bamlb74
01-25-2004, 09:10 AM
Hello !!! This is my first time here so have patience, please.
Stumbled across this forum while doing some research through Google. Hope to find some first hand answers and opinions from you all.
Short background... I am a professional opera singer, 47 years old, dramatic baritone, been doing it for almost 25 years. Don´t really know when and how the mess got started but about 3 months ago I began to have tingling numbness in my left arm going all the way down into my fingers. Constant stiffness in the neck and shoulder regions, both sides. Always the feeling that my neck and throat were swollen and a dryness in the right side of my throat. Discomfort also radiating from neck to my right shoulder blade. Tried all sorts of PT and massage - no relief.
Went to my ENT, a world class specialist for singers, and he assured me that all was well as far as vocal cords go.
Had a couple of very unfortunate stage outings in that my voice just quit working in the middle of performances. The muscles in my neck would just seem to cramp and then the larynx would just get tighter and tighter until the cords just wouldn´t close properly.
Went to Neurosurgeon and after MRI confirmed herniated discs at C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7 with acute narrowing (crimping) of the spinal cord at C5/6 and C6/7.
He is now saying that surgery is necessary as the pressure on the spinal cord is to the point of being dangerous. He suspects that this has been going on for some time and only now is showing the severity of the problem.
He is proposing an ACDF C4-C7 with all the bells and whistles.
My questions...
1) Are there any singers (professional as well as just-for-fun) out there who have had this done?
2) If so, what were the results?
3) Did you notice a difference in the timbre of the voice?
4) Did you notice a change in your vocal range?
5) How long before you were able to resume singing?
6) Are there any restrictions in the neck movements?
Sorry for rambling on but this whole situation is beginning to wear on my nerves. I have cancelled performances and cleared my schedule for the next 2 months. There is no worse feeling than to have a couple of thousand eyes and ears focused on you and then your voice just cramps up and stops working.
I know that this operation is necessary but I am really quite apprehensive (downright scared) about what the results could be.
I´m looking for all feedback, positive and negative, in order to be as well prepared mentally as I can possibly be.
Hope to hear from many of you. Thanks.
Stumbled across this forum while doing some research through Google. Hope to find some first hand answers and opinions from you all.
Short background... I am a professional opera singer, 47 years old, dramatic baritone, been doing it for almost 25 years. Don´t really know when and how the mess got started but about 3 months ago I began to have tingling numbness in my left arm going all the way down into my fingers. Constant stiffness in the neck and shoulder regions, both sides. Always the feeling that my neck and throat were swollen and a dryness in the right side of my throat. Discomfort also radiating from neck to my right shoulder blade. Tried all sorts of PT and massage - no relief.
Went to my ENT, a world class specialist for singers, and he assured me that all was well as far as vocal cords go.
Had a couple of very unfortunate stage outings in that my voice just quit working in the middle of performances. The muscles in my neck would just seem to cramp and then the larynx would just get tighter and tighter until the cords just wouldn´t close properly.
Went to Neurosurgeon and after MRI confirmed herniated discs at C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7 with acute narrowing (crimping) of the spinal cord at C5/6 and C6/7.
He is now saying that surgery is necessary as the pressure on the spinal cord is to the point of being dangerous. He suspects that this has been going on for some time and only now is showing the severity of the problem.
He is proposing an ACDF C4-C7 with all the bells and whistles.
My questions...
1) Are there any singers (professional as well as just-for-fun) out there who have had this done?
2) If so, what were the results?
3) Did you notice a difference in the timbre of the voice?
4) Did you notice a change in your vocal range?
5) How long before you were able to resume singing?
6) Are there any restrictions in the neck movements?
Sorry for rambling on but this whole situation is beginning to wear on my nerves. I have cancelled performances and cleared my schedule for the next 2 months. There is no worse feeling than to have a couple of thousand eyes and ears focused on you and then your voice just cramps up and stops working.
I know that this operation is necessary but I am really quite apprehensive (downright scared) about what the results could be.
I´m looking for all feedback, positive and negative, in order to be as well prepared mentally as I can possibly be.
Hope to hear from many of you. Thanks.
Sponsor
nero
01-26-2004, 06:00 PM
Hello,
After 25 viewings noted I thought you deserved at least a little input.
I reaffirm i am not an opera singer but I am a Pianist and Teacher and am now 10 weeks post op from ACDF c-5 c6 with own bone and Titantium plate. I had very bad spinal chord compression, worst my Dr. had seen, and I suffered a lot of pain. As well I have lumbar L5 S1 herniation.
I am doing well compared to prior to the surgery and can state that my voice was not affected and has not been to date. Now, my Ortho Surgeon with Spinal Speciality did say he was amazed at the fact my voice was not affected as most people are at least raspy temporarily or more. I have read many people complain of the tendency to lose their voice temporarily, have a raspy voice or have to rework their voice such as those who are choir members.
Also, one more common post op symptom is the throat feels thick, like a small marble is obstructing it or at least impinging in that space. I had that a lot but now it comes and goes with activity which I read is the result of more blood flow to that area as it tries to recover during activity.
All I can say is that the surgery is worth it. You can right off in my opinion the first three weeks, although some poor souls reattended work after two or so. Then each week gets progressively better.
I cannot lift much weight right now as groceries trigger pins and needles but the acute sharp pain and the constant feeling of my shoulders living permanently under my earlobes has dissipated.
I know this has not responded to many of your questions, but I felt, although you are waiting for specific answers, some insight would be appreciated by you.
Hope i am not wrong.
Trying to be.. nearly new again, Nero
After 25 viewings noted I thought you deserved at least a little input.
I reaffirm i am not an opera singer but I am a Pianist and Teacher and am now 10 weeks post op from ACDF c-5 c6 with own bone and Titantium plate. I had very bad spinal chord compression, worst my Dr. had seen, and I suffered a lot of pain. As well I have lumbar L5 S1 herniation.
I am doing well compared to prior to the surgery and can state that my voice was not affected and has not been to date. Now, my Ortho Surgeon with Spinal Speciality did say he was amazed at the fact my voice was not affected as most people are at least raspy temporarily or more. I have read many people complain of the tendency to lose their voice temporarily, have a raspy voice or have to rework their voice such as those who are choir members.
Also, one more common post op symptom is the throat feels thick, like a small marble is obstructing it or at least impinging in that space. I had that a lot but now it comes and goes with activity which I read is the result of more blood flow to that area as it tries to recover during activity.
All I can say is that the surgery is worth it. You can right off in my opinion the first three weeks, although some poor souls reattended work after two or so. Then each week gets progressively better.
I cannot lift much weight right now as groceries trigger pins and needles but the acute sharp pain and the constant feeling of my shoulders living permanently under my earlobes has dissipated.
I know this has not responded to many of your questions, but I felt, although you are waiting for specific answers, some insight would be appreciated by you.
Hope i am not wrong.
Trying to be.. nearly new again, Nero