Fast Freddy
03-23-2005, 01:00 PM
I have just had my second surgery. Jan 7th I had disc replacement on C4-5. In 2001, I had C5 to C7 fused. Since this second surgery, I have had tingling or a cold feeling in the top part of my feet and calves (front part) and also down my arms. Not always - but on and off. After the 1st surgery I had no symptoms for awhile then they eventually came back ( I work at a desk job). Does anyone know if this could be arthritis. Right side of my shoulder at the bottom of my neck is always so sore and it really restricts the movement of my neck, which in turn causes headaches, etc. Prior to my 2nd surgery I was doing ART (Active Release Technique), which I thought helped with the symptoms.
I guess I thought I would feel "normal" after all this surgery, its very depressing that I do not, and I feel like I need constant pain killers. I will be seeing my neuro on April 5th. :eek:
I guess I thought I would feel "normal" after all this surgery, its very depressing that I do not, and I feel like I need constant pain killers. I will be seeing my neuro on April 5th. :eek:
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kellyv
03-23-2005, 04:25 PM
... deleted ... :)
solardust
03-23-2005, 07:04 PM
Hi,I can relate and sympathize with both of you, I believe most on this board can,healing is such a long progress with these neck surgeries,I had c6-7 done with donar bone,and currently have c 5-6 still herniated,rather large, and small ones at c4-5,c3-4,at the worse before surgery all I could do was sit in my recliner and be in agony,the type that is on relenting,and no medications touched,I was lucky that the fusion on c6-7 took away that pain,then it took weeks and weeks to recover,so here I am month 7, over did some house work and got back some old symptoms and new ones on the left side,as far as leg symptoms,prior to the fusion , it was like my legs were rubber bands,that improved after the fusion,the only meds that really ever helped me, was nsaids(which I now sport ulcers for)and this drug the docs at the ER gave me(Totorital)prolly not the right spelling,but it is a anti-inflammatory.I find out on the 30th if my fusion is complete,and will discuss all these new pains to him then,hopefully he will have a non-surgical idea,gee's typed with every toe crossed,I still use my heating pad, and Bayer cream that ya rub in,I have hydrocodon and muscle relaxers,but they are standbys,I hope you both find pain relief as you heal,it does take the nerves a long time to get well,hopefully that occurs quickly for you both,and learn from me, do not over do it, and at this point its almost like one should never do more then light duty stuff and bathing,Diana
Fast Freddy
04-11-2005, 04:27 PM
Kelly, I just had my appt. with the neuro, he told me the numbness in my legs is permanent damage to my spinal cord, as a result of having C5 to C7 fused in 2001 and I also have cervical stenosis. I also have this weird coldness from the inside, and it is everywhere. I hope this goes away, he said it's still early, and to give it another couple of months. I'm going to see a PT to see if they can help. I also have severe insomnia, which I now have amytripyline (sp?), because I think the symptoms are more tolerable when your sleeping fine and can handle the pain and or tingling. Please post when you can, what your neuro has to say. Take Care.
solardust
04-11-2005, 11:36 PM
Freddy, This coldness that you mentioned,does your hand feel hot when it touches the coldness, yet the body part that is cold,no one else that touches it, seems to think its cold???? How confusing I know, but I get this coldness, mainly on my arms, and its from underneath the skin. :confused: You are the very first to mention this coldness,so I really am intrested.Also I think you mentioned that you work at a desk job,you may notice that you hunch up your shoulders, without really thinking of it,I did alot of research right after my fusion, and on Doctor blamed alot of after pain, and refusions to "Bracing" which is the pulling up of the shoulders, a reaction to protecting the neck,try just dropping them down ,you know deep breathing and drop, you wil notice a relief there, its just hard to stop, cuz I know I do it without thinking, (I drive school bus),hope I was of some help, write me about that coldness ok? Diana :wave:
nero
04-12-2005, 01:41 AM
Hey Solardust et al,
Hows it going...obviously like us all a period of recovery can take years. I am 1 1 /2 years this June since my Nov 03 c5 6 fusion with plate and bone and and any attempt to clean the fridge or lift or type like tonight elicits pins and needles BUT although sometimes very oppressive it is still better FOR ME than the mind numbing pain of the herniation.
I am going May 17 to finally have low back assessed for disc shrinkage needles as microdiscketomy of April 04 killed the pain for a while but after all the daily chores of life and moving again the pain is rearing its ugly head so I cannot wait to try this. My chiro is sending me with gp so I am excited as female cop who had it says she doesn't look back at the pain she had .
I am glad to see your name...many have faded off as I did...but sometimes I feel down with the lifetime sentence my back injury has given me and yet I try very hard to rise above it and mediate my physical life and emotional state.
You all take care now and remember there are degrees of pain and unfortunately there may be some in your life that you have to learn to live with and work around through various means as told by those of you who post on this board.
Well take care now ..your friend Nearly New?????????? Nero :bouncing:
Hows it going...obviously like us all a period of recovery can take years. I am 1 1 /2 years this June since my Nov 03 c5 6 fusion with plate and bone and and any attempt to clean the fridge or lift or type like tonight elicits pins and needles BUT although sometimes very oppressive it is still better FOR ME than the mind numbing pain of the herniation.
I am going May 17 to finally have low back assessed for disc shrinkage needles as microdiscketomy of April 04 killed the pain for a while but after all the daily chores of life and moving again the pain is rearing its ugly head so I cannot wait to try this. My chiro is sending me with gp so I am excited as female cop who had it says she doesn't look back at the pain she had .
I am glad to see your name...many have faded off as I did...but sometimes I feel down with the lifetime sentence my back injury has given me and yet I try very hard to rise above it and mediate my physical life and emotional state.
You all take care now and remember there are degrees of pain and unfortunately there may be some in your life that you have to learn to live with and work around through various means as told by those of you who post on this board.
Well take care now ..your friend Nearly New?????????? Nero :bouncing:
rob_zzz
04-12-2005, 07:40 AM
I get the cold feeling in my feet as well - I also get it down the arms and parts of my back sometimes. Also tingling in the feet, plus some other funny feelings a bit hard to describe in my feet and legs (heaviness/stiffness). I've got very stiff feet in the mornings as well. Also a prickly sort of feeling all over sometimes (like clothes etc. feel a bit prickly funny on the skin).
I had temporary paralysis from the neck down at the time of my injury, it didn't last very long (about 15-20 seconds) but some of the surgeons I've seen think some of my symptoms are a result of nerve damage at the time of the injury, and may not go away entirely. (the injury was about 7 months ago). Because I had quite severe c6 dermatome burning in my hands immediately after the injury it might have distracted me from these milder symptoms - because I don't really remember noticing them until about 4 weeks after the injury.
I had temporary paralysis from the neck down at the time of my injury, it didn't last very long (about 15-20 seconds) but some of the surgeons I've seen think some of my symptoms are a result of nerve damage at the time of the injury, and may not go away entirely. (the injury was about 7 months ago). Because I had quite severe c6 dermatome burning in my hands immediately after the injury it might have distracted me from these milder symptoms - because I don't really remember noticing them until about 4 weeks after the injury.
kellyv
04-14-2005, 12:48 PM
... deleted ... :)
Fast Freddy
04-15-2005, 03:24 PM
Solardust, the coldness is exactly as you said. It's from the inside, but my skin doesn't feel cold. Today, I feel great - I've almost forgotten what it feeks like. No tingling/numbness on my legs. I'm starting to wonder if the weather has some effect on my pain level and tingling. Does anyone else notice this.
The neuro is sending me to physio next week. Hopefully he can offer some help in getting my back back in shape. I think from the first go around of wearing the collar for 3 months, then not being able to exercise for 3 years, plus another surgery (no collar required with the disc replacement) really screws up your upper back. I have rounded shoulders now and very poor posture, and absolutely no movement in shoulder blades, etc. So I think this counts for some of the pain.
I'm so glad I found this place, I seem to get more information from here than anywhere else. Karen
The neuro is sending me to physio next week. Hopefully he can offer some help in getting my back back in shape. I think from the first go around of wearing the collar for 3 months, then not being able to exercise for 3 years, plus another surgery (no collar required with the disc replacement) really screws up your upper back. I have rounded shoulders now and very poor posture, and absolutely no movement in shoulder blades, etc. So I think this counts for some of the pain.
I'm so glad I found this place, I seem to get more information from here than anywhere else. Karen
rob_zzz
04-20-2005, 04:11 AM
Hi Karen - I saw in another thread that you said you had bryan disc for your latest surgery - just curious what country you are in?
Did you have any kind of leg symptoms before this surgery? (i.e. the coldness in feet/calves etc.) also any tingling in legs?
When you start physio I'd be curious to hear what sort of stuff they do and exercises they suggest etc.
thanks
Rob
Did you have any kind of leg symptoms before this surgery? (i.e. the coldness in feet/calves etc.) also any tingling in legs?
When you start physio I'd be curious to hear what sort of stuff they do and exercises they suggest etc.
thanks
Rob
Fast Freddy
04-20-2005, 06:54 PM
Hi Rob, I'm in Calgary, Canada. I am in a study, which I thought was great, because at least I would have more followup.
I didn't have any of the leg symptoms before the surgery. The fist surgery I had I believe the neuro told me I had cervical stenosis with mylepathy. I'm not sure if this is what is causing my numbness, etc.
I have asked my neuro about this, but he really didn't have any answers other than permanent damage to spinal cord. I mean I still have symptoms in my arms, I'm so confused since this whole thing started. I guess once I had the surgery I would feel great. Boy was I wrong.
Will let you know on physio.
I didn't have any of the leg symptoms before the surgery. The fist surgery I had I believe the neuro told me I had cervical stenosis with mylepathy. I'm not sure if this is what is causing my numbness, etc.
I have asked my neuro about this, but he really didn't have any answers other than permanent damage to spinal cord. I mean I still have symptoms in my arms, I'm so confused since this whole thing started. I guess once I had the surgery I would feel great. Boy was I wrong.
Will let you know on physio.
rob_zzz
04-21-2005, 09:31 AM
Freddy thanks.
What sort of symptoms did you have before your first surgery - my understanding is that myelopathy is often seen as leg symptoms first (hyper-reflexivity etc.). Did you have unco-ordination or weakness in your arms and hands?
The leg symptoms that you describe sound very similar to what I'm experiencing (though I tend to get it all over the place - but most consistently in the feet and bottom part of the legs). I had a significant spinal shock at the time I injured my neck (was temporarily paralysed for about 15 seconds from the neck down but I recovered full function immediately). After the accident I had very painful dermatome burning in the hands corresponding to the c5/c6 level for about two weeks but apart from that and a bit of neck stiffness I'm pretty much fine. From an independant clinical perspective I don't show any observable signs of neurological dysfunction apart from hyperreflexivity in the legs, but I get a lot of this tingling, coldness and prickling etc. and also my feet go numb more easily when at rest (as well as buttocks and also arms and hands when asleep).
Some of the surgeons say its permanent cord damage from the initial injury but could also be due to irritation from herniated disc. Currently they are monitoring it to make sure its stable and not deteriorating. I have herniated c5/c6 disc with mild cord contact, as well as bulges c4-c5 and slightly narrow canal but not severe stenosis.
It sounds like these sorts of symptoms are common with a narrow cervical canal.
What sort of symptoms did you have before your first surgery - my understanding is that myelopathy is often seen as leg symptoms first (hyper-reflexivity etc.). Did you have unco-ordination or weakness in your arms and hands?
The leg symptoms that you describe sound very similar to what I'm experiencing (though I tend to get it all over the place - but most consistently in the feet and bottom part of the legs). I had a significant spinal shock at the time I injured my neck (was temporarily paralysed for about 15 seconds from the neck down but I recovered full function immediately). After the accident I had very painful dermatome burning in the hands corresponding to the c5/c6 level for about two weeks but apart from that and a bit of neck stiffness I'm pretty much fine. From an independant clinical perspective I don't show any observable signs of neurological dysfunction apart from hyperreflexivity in the legs, but I get a lot of this tingling, coldness and prickling etc. and also my feet go numb more easily when at rest (as well as buttocks and also arms and hands when asleep).
Some of the surgeons say its permanent cord damage from the initial injury but could also be due to irritation from herniated disc. Currently they are monitoring it to make sure its stable and not deteriorating. I have herniated c5/c6 disc with mild cord contact, as well as bulges c4-c5 and slightly narrow canal but not severe stenosis.
It sounds like these sorts of symptoms are common with a narrow cervical canal.
rob_zzz
04-21-2005, 09:33 AM
One other thing - one of the surgeons compared it to a brain concussion - he said if you'd hit your head hard and passed out for 15 seconds then there's a fair chance you'd have symptoms like dizziness etc. from time to time for quite a while afterwards (and maybe even permanently) and he said it can be the same with the spinal cord.