Not sure what this means

[jackieg412]

You are so right Ed. All the advances in medical care is amazing.
Orthopaedic problems may not be thought of as life threatening but without quality of life one's life span can be shorter.
I have the decompression on Tuesday. I hope it takes some of the arm and hand problem away. But if it doesn't help a lot than we can be sure it is the shoulder causing the problem.
All I can do is ask for his best opinion. I can't give you an idea of how far this shoulder is suppressed but I think it is part of the reason I am still struggling to walk. I am just about 8 months passed this last surgery and I had hoped walking would be better by now.

[titaniumed]

Let's hope re-routing the nerve helps with the hand pain....I would imagine there will be some pain after fiddling with that nerve in the elbow. There is a lot of info online on ulnar nerve elbow re-routing procedures. Looks like they will brace your elbow for some time. Be careful with walking.....

I really screwed up installing those batteries 9 days ago, my neck is wreaking havoc again, falling forward and can barely hold my head level. I looked up and had a large snap, like a 1/2" stick breaking. Its constant neck stretching....also have the cervicogenic light headache and dizziness. I also have strong upper thoracic bear traps. Like someone standing on my T3-T8 with a boot, right in the center or operative zone. No pain really, just incredibly tight between the shoulder blades. It's quite the soft tissue dilemma....

I have not taken any Diclofenac since I was in South America 18 months ago when I destroyed my neck with the twisty car ride, but I have the cheap stuff on standby. It was under $3 for 18 pills over the counter in Colombia. This is a prescription NSAID medication in the US.

Nothing scoliosis related is cheap except for this....

$2 million dollar spine.... .18 cents ea for my medications. Thats hilarious!

I will probably take one....(smiley face)

Scoliosis on the cheap.

Ed

[jackieg412]

Yes Ed the cervical is sure stressed with scoliosis fusion. Certainly the meds can help. Maybe you can get in to a PT for a mild massage to relax the muscles and carefully stretch them out a bit. And I know it is warm where you all but heat helps and you know it
The nerve in the arm was decompressed at the elbow yesterday. It is quick and seems to be helpful. At first the hand felt terrific and warm. But thorough the day the numbness came back. But I imagine there is some swelling yet.
I do see the shoulder specialist in about 3 weeks. The neurosurgeon believes that there is a component of the nerves that come through the brachial plexus.
We will see.

[titaniumed]

Healing, a Concept Anaylsis

Jackie, All you can do is wait and see....and you know nerve healing can be slow and unpredictable....I have noticed in the past either on or off neuropathic pain settings, and as soon as the nerve function is restored, the pain setting turns off. I guess due to inflammation reduction from either the nerve and or surrounding soft tissues....You do have exceptional patience....

My neck has improved some....Perhaps due to some healing, healing concepts and "healing behaviors"...

Clinicians and patients are overwhelmed with a healthcare system focused on disease over health creation, reductionist, fragmented, costly, and often ineffective. In response, there has been an increasing recognition that quality healthcare and the delivery of that care need to take a more holistic, patient-centric approach, an approach that emphasizes healing as important as curing.

The definition provided here and supported by the literature contends that healing is a holistic, transformative process of repair and recovery in mind, body, and spirit resulting in positive change, finding meaning, and movement towards self-realization of wholeness, regardless of the presence or absence of disease. Healing may or may not include cure, defined as the eradication of physical symptoms of illness or disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4653605/

There might not be a cure for us, but there is healing.....Repair and recovery "in mind". Incredibly important material to understand and know.

One trick I use for cervical discs is to position on the side, and fall asleep "looking up" This will expand disc space, hoping for modulus of elasticity to retract disc material off the nerve root.

I saved the .18 cents....

Ed

[susancook]

Hi there Jackie! Sending healing messages your way! Have you tried Diclofenac 1% gel and CBD gel to affected areas? It helps my thoracic area.
Hope that you can enjoiy summer!
Susan

[jackieg412]

I may try some of that in the cervical area. It does give me carrying time sometimes.

[jackieg412]

Yes all I can do is wait to see how much this may help. Two days isn't long enough. The surgeons notes on the ulnar nerve said it was enlarged and redened in the surgery site. He is not convinced that is the only problem. I will see the shoulder specialist soon and gather his opinion.
Waiting is so much fun. Sometimes you just have to let things roll along at what ever pace.

[titaniumed]

My neck has improved! Can't pull a train with my teeth.... maybe next week! (smiley face)

How is the elbow and hand pain? Any changes?

Ed

[jackieg412]

I am responding to you Ed over here. The hand, at first, felt really good. It is still numb, moving on it's own and getting cold. I would guess there can be swelling in there that can improve. I can move it about the same amount as before. It is so hard to be patient and wait it out.

[titaniumed]

The hand, at first, felt really good.

I have noticed that after being put under with anesthesia, my spinal soft tissues would get a break. I had this happen twice, pain relief only for maybe a day or two....(on my gall removal, and shoulder re-build)

Nerve healing can be pretty stubborn....this could take some time.

I kind of jumped the gun on my neck. My train pull is going to be delayed.....

I have my Rv all ready to go, but not feeling well enough to drive anywhere in it....sigh.

Ed

[jackieg412]

Isn't it hard to be patient. I am defiantly tired of just one thing after another. The hand pain and numbness haven't changed much but I do think there is swelling at the surgery site. Maybe when that goes away it will be better. Also the stitches leave a lot to be desired. They left them really long and I had to have them trimmed because they are so stiff they poke and get caught on things.I
Oh well a few more weeks.
The only thing I ever find that helped The cervical is position change and heat. It might be a little too warm by you for too much heat.
I know you may want to take a trip in your RV but it might be too difficult. Image even being in a car when my neck is acting up.

[jackieg412]

I will get the stitches out tomorrow. I will be glad for that. For some reason I have had unbearable itching on the right side of my back. There is no sign of a rash of irritation. I am wondering if this a nerve acting up. I tried to run it out but cannot do so. The only thing that has helped some is gabapentin.
Would the nerves still be acting up 8 months after surgery ?

[titaniumed]

Would the nerves still be acting up 8 months after surgery ?

Jackie, Here is an article from HSS on nerve reconstruction.
https://www.hss.edu/playbook/managin...econstruction/

Ed

[titaniumed]

Stanford Anestheologist Dr Ian Carroll discusses neuropathic pain

This is a good video for anyone in pain....It's a long one, but worth a watch.

"Pain is a sensation with a value, and a sensation with a motivation"

When you experience heavy pain, you can't help but wonder what is going on....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8CP...fordHealthCare

Ed

[jackieg412]

I did watch the vedeo. It is very interesting and interesting how gabapentin works. I never knew why it was so prescribed.
Now forward, the decompression helped only a little. The neurosurgeon never thought it was the only problem. Not did I.
I saw Dr.Anthony Romeo , shoulder specialist, yesterday. The only thing that can bring my shoulder up is the scapulothorasic fusion And he has never done the operation on someone my age.
So do we chance it or do nothing and let the ulnar nerve complexity fail to my arm and hand. Too much pressure is on the nerve from the displaced shoulder.
I will have another conversation with both my neurosurgeon and my pain doctor.
Moving slowly forward