I want to share my experiences thus far since my surgery last October as far as pain is concerned. Just wondering whether others have had similar experiences.
Since my surgery, I am having problems regarding my cervical spine. My surgeon did warn me, as I believe most of them do, that there can be degeneration of the discs above and below the fusion. I was thinking that this would be way in the future when I'm much older, and I really believed it would be my lumbar area since that is where I already had degeneration and pain.
Based on the findings of my MRI done in June, I have a herniated disc at C5/C6, which very likely caused my frozen shoulder. My pain has decreased somewhat and my range of motion is better, but it's still very bothersome and painful. But this herniated disc is definitely due to my surgery. I've been on Norco and an anti-inflammatory and though they do bring some relief, I still hurt. I've tried physical therapy and light swimming with little relief.
Interestingly, when my surgeon first took note of my neck in an x-ray, he seemed upset that it happened and recognized that something was wrong right away. He ordered the MRI immediately and helped me feel that I had a genuine problem going on with my neck. Yet when I met with my PCP after the MRI results were done, she almost poo-pooed the herniated disc by saying she could barely see it (on the MRI) and had to have the radiologist take a look at it with her. Grrrrrrr, why do doctors want to downplay something? She thinks I'm making up my pain? Guess I'm getting too defensive about everything...
I recently saw a physician who practices osteopathic manipulative therapy or OMM or OMT (He is a D.O.).He believes that he will be able to bring me some relief and I'm crossing my fingers that he will.
On another note, he commented to me that he wished that I saw him pre-surgery because he could have helped correct my curve! I was amazed by that comment. He went on to say that he had treated a teenager who had a 26 degree curve and after treatment the curve had decreased to 23! I could have said something rude, like what time of the day did you measure the curves? I really had to bite my tongue. I know that osteopaths are more holistic in their treatment approaches, and he seemed shocked by my surgery and scar, but he shouldn't have made me feel bad.
But anyway, I digressed. I am going through a rollercoaster of emotions lately because I still can't say whether I am 100% sure that I did the right thing by having this surgery. Yes, my spine is straight. Yes, my rib hump is GONE. Yes, I have kept off 20 pounds since surgery. But my neck issue really bothers me and I really hope that it will get better with time.
Since my surgery, I am having problems regarding my cervical spine. My surgeon did warn me, as I believe most of them do, that there can be degeneration of the discs above and below the fusion. I was thinking that this would be way in the future when I'm much older, and I really believed it would be my lumbar area since that is where I already had degeneration and pain.
Based on the findings of my MRI done in June, I have a herniated disc at C5/C6, which very likely caused my frozen shoulder. My pain has decreased somewhat and my range of motion is better, but it's still very bothersome and painful. But this herniated disc is definitely due to my surgery. I've been on Norco and an anti-inflammatory and though they do bring some relief, I still hurt. I've tried physical therapy and light swimming with little relief.
Interestingly, when my surgeon first took note of my neck in an x-ray, he seemed upset that it happened and recognized that something was wrong right away. He ordered the MRI immediately and helped me feel that I had a genuine problem going on with my neck. Yet when I met with my PCP after the MRI results were done, she almost poo-pooed the herniated disc by saying she could barely see it (on the MRI) and had to have the radiologist take a look at it with her. Grrrrrrr, why do doctors want to downplay something? She thinks I'm making up my pain? Guess I'm getting too defensive about everything...
I recently saw a physician who practices osteopathic manipulative therapy or OMM or OMT (He is a D.O.).He believes that he will be able to bring me some relief and I'm crossing my fingers that he will.
On another note, he commented to me that he wished that I saw him pre-surgery because he could have helped correct my curve! I was amazed by that comment. He went on to say that he had treated a teenager who had a 26 degree curve and after treatment the curve had decreased to 23! I could have said something rude, like what time of the day did you measure the curves? I really had to bite my tongue. I know that osteopaths are more holistic in their treatment approaches, and he seemed shocked by my surgery and scar, but he shouldn't have made me feel bad.
But anyway, I digressed. I am going through a rollercoaster of emotions lately because I still can't say whether I am 100% sure that I did the right thing by having this surgery. Yes, my spine is straight. Yes, my rib hump is GONE. Yes, I have kept off 20 pounds since surgery. But my neck issue really bothers me and I really hope that it will get better with time.
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