Neck problems above fusion

[scooter950]

so glad you have some relief

albeit temporary or not.. I have been prescribed gaba but i never took it, I really hate taking meds. <enter whatever sarcastic comment of choice here> (as I live on Ibuprofen and T3/ or percocet) but it's easier to stick to what you know, than start an unfamiliar med.

Ed, I am glad you have such an active lifestyle, and I am sure you will continue to be active- it is who you are! sorry about the appetite - its a consequence of steroids, but at least the steroids relieve inflammation. praise God for a good night's sleep!

the MRI is impressive: that cord is definitely compressed, degenerative changes remain, even if the steroids relieve some of the symptoms. but it may buy you time.

I read your comments about life with a fused spine- my pain is not that bad, as you described, but it's pervasive, it's ever present and annoying and I get crabby and it severely limits all my activity. I'm considering having the surgery regardless of my work probation period, i'm saving vacation time: up to four weeks now, so I won't need FMLA until after my regular vaca time and sick time is used up. things to think about. I read your comments about life with a fused spine- versus pain: I did get relief after the neck surgery, so I am hoping that scoli surgery will eventually relieve some of my back pain too.

anyway: I pray this relieves the arm pain for some time, and maybe you can stay on the gaba? thanks for sharing, I learn so much from everyone's experience- God bless ! Jamie in TX

[mabeckoff]

Ed, I certainly hope you get some permanent relief

Melissa

[Doreen1]

I'm sorry to hear about your neck issues, Ed. I have to have a brain and cervical mri next week. Was it uncomfortable laying on your back on the hard table?

Well, I have the MRI’s done and you can clearly see the 2 herniations....The pain in my arm has not gone away, the meds have helped BUT, I have an underlying problem for the future. Herniations are such a pain to deal with.

Jess, I do wonder but weight lifters technically should have all their discs blown.....Accidents don’t help, but they cant be the sole problem. Degeneration happens for a reason.......

Kinda tired tonite.

Anyway, here are the goods. You can see my T2 screws at the bottom of the MRI.

[mabeckoff]

I'm sorry to hear about your neck issues, Ed. I have to have a brain and cervical mri next week. Was it uncomfortable laying on your back on the hard table?

Doreen, It was uncomfortable for me but not terrible.You will get thru it OK
what are you having it for?
Hope all goes well
Melissa

[Doreen1]

Neuro and primary doc think I have MS.

Doreen, It was uncomfortable for me but not terrible.You will get thru it OK
what are you having it for?
Hope all goes well
Melissa

[titaniumed]

Well I’m winding down on the Methylprednisolone steroid pills.....my last pill is tomorrow morning...

And my arm is very numb right now.....Sigh....I was hoping that somehow, this campfire could be put out.

Its been very hard to judge the gabapentin while taking these steroids......At least in a few days I will be able to judge the effects of the gabapentin. The diclofenac seems to work well.....

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Some fusion trivia......

Michael Collins had a cervical herniation before the Apollo moon flight and had a level fused back in the 60’s. It was a single level ACDF with bone taken from his hip.

Amazing that he was released by his surgeon to eventually resume centrifuge training to simulate 10g reentry. He made the Apollo 11 mission which was the mission in which they landed on the moon in July 1969.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael...ns_(astronaut)

Ed

[titaniumed]

Doreen

I thought you were doing ok....try not to assume anything right now, get your tests done. Deep breaths!

I laid my head in a cradle for the MRI and had to ask for something to support the lordosis in my neck while laying down. My arm hurt like heck for 5 minutes and I moaned and groaned....then told them to proceed.

My cervival MRI's were 4 sections of 2.5 to 4.5 minutes each where I had to lay completely still.....It wasnt bad....Not like the fulls they did for the scoli surgeries. Those took a long time.

Ed

[mabeckoff]

Neuro and primary doc think I have MS.

Please let us know

I will be praying for you

Melissa

[mabeckoff]

Ed ,

I hope that you get some relief that you can live with.

Melissa

[debbei]

Hey Ed, how are you doing? I've been thinking of you.

[titaniumed]

Oh...Debbe, hanging in there but not from my left arm. The meds have helped but the numbness is still in my left forearm and hand. I take one Diclofenac at night per day.....

I still need to make contact... The new “portal” system at the doc’s office has me locked out. Isn’t that lovely?

Software engineers.....gotta love em. Ha! The amount of heartburn these guys can produce is beyond words sometimes...... I have had more stress from this than I had with major deformity surgery.

I’m also not “overly” fond of Gabapentin....I did test solo, and this stuff make me dizzy. But I do think it did help with the strong electrical shocks during the extreme painful stage last month....

Diclofenac works well.....it keeps the campfire of inflammation at a respectable height.

Ed

[rohrer01]

Ed,
Sorry to hear that you are still having symptoms and can't get through to your doctor's office. That's a real bummer. I hope you are right handed! Is the pain under control enough to sleep at night? I hope so. It's the numbness that's got me worried for you. Since you've already had your MRI, will you be finding out what the next step is? Is there any way that they can shave down the protruding discs without fusing your c-spine? I would suggest asking if that could buy you a few years. But, on the other hand, if your neck is also hurting and would hurt still if they trimmed the discs, I guess fusion is the only option. I'm just thinking of possibilities of not having to be fused from top to bottom. You might also ask about artificial discs. But look at Melissa Beckoff. She's hanging in there with more fusion than I think I've ever heard about or seen. She's in pain for different reasons aside from fusion, at least that's my understanding.

I just feel bad for you and am trying to think of all of the different treatment options that I can. You have a great surgeon, so you know you are in good hands. Unfortunately, we all age and we scolies tend to wear our spines out more quickly. My C5/6 is already going, so it's just a matter of time for me, too.

I hope you get in contact with your doctor soon. Technology can be so great and also so annoying when it doesn't work right. Why can't you just call them and get an appointment? I guess I'm confused about exactly where the breakdown is in your medical system. I hope you get better soon.

[Susie*Bee]

Ed-- thinking of you too. Glad to hear the diclofenac is working. I take it twice a day. Funny how some meds work and others don't. I have taken gabapentin in the past and I think I was ok with it. My husband takes it 3 times a day for his bulging discs in his neck. I am sure (?) it doesn't cause dizziness for him as he drives and uses heavy equipment some, etc. I will need to ask him if his arm is still numb. That was the first symptom he had about the bulging discs... his neck didn't bother him. The biggest problem was at night, sleeping. And his arm problem was why he went to the doctor... He usually just doesn't talk about things like that (aches and pains or numbness), so that is why I sound like an idiot at the moment. (big smile). He is like the energizer bunny, but even the bunny will run into a wall someday. When he got an epidural shot in his neck, that helped a lot. He's just had one. Best wishes.

[titaniumed]

Cervical Video with Dr Grossi from Duke

Thanks everyone for all the replies.....

Here is a fantastic informative “neck” video from Dr Grossi from Duke. He answers many questions on the neck.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFPk4efcJ1g

Ed

[titaniumed]

My goddaughter will become a Doctor today and Uncle Ed is so proud!!!!!

She will do her residency in Louisville, and will train to become a pediatric emergency room specialist....Funny, at age 10 she wanted to do this....

I teased through the years and always called her a pupa growing up. She is no longer a pupa anymore....(smiley face)

Eager young minds....

Dr Crystal English MD

Ed