Not sure what this means

[jackieg412]

There is so much going on. They did turn the pump up by 10percent. It is helping with the arachnoiditis in the lower spine. There is still a question about the upper spine. It is still so early.
The scapula is still way out of place. The visiting OT wanted to try to use tape to try to take it into position, but we are doing a trial on taping my hand. I can react to adhesive, so if they taped something I could not reach and I reacted it would be difficult.
When I see the surgeon on Monday, we have to address the hand pain. Is it the neck of the brachial plexus?
It needs to be addressed. The pain is intense.

[titaniumed]

There is so much going on. They did turn the pump up by 10percent. It is helping with the arachnoiditis in the lower spine. There is still a question about the upper spine. It is still so early.
The scapula is still way out of place. The visiting OT wanted to try to use tape to try to take it into position, but we are doing a trial on taping my hand. I can react to adhesive, so if they taped something I could not reach and I reacted it would be difficult.
When I see the surgeon on Monday, we have to address the hand pain. Is it the neck of the brachial plexus?
It needs to be addressed. The pain is intense.

I would wait until you see your surgeon before doing any taping....Taping will apply a new force on the spine and you were just fused. You have a lot happening right now and your about 40 days. That was a rough period for me. The OT should be communicating with your surgeons.

Here is the Wiki on Brachial Plexus. This plexus of nerves originates right from the neck.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachial_plexus

The hand pain is most likely due to your neck surgery and your inflamed in the neck.

I don't know what they can do about this other than maybe using Gab. When I had my herniations, we used NSAID's Diclofenac, and a Medrol pack, but I was fused.... NSAIDs's have been known to inhibit fusion so it's unlikely they would use any of these right now. I had permission to use a Celebrex on my shoulder rebuild, but that was 8 months after scoliosis surgery. It takes time to fuse.

I would ask about the cold therapy and the hot water in the shower. You could mention that the hot water helps with the neck, but they might want to follow up with cold....I don't know, your going to have to ask. You have soft tissues and then you have nerves, both with different rules.

They "could" offer a steriod shot in the neck to try to calm things down.

Another thing would be a Ketamine infusion. Ask.....This done in a recliner chair through an IV.

There have not been many serious neck people "that have posted" their cervical recoveries. Your forging new territory.

Being completely still will help. Meditation mode. Hopefully, the pain drops when you do this. Remember to breathe.

I would not drive your car. Get someone to drive for you.

Hang in there

Ed

[LindaRacine]

There is so much going on. They did turn the pump up by 10percent. It is helping with the arachnoiditis in the lower spine. There is still a question about the upper spine. It is still so early.
The scapula is still way out of place. The visiting OT wanted to try to use tape to try to take it into position, but we are doing a trial on taping my hand. I can react to adhesive, so if they taped something I could not reach and I reacted it would be difficult.
When I see the surgeon on Monday, we have to address the hand pain. Is it the neck of the brachial plexus?
It needs to be addressed. The pain is intense.

Hi Jackie...

I have a pretty extreme adhesive allergy. Such a pain. I can wear a bandage for about 12 hours, but after that, it causes itching and skin breakdown. Years ago, I had a PT place adhesive on my back to try to alter a problem. I had exactly the reaction that you mentioned. I couldn't get to the tape to remove it, and ended up having to make a semi-emergency trip into the city to get it removed.

--Linda

[titaniumed]

Well, I am going in for emergency oral surgery first thing Monday morning....I have a serious infection above my upper molars going up into my sinus cavity....They told me it's been going on for a long time (years) and had a high pixel zoom x-ray on the 2nd molar up high above the tooth. Thats when they found it...(after 2 dentists, and 2 specialists, including a 3d x-ray)

A hidden infection....

I had problems with remodeling in my jaw a few years ago and Amoxicillan is not working anymore. I don't know if I built up immunity from all the surgeries....

This is so exhausting.....

BTW, my teeth are perfect, my gum readings are all at 3-4mm on the rear teeth.

Since this is infection related, I figured I would lay this post down here.

I might have a little trouble talking on the phone after Monday.

Ed

[Tina_R]

Well, I am going in for emergency oral surgery first thing Monday morning....I have a serious infection above my upper molars going up into my sinus cavity....They told me it's been going on for a long time (years) and had a high pixel zoom x-ray on the 2nd molar up high above the tooth. Thats when they found it...(after 2 dentists, and 2 specialists, including a 3d x-ray)

A hidden infection....

I had problems with remodeling in my jaw a few years ago and Amoxicillan is not working anymore. I don't know if I built up immunity from all the surgeries....

This is so exhausting.....

BTW, my teeth are perfect, my gum readings are all at 3-4mm on the rear teeth.

Since this is infection related, I figured I would lay this post down here.

I might have a little trouble talking on the phone after Monday.

Ed

Are you worried about infection and consequences for your hardware? Good to get that treated. How is the dentist going to treat it?

I just went to my dentist for the first time during the pandemic. She had sophisticated air filters in the room but you feel vulnerable without a mask.

[jackieg412]

Good luck Ed. What exactly are they going to do. Was it local pain or like a headache? Are they going to treat the tooth or is the tooth fine and the infection is in the sinus?
Let us know how it turns out.

[titaniumed]

They will pull a 2nd molar and a 1st molar, then probably do a local biopsy or culture to identify the bacteria. My Periodontist will start things off. Periodontists are Dentists with advanced training in gum and bone disease. If I need my Maxilla grafted, I would switch to an oral surgeon. They are the ones that reconstruct the bones in the head, face and jaw. Some of the oral surgeons can have more training than scoliosis surgeons.

After the teeth are removed , my guess is that they will probably wait and come up with a game plan....

I have a lot of questions about infections now....

I have also wondered if we are in a constant state of infection. The thing is that when they flair up, you have abscesses in the mouth, or red spots or seepage at incision sites. Pain in the mouth or locally is only when the infections flair up and this fire has been smothering all along. I have had this going on for quite some time, and so has Jackie and others. It's seems that infections don't always create local pain. How strange.

I will ask about septicemia even though I have NO symptoms of this. None. Vaccinations are important because they limit sepsis. I have been vaccinated for everything except COVID and Pneumonia. They have lifetime Pneumonia vaccinations now, they recommend age 65. They run about $500. I plan on both of these before I plan on traveling overseas again.

There is vaccination thread on this forum in case anyone is interested. Sharon did an EXCEPTIONAL job on that subject. I would suggest that everyone read that thread. If you need help finding it, just ask.

Fatigue happens, but I have had a lot of that from my scoliosis surgeries. Headache happens, but there are a thousand reasons why headaches happen.

Ed

[jackieg412]

I actually worked in dentistry all my working career. I did work the longest for an orthodontist. I worked general density and periodontal at the end of my working years.
Oral health is so important as to the large number of bacteria in the mouth. It has proven to have an effect on the heart. My dentist believes in premedicating for any procedure because of the hardware in the spine. I do think the spine surgeons say it isn't necessary. I guess just listen to whoever you want.
Ed do take all antibiotics they say and you should heal fine . No heavy rinsing right after. Follow the instructions to the letter. It is very important. Grafting bone there isn't difficult and may or may not be necessary to replace the teeth taken out. No one wants to loose their teeth.
While concerning it should go well. The mouth heals incredibly fast with proper care.
I'll be rooting for you and ask you to support me as I see my surgeon tomorrow.
I think it is going well and a few concerns- the right hand and the headache over the left eye when I walk. I don't think I would even mention the headache but after this surgery the left pupil was watched for a few days because of being larger than the right. During that time I had a lot of double vision. Vision has returned to normal except with the blurry effect from the gabapentin or the diazepam.

[titaniumed]

Had that 2nd molar pulled (saved the 1st molar for now) and he did multiple very strong antibiotic injections into the roof of my mouth.

The antibiotics make me completely exhausted. Once again, the Amoxicillan was not strong enough to handle it and they had to break out the bigger guns.

Infections are tiring! Back to bed...

Ed

[titaniumed]

His discovery of what is later named benzylpenicillin (or penicillin G) from the mould Penicillium rubens in 1928, is described as the "single greatest victory ever achieved over disease."[3][4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Fleming

Thank You Sir Alex! I don't think many of us would be posting here without you!

Ed

[jackieg412]

Glad you are through this. I am sure your mouth is sore. Follow everything the dentist said to do. Like not eating sticky or sharp foods. Take all antibiotics. Follow up as dentist says.
I had my 1st visit after surgery today. The xrays are amazing. The correction is unbelievable.
Just like you I am tired today so I will work on posting xrays another time.

[titaniumed]

Glad you are through this. I am sure your mouth is sore.

Slightly....

He didn't want me taking anything after the antibiotic injections. After 24 hours, I can tell that the fire is mostly out. (fingers crossed) I am hoping that your T5 fire is out also. All sorts of problems from dental to hardware and rod breaks happen due to infection...

Now, I won't know unless I have an abscess or pain event, or the next x-rays. Again, a slow process, hopefully I can grow some bone. They are backed up beyond belief, I guess I will have to make another appointment a few months out and ask for another x-ray. They only found it when they did the zoomed up x-ray. The normal x-rays didn't catch it.

Before the antibiotic era, it was frequently a fatal condition....It's been kicking my sasafrass! The fatigue!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteomyelitis_of_the_jaws

I am very interested in what your surgeon had to say, and of course the x-rays should be incredible. If you have the before x-rays, do post those. It's nice to see the results of a difficult procedure and recovery. I hope the pain is reducing.

I can't imagine what it was like back in the old days....Penicillin was introduced in 1942 but they started fusing scoliosis patient's during WW1 in the teens...

Ed

[jackieg412]

So much to be thankful for- that even though it was a very rough year we live in a time where things can be helped.In past generations women died in childbirth because the doctors didn't always wash their hands.
And even though I was very young, I remember my mother being happy that her children could have the polio vaccine.
My surgeon spent a long time showing me what he did. He said the technique had only been available in the last 5 years. He removed all the hardware except the lumbar Replaced the cervical hardware and various thoracic screws and added 2 additional rods in the lower thoracic so that I have 4 rods there
I do have some side by side but they are on my phone. I'm not sure if I can post them but if you want private message me and I will text them.
I will still try to post them but not today.He also spoke about his fellow that helped with my surgery. M my surgeon said the fellow had never seen anything done like that and was impressed. I don't want to get too graffic but they actually re broke my neck ( or as the surgeon put it - decapitated me, controlled of course). Not a pleasant thought.
I'm amazed to be doing so well. Pain in the thoracic is gone but hand pain lingers. Also, one of my pupils right after surgery was larger than the other. It seems to have returned to normal. The strange problems of scoliosis surgery.

[titaniumed]

Jackie, You had an involved, highly technical revision spine procedure, there is no doubt about that. It's not your everyday gig when your a spine surgeon. Even they have to take a couple of deep breaths before they start.

It's good to hear that you are improving.....

Not knowing where one is at in regards to infection, viruses, and cancers is a huge problem...Theranos started the rapid blood testing concept about 10 years ago, but now things are evolving in (POCT) Point of Care testing which eliminates the laboratory and the wait.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point-of-care_testing

Below are links on "Lab on a chip" technology. (prick finger insert into a $50 device for fast results).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lab-on-a-chip

I have no idea where I am at with my infection???? There is little way of knowing. Waiting for symptoms doesn't work and many times it's too late. Never trust an infection....

If we do scoliosis surgery, it would be nice to be able to do a test at home, and sending the results to our surgeons and doctors instead of letting things get out of hand. If infections are responsible for most of the rod breaks, this would be a huge help. For fighting cancers, this is invaluable.

https://www.medgadget.com/2020/04/sm...n-minutes.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0417212926.htm

We need these devices now!

They have had MasSpec cancer pens for a few years now....surgeons use these....
https://www.tmc.edu/news/2018/03/sol...human%20tissue.


Ed

[jackieg412]

There is so much truth about being careful with infection. And just think how many normal and necessary bacteria we have in and on our bodies. And in the proper location they are doing what they should.
The only thing my sounds cultured was the common skin staff. It just got under the skin, where it isn't good.
Infections usually make me tired.But for me ,right now it looks good. To hear that the thoracic had not healed and was placed in February 2011.
I will try to post the xrays soon. I have done it before from downloads but not from my phone. I think I have your phone number, but not sure if it is a cell number.
The paper copy I have was a year ago, but the side by side on the doctors computer is the most dramatic. The surgeon said from his xrays that were taken in August of 2020( in other words about nine months after my paper copies) showed the very high kyphosis increased 35 degrees. No wonder I was chocking.