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  • update on melissa

    First I am having neck surgery in the middle of November. The steroid injection that I had did not help so I am going to have the surgery on my worst 3 disc's. This will hopefully allow me several years before he will have to fuse my neck.

    As to my pain, he says that it is normal . He is sending me for water exercise therapy . I hope that it helps because I cannot take this pain much longer

    Thanks for all of your good wishes and prayers

    Melissa

  • #2
    Originally posted by mbeckoff View Post
    First I am having neck surgery in the middle of November. The steroid injection that I had did not help so I am going to have the surgery on my worst 3 disc's. This will hopefully allow me several years before he will have to fuse my neck.

    As to my pain, he says that it is normal . He is sending me for water exercise therapy . I hope that it helps because I cannot take this pain much longer

    Thanks for all of your good wishes and prayers

    Melissa
    Melissa...

    I don't understand. If you're not having fusion surgery on your next, what are they going to do?

    --Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

    Comment


    • #3
      I'm sticking my neck out here, but, your pain does not seem normal to me at all. It sounds far too severe to expect you to be putting up with it. I believe water therapy could help, so see how you go and I really wish you well with it but if you don't get a lot of relief, I would be looking for a new surgeon consult. The neck op, then fusion down the track worries me as well.

      I'm sorry to be such a cynic. I was hoping you'd get some concrete reason for your pain at this appt...I'd be a little concerned about using this same surgeon again.
      Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
      Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
      T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
      Osteotomies and Laminectomies
      Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by LindaRacine View Post
        Melissa...

        I don't understand. If you're not having fusion surgery on your next, what are they going to do?

        --Linda
        He is only fusing 5-6-7 discs , not my entire neck
        Sorry that I was not clear
        Melissa

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by JenniferG View Post
          I'm sticking my neck out here, but, your pain does not seem normal to me at all. It sounds far too severe to expect you to be putting up with it. I believe water therapy could help, so see how you go and I really wish you well with it but if you don't get a lot of relief, I would be looking for a new surgeon consult. The neck op, then fusion down the track worries me as well.

          I'm sorry to be such a cynic. I was hoping you'd get some concrete reason for your pain at this appt...I'd be a little concerned about using this same surgeon again.
          Would a surgeon take a patient in the middle of the year of recovery from fusion surgery? He says that my back is fusing just fine. That it is my nerves & Muscles

          Melissa

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by JenniferG View Post
            I'm sticking my neck out here, but, your pain does not seem normal to me at all. It sounds far too severe to expect you to be putting up with it. I believe water therapy could help, so see how you go and I really wish you well with it but if you don't get a lot of relief, I would be looking for a new surgeon consult. The neck op, then fusion down the track worries me as well.

            I'm sorry to be such a cynic. I was hoping you'd get some concrete reason for your pain at this appt...I'd be a little concerned about using this same surgeon again.
            Do you think that a new surgeon would take me in the middle of a year of recovery?

            DO you think that I should get a second Opinion on my neck surgery?

            Melissa

            Comment


            • #7
              Well, if it was me, I think I would get a second opinion. Two things, your severe pain five months out does not seem normal to me. He doesn't appear to have given you any concrete reason for it. Also, I'd be concerned about surgery that's just a fill-in. Especially by a surgeon who hasn't resolved your pain from the first surgery.

              In Australia you can change your surgeon at any time, for any reason, not sure about the States.

              I am so sorry this has turned into such an ordeal for you. I really hope the water therapy gives you some relief.

              Just as an aside, a friend of mine had three surgeries on her arm after a break, but the pain never went away. She was in agony for three years. Then she was put onto a drug called (the spelling may be completely wrong) cymbalta. It's given to epilepsy patients which she is not. But it retrained her brain to acknowledge that the arm is now fine, nothing wrong with it, (which there isn't) and it can now stop hurting. It worked. It had rotten side affects for the first month but it's coming up to 12 months now and she no longer has pain. She's going off it after Christmas, and we are hoping her brain has got the message, permanently.

              So, I acknowledge that sometimes, pain can be felt when things ARE ok. It's a condition called RSD.
              Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
              Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
              T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
              Osteotomies and Laminectomies
              Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

              Comment


              • #8
                Melissa

                Wow! Your only 6 months and going for more? I have to agree with Jen on seeing another scoliosis surgeon.

                I'm so sorry about your pain.
                Ed
                49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                My x-rays
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                Comment


                • #9
                  I have pain and tingling on my left side that he says is from the disc's in my neck.That is separate from my other pain.

                  Melissa

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Melissa

                    It all sounds logical, but I wonder if there is any way to fix your neck without fusing?

                    Ed
                    49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                    Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                    ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                    Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                    Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                    My x-rays
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by titaniumed View Post
                      Melissa

                      It all sounds logical, but I wonder if there is any way to fix your neck without fusing?

                      Ed
                      Very sorry to hear about your continued severe pain!!

                      Yes, I certainly do think you need a second opinion before going on with a surgeon who failed to resolve your problem the first time around - even if (IF) he did as good a job as possible. This is out of respect for yourself and your suffering - your kids too.

                      Have you had an MRI of your cervical spine?

                      Having had cervical stenosis (and minimally invasive surgery) on the same levels you are reporting will be fused, I wonder a few things.

                      First, have you seen a neurosurgeon? Second, have you (and surgeon) considered a minimally invasive approach as an alternative to fusion? Not saying it fits the bills but if it does, it's much easier on the patient than a standard fusion.

                      Regular (not M.I.) fusions are basically the same as a mini scoli op - i.e., metal armature (a plate and more equipment), cadaver bone, more blood loss and a harder/longer recovery.

                      Severe pain is common with cervical stenosis.

                      Wishing you much success resolving this hellacious problem. Melissa!
                      Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
                      Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
                      main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
                      Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Melissa,

                        I really feel for you. Trying to do the research and sort through all of this while still in serious pain surely cannot be easy!

                        As far as whether the pain is "normal"--well, isn't it possible the first surgery put more pressure on your neck and is now aggravating that pain?

                        I agree that a second opinion is in order. Get yourself to a very well respected scoliosis revision specialist (who also does necks).

                        Also, as an aside, I do think that it's possible you are still experiencing pain from the first surgery.

                        Evelyn
                        age 48
                        80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
                        Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
                        Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
                        Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
                        Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Hi Melissa- I think I would try to make an appointment with a doc who specializes in the cervical spine for another opinion.
                          Age 56
                          Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
                          Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
                          Thoracic 68
                          Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
                          Dr Bridwell St Louis
                          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I am going to see another surgeon Wednesday , so we shall see what he has to say. I will keep you informed
                            \

                            Melissa

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              good luck, Melissa...hope there is a doc out there who can offer you some help!

                              jess

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