Spinal Surgery
Posted , 8 users are following.
Until just last month, I had no idea how extensive my spine and neck was deteriorated.
My MRI results indicated I have spurs and stenosis at C3-4, 4-5, & 5-6. I have visited two physicians. The latter doctor pushed his schedule to operate this September 22. Only thirty days from my visit with him. He had shown me, on the screen, the extreme narrowing. He told me he was amazed that I was even walking.
He will be replacing and fusing the 3 vertibrea and putting in a stabilizing rod.
Looking back it explains many symptoms that I have had.
I thought the tingling in my legs and feet were because of my obesetiy. I'm 230lbs and 5'6", as well as my, the personally embarrassing frequent urine urges from my overweight.
The ringing in my ears from working in a factory and being a telemarketer for many years.
The weak and clumsiness? in my hands from carpal tunnel, even though I had corrective surgery.
The stammering walk from just being clumsy.
My wretching cough and difficulty swallowing from anxieties.
My irritability, unfocused thoughts and sleeplessness from my bipolar. The tingling in my neck was rationalized as I have been a frequent neck popper since I was 18, I am now 50.
The frequent headaches from stress.
I chalked all these as separate symptoms to separate issues.
I had some reduced strength, but I was always a strong pack mule.
I still can carry more weight than usual. An example is I can handle 2 extra large bags (52 lbs.) of dog food one on each shoulder and one large bag (24 lbs.)of cat food with one hand and a large bucket of clumping litter (30 lbs.) in the other. All the distance from the checkout to the car without getting tired or short of breath.
I don't know what to expect.
0 likes, 16 replies
Laura3333 Cindy5067
Posted
You know what? 100 people with back pain have mri's 98% of them have visible damage. 100 people without back pain have mri's 98% have visible damage.
it's whether the damage causes pain or problems that matters.
No one's mri will come back showing a perfect spine. YouTube "Why mri's are dangerous " and watch it till the end. Makes a lot of sense.
I have seen people post on these boards, who have had multiple surgeries, and still not without pain. I would get a second opinion, and a third if need be.
Your dr says he does not know how you are walking around, yet you can lift things?
You are walking around because you can, simple as that. Don't let an MRI result scare you into having anything done that you don't desperately need.
i had a carpel tunnel op, years ago but my hand still tingles and swells if I overuse it, it's my hand it's coming from not my neck.
I have arthritis at three levels in my spine, but they don't all bother me.
Finally, I had a spinal fusion, it failed!
Why do you think you need a fusion ----you? Not your Dr.
If you can carry all that, you don't.
Carolineq8 Laura3333
Posted
You are so right, if only I knew then what I know now I would never have had surgery, I also have failed back fusion/surgery that took 14 years to discover even tho I kept telling them something was wrong, at least 20 MRIs but a simple X-ray discovered it, so MRIs don't always tell you what is or isn't wrong but can lead you down a very desperate path 😊
Laura3333 Carolineq8
Posted
TomasJoe Carolineq8
Posted
My fusion also caused more problems than it cured , if you can do without the surgery DON'T let them scare you into it , losing bladder control forces some to stop that , but if you can still function do not take surgery .
Combo Cindy5067
Posted
I had a frontal dissection and fusion at C3-4-5 in 2015 no rods though? Prior to the surgery I had loss of feeling in my right arm, and kept dropping things with both hands. The surgery was successful, and my arm returned to normal use thankfully. From what I've read its a game of Russian roulette! Some of us are lucky but for others, the problem gets worse. I do believe surgery causes problems further down the spine though, due to shortening of the neck. I now have sciatic pain in my right leg and hip, with bulging discs in the Lumber region. As such I am now sceptical about more surgery. Best of luck to all suffering with spinal problems.
Carolineq8 Combo
Posted
Have you tried stretching exercise for your sciatica?
Also bulging discs shouldn't be a problem unless there aggravating nerves or compressing something in the space so please don't jump into surgery on your lumbar until you've done all your research. I have 3 bulging discs in my lumbar but had a fusion 14 years ago and thought the pain must be coming from those discs, it turns out the screws are loose from the fusion and causing the chronic pain and the discs arnt a problem but if you look at the scans you would think that the discs are the cause of pain. I wish you well😊
Combo Carolineq8
Posted
Hi Caroline, yes the disc is pressing on the nerves causing the pain. I've had an epidural and cortisone injections, which was great for about 3 weeks then the pain returned. I also have numbness and severe non nerve pain in my left leg. That started before the neck problems, and means that I cannot walk more than 10mtrs. I have degenerative disc disease, so I don't think there's much more that can be done for me. As I said I don't think I will go down the surgical route, I have a follow up at the cronic pain clinic later this month, so will see what they suggest.
Carolineq8 Combo
Posted
Ah combo I'm so sorry to hear that, I hope you manage to find something to ease your pain, let me know how you get on with the pain clinic, good luck😊
Carolineq8 Combo
Posted
Oh and Ye I have faucet joint injections 3 x per year that work for about 10 weeks so I know I'm extremely lucky as they don't work for evwryone😊
Combo Carolineq8
Posted
Will do, thanks Caroline 👍😃
Carolineq8 Combo
Posted
😊
Combo Carolineq8
Posted
I had to wait 7 months to get mine, so I'd be lucky to get them 3X a year lol. Glad your able to get treatment more often 👍😃
Carolineq8 Combo
Posted
Iv been having them for 6 years now but Iv always had to ring up to get appointment and ye Iv had to wait and it's normally once they've worn off so a few months back I complained and said Iv never actually had an appointment sent out Iv always had to chase so she made 3 appointments for the year there and then, my last one will be Xmas so I'll be re booking them as soon as I get home, unfortunately Iv had to learn the hard way like most, unless you shout loud youl go to the bottom of the pile😊
Cindy5067 Carolineq8
Posted
I have had this chronic condition for many years. The images are both MRI and X-rays. The images show such a compression that the spinal fluid is not flowing in the C4-6. I do feel that surgery is the only option. I had injections many years ago. They worked at first, then my neck would feel worse. I'm wondering what the healing process will be.
Carolineq8 Cindy5067
Posted
Have they said what surgery it would be?😊