make sure your surgeon answers all your questions, make sure to ask about the level of pain afterwards,
There is some kind of laser treatment you can have for this condition maybe it would be worth looking into it before you go ahead, seek out every other avenue first before you decide, good luck and I hope it all goes well for you, keep us updated 😊
marilyn69818 Carolineq8
Posted
Thanks Caroline. I have bone spur which are compressing on nerve give pain to shoulder and arm. Been 2 years with pain so surgeon recommended surgery but I'm still trying to find out from other people how successful it has been for them. Thanks for reply and will update!
Carolineq8 marilyn69818
Posted
Oh I have multi level bone spurs and disc bulges also in my neck, approx 5 years of pain, stiffness and muscle spasms so I get what your going through however I have had a lumbar fusion and would do anything to avoid that in my neck, I see a chiropractor 1-2 times per week but I have a lot of other issues but he keeps my neck right, have you tried chiro treatments 😊
CHICO_MARX marilyn69818
Posted
I had the same diagnosis at L2/L3. Instead of a dreaded TLIF fusion (rails and screws) with 10 days in the hospital, brace and 6 months of rehab, I had a LATERAL Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF). They go in from the side, not the back. One night in the hospital, no brace, no rehab. Some lingering nerve pain for a few weeks and that's it. Poifect!!! Search YouTube for "globus lateral" and see the cute animation. You need to check if there's a cervical version instead of my lumbar one. You can see the device in the picture right above my L3 through S1 TLIF rails. AMAZING technology...
jessica_78456 marilyn69818
Posted
While the surgeon you've been.Referred to can still carry out this operation. I'd say a neurosurgeon would have been better. I had my first spinal surgery in 2013 from an Ortherpedics but need it again in 2017 . Which was done this time by a neurosurgeon with better results . Yr well with in yr right to see who u wish. I asked my Gp to refer me to the neurosurgeon at a private hospital via the nhs . He did best results so far good luck