Neck problems above fusion

[debbei]

I'm looking forward to your update Ed....I hope things went well today.

[rohrer01]

Rohrer, They have been doing cervical discs at least for four years now. A high school classmate of mine living in the Charleston, SC area sent me a newspaper article about it being done experimentally in Charleston. I don't see why it couldn't be done on scoliotics as long as their fusion is balanced.
Ed, I use a very soft pillow, a synthetic down pillow that I can shape under my neck for support. I used to use a down pillow until a lot of the down managed to work itself out of the ticking and made a mess when I changed the pillow case. My trip to Cape Cod two years ago triggered much neck pain because I forgot my pillow and slept on a very firm bed with a hard pillow. I hope you get relief very soon.
Sally

If they've been doing it for four years, why is it experimental? Also, I meant using artificial discs in place of fusion. Doing something like reshaping the vertebrae and sticking a fake disc in there that was preset not to allow the curve to return. This would still give people some flexibility.

Ed, I hope your lack of response is a good thing and not a bad thing. Let us know.

[jrnyc]

rohr...every surgeon i asked...and i asked a lot of top ones...
about something flexible that would support the spine....they
all said there is nothing flexible that CAN support the spine...
my husband is convinced that something along those lines will
be developed one day...but i am sure not in my lifetime...
i think 50 years from now there will be a new material, maybe,
that can both support AND give flexibility....
and if the world is still here 100 years form now, maybe
replacement spines will be developed...like replacement hips.
i mean, replacement knees can bend...why not a spine?
someday. and that would take care of fusing the neck, too.

jess...and Sparky

[titaniumed]

Ahhhh.....The suspense! No, Ti-Ed is not dying yet.....

Well....After x-rays, It looks like my C5-6 and C6-7 is showing signs of degeneration. (I knew that was coming) An MRI was ordered, should probably do that within the next few days and in the meanwhile, I’m taking the following.....and keeping notes of course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylprednisolone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltarin Diclofenac
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurontin Gabapentin

After the MRI’s my doc will know more....

We talked about fusing if need be.......it would be from the front, and most likely the 2 levels mentioned above. Full discectomies, with peek cages using synthetic bone pastes.

If the above medications don’t work, next course of action would be shots in the neck.

I was just checking to see if there were any “Tombstone” fans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_(film)

Wyatt Earp’s wife Mattie Blaylock was “dependent”on Laudanum....and eventually overdosed from it. It was the “cure all” in the wild west back in the 1800’s.

I have read over the years of many here that have taken gabapentin and wondered about it.....I guess I will find out here very shortly.....

Ed

[mabeckoff]

Ed, I hope that you get some relief soon.
Pain is not fun

Melissa

[jrnyc]

hey Ed
how long are you on the oral steroid...?????????

i hope it calms down the pain...along with the other meds...
and i hope surgery does not become necessary...

jess...and Sparky

[titaniumed]

6 days

6 pills today, 5 Thurs, 4 Fri, 3 Sat, 2 Sun, 1 Monday....

The gab reduced some of the arm pain last night......slept 8 hrs

Ed

[tae_tap]

6 days

6 pills today, 5 Thurs, 4 Fri, 3 Sat, 2 Sun, 1 Monday....

The gab reduced some of the arm pain last night......slept 8 hrs

Ed

The steroid should help quite a bit with the inflammation, but watch out for it can also cause one to be cranky and mean! I know from experience through use of it myself and with many of my patients, hehe.

Good to hear you finally got some sleep. 8 hours would be a dream!

If fusion is pretty much inevitable, why do they put you through the meds, shots, and pain if it can be fixed for good another way? I'm sure its insurance protocol, but it still bites that there is such a long drawn out process of trial and error.

Tamena

[rohrer01]

6 days

6 pills today, 5 Thurs, 4 Fri, 3 Sat, 2 Sun, 1 Monday....

The gab reduced some of the arm pain last night......slept 8 hrs

Ed

Sorry to hear that your discs are going. C5-C6 must be a very common spot to go first. That's where I have a bulging disc and a spur at C5. Everyone with neck problems seem to state that level at least. I hope that they can get the inflammation down enough to get some pressure off of those nerves. It sounds like, two levels = two nerve roots. I think it was most likely the Voltaren that gave you the most relief last night. I've been on gabapentin and it is one of those drugs that you have to titrate up on and takes awhile for the full effect. Maybe it made you sleepy, which is a good thing. Your MRI will be the tell all. If it's bad enough I can't imagine them making you go through steroid shots first. I hope you continue to feel better.

[loves to skate]

If they've been doing it for four years, why is it experimental?

It was experimental then, probably not by now.

[loves to skate]

Ed,
I was on the same combination of meds as you are a couple of years ago for neck pain and numbness and it did the trick, so I am hoping it works the same for you. The Gabapentin can make you very sleepy and sometimes spacey which lessens overtime. The steroid can keep you from sleeping. The Diclofenec is a NSAID which works very well on pain. I am glad the Gabapentin overrode the steroid so you could get a good nights sleep.

Tae-tap, why go directly to a fusion when many time, the less invasive will work?

Sally

[tae_tap]

Sally,

I just wonder if the disks are that bad to start isn't it only going to get worse? I just think sometimes the drugs are just a stall of the inevitable. But I work with feet all day, not spines so I was really just thinking out loud. Many times in my field surgery is the only thing to fix a problem (like bunions, they don't just disappear with a shot) but insurance requires us to do shots and physical therapy prior to a bunionectomy. I just wish the problem could be fixed for good and not just patched for a short time.

Tamena

[jackieg412]

Hi Ed,
Hopefully all will get better before long. The combination of things you mentioned helped me for a long time. Maybe 10-12 years. It is well worth giving it a try. I was fused c567,but that was well after the first major problem. My daughter is going through the same thing and her dr is treating her like yours recommends. I say it is well worth trying.She does not have the spine problem .I have another post in revision forum looking for some more suggestions also.I am still having some issues in thorasic or neck. Can't tell!

[titaniumed]

The medication program I am on is working quite well. Its been 14 hours and I would say that the raw tenderness in my neck has reduced about 50%. These medications are incredible and a life saver.

I was expecting some side affects since there are all sorts of warnings about driving and working with machinery. I was not grouchy in the slightest in fact it was the other way around with great jokes just rolling off my tongue all morning.....boy did I have a lot of fun!

I feel so relieved that I could almost stay on this regiment but I think I am gaining weight “by the minute”. (smiley face) Hopefully, I wont explode like the guy in the Monty Python movie.



Ed

[jrnyc]

so glad to hear that you are getting relief...
i would guess the prednisone type stuff is responsible for the
weight gain...
and it just may be that the weight stops when the dose of steroids
is finished...
i hope the pain relief is lasting...

hope the pain relief helps you to have a great time on your scuba
expedition...but please be careful anyway...no overdoing it!!!

jess...and Sparky