neckpatient
09-23-2005, 10:38 PM
I am seeking a little info on armpit and side of chest pain. I had a 2 level acdf 4-6, 12/04. Prior to surgery I had unbearable radicular pain, you can read my old posts by searching my id. I used to take 8 percs a day, 2400mg neurontin and ibuprofen round the clock. This is my 9th month post op and I had been steadily getting terrific, enjoying health and no pain meds for months. About two weeks ago I noticed a decline and I am bummed. It started with my neck aching more each day, then running into my arm, and now under my armpit and my side and chest :confused: . Its not unbearable, like before surgery, but i am depressed to see this onset of symptoms. ALso each week it is getting more obvious. I don't go back until November, its not bad enough where I would make it emergency to the office.
If you had armpit or side of chest pain, what level was it for you?
If you had armpit or side of chest pain, what level was it for you?
Sponsor
hugo eve
09-23-2005, 10:50 PM
Oh dear, not sure I want write this post but armpit pain was a sympton of my C6/7 protusion. If I moved my head to the right it took the pressure off and pain went away.
Cheers Hugo
Fusion C456 12/03
Fusion C67 9/05
But have to say I was very pleased that it was C67 and not C34 which would restrict a lot more movement and be a little more tricky to do.
Cheers Hugo
Fusion C456 12/03
Fusion C67 9/05
But have to say I was very pleased that it was C67 and not C34 which would restrict a lot more movement and be a little more tricky to do.
feelbad
09-24-2005, 10:57 AM
i really think that at the very least you should probably get an MRI done on that area to see if anything obvious pops up.You had a big fusion was there any hardware placement/do you know for sure that every level actually fused?if something did not take, you could be having the symptoms that you are describing.Is the pain constant,or get worse upon certain movements?Just need some info from you.marcia
neckpatient
09-24-2005, 01:00 PM
Hi, thanks for your answers. I did have hardware with the acdf, i also did everything exactly right, and was in the collar for about 8 weeks solid then on and off till 12. Last xray i was fusing well on the top not as well on the bottom,but it was working on it. The pain is constant, part of it is like a burning, some stabs and i have noticed a few little jolts around my body. I called them yesterday and they put me on a cancellation list if someone cancels I will move my appointment up.
feelbad
09-25-2005, 10:45 AM
can you describe the type of pain and or sensations you are currently having associated with this.please be specific as possible,K?Also, is it constant or does it come and go?does anything you do or dont do seem to make it worse or better?Marcia
neckpatient
09-25-2005, 02:09 PM
Sitting still looking straight ahead:
Constant deep burning ache in the top edge of the back of my shoulder that runs down the outside of my arm, into my elbow and forearm, burning irritation in my armpit. burning ache from my armpit down my side to about a fist above my belly button. Activity makes it more like stabbing pains that run from the shoulder through the arm.
Turning my head left and right and upward do not make it worse or improve it. Moving my head to look down causes it to hurt more.
Constant deep burning ache in the top edge of the back of my shoulder that runs down the outside of my arm, into my elbow and forearm, burning irritation in my armpit. burning ache from my armpit down my side to about a fist above my belly button. Activity makes it more like stabbing pains that run from the shoulder through the arm.
Turning my head left and right and upward do not make it worse or improve it. Moving my head to look down causes it to hurt more.
neckpatient
09-25-2005, 02:11 PM
I didn't mention I also noticed I have a slight burn at the bottom of my skull, i think this is the occipital on the same side.
feelbad
09-26-2005, 08:44 AM
Have you ever had or recently had another MRI or one that covered the upper T spine?is the pain becomming worse and worse over time or is it just kinda "there" but rather stable?marcia
neckpatient
09-27-2005, 08:21 PM
Hi marcia,
over the past couple weeks the pain/feelings grew, now they seem to have stabilized. I am taking it more easy the past week. I got my appointment moved up to Tuesday, so I will see what the pictures and dr. say. I haven't had a recent MRI since surgery, I am sure he will take an xray as soon as i get there and decide what to do next. He is really good surgeon.
I had felt so good, I feel like something must be going on. Cindy
over the past couple weeks the pain/feelings grew, now they seem to have stabilized. I am taking it more easy the past week. I got my appointment moved up to Tuesday, so I will see what the pictures and dr. say. I haven't had a recent MRI since surgery, I am sure he will take an xray as soon as i get there and decide what to do next. He is really good surgeon.
I had felt so good, I feel like something must be going on. Cindy
feelbad
09-28-2005, 11:15 AM
This is why I think an MRI would really be the way to go here since you were feeling good,and then out of nowhere,you are feeling like this.This really could indicate some sort of 'change or shifting" of the bone or even a disc if you were not actually fused,you know what i mean?an MRI would most likely find the culprit,even a CT would be better than nothing and could show something up with the more solid structures.it just won't pick up on more soft tissue problems.good luck,Marcia
Cindee 2
09-28-2005, 07:56 PM
Just wanted to wish you luck with your Dr. visit. Keep us posted. Hope all is well.
neckpatient
10-07-2005, 02:55 AM
over the past month i got progessively worse. by today i am now level 8 pain, not functioning well. not using right arm and hand because of pain. sleeping in recliner. started back neurontin. vicadin and ibuprofen round the clock. so bad today i had to take percosette.
saw surgeon tues, xray looks perfect of my 2 level acdf. mri gretting scheduled.
will keep u posted marcia when i know more
saw surgeon tues, xray looks perfect of my 2 level acdf. mri gretting scheduled.
will keep u posted marcia when i know more
neckpatient
10-14-2005, 01:23 AM
Anyone here have ridging? I had my MRI yesterday, haven't seen the doc yet, but they told me it looks like i have ridging at C6-7 at the level below my C4-6 ACDF. I have a copy of the films and I can see it very clearly myself on my already narrowed (spinal stenosis) canal, I just didn't know what it was. Looks like it is right up against the cord.
Still in pain, more managed on of course 12 vicadin, 9 ibuprofen, and 4 (600mg) of neurontin a day. and work at home, live in a recliner. go back next week.
they fixed my vicadin so I don't have to take so many today. any advice is appreciated. cindy
Still in pain, more managed on of course 12 vicadin, 9 ibuprofen, and 4 (600mg) of neurontin a day. and work at home, live in a recliner. go back next week.
they fixed my vicadin so I don't have to take so many today. any advice is appreciated. cindy
feelbad
10-14-2005, 10:27 AM
Well,at the very least,it shows "something' that may be the cause of what you are currently feeling as far as pain and symptoms.it would correlate with the way your pain is running with regard to nerves.You mentioned 'spinal stenosis"?is this actually "in" the cord walls itself?exactly where is the actual spinal stenosis at with regard to level of?and does this actually show cord compression at any point?Keep me posted,at least you ARE making some progress towards some sort of possible answers here,and THAT IS a really big thing.hang in there,marcia
neckpatient
10-15-2005, 02:27 AM
1) they used the word endplate ridging
- cord isn't compressed this time, looks like the ridging is right against cord with no margin between.
2) I have central canal stenosis, in the c-spine,. congenital narrow and then i have osteophyte formation in the canal and right side formamins. C-4-6 had it and it looks like its at 6-7. thats all i know right now till they finish the report. see doc the 20th, my guess is i will have steroids and do a epidural. the epidural didn't help me my first go round i hope it does this time.
i have been working home laying pretty flat from my recliner for two weeks, I am at least in a managed condition. I hurt the more I am upright.
thanks , will give update again.
- cord isn't compressed this time, looks like the ridging is right against cord with no margin between.
2) I have central canal stenosis, in the c-spine,. congenital narrow and then i have osteophyte formation in the canal and right side formamins. C-4-6 had it and it looks like its at 6-7. thats all i know right now till they finish the report. see doc the 20th, my guess is i will have steroids and do a epidural. the epidural didn't help me my first go round i hope it does this time.
i have been working home laying pretty flat from my recliner for two weeks, I am at least in a managed condition. I hurt the more I am upright.
thanks , will give update again.
neckpatient
11-04-2005, 12:06 AM
I had the MRI, ridging at C6-7, below my prior C4-6 acdf with plate. No compression however you can see obvious encroachment in the spinal canal, the stenois at that level is getting worse.
I started PT (traction seemed to help I made progress during the first 3 treatments then slipped back a bit). Had a selective nerve block a couple days ago at C7 and it worked. It killed the pain off the first day, by day 3 starting back up, but in control with 2400 mg of Neurontin a day and an occassional pain pill. I am going to pick up my activity and see how I do.
I finish up the PT during November, then back to Dr. I guess the good news is we know it was C7 side, now I hope I can stay stable enough to function without another surgery.
I started PT (traction seemed to help I made progress during the first 3 treatments then slipped back a bit). Had a selective nerve block a couple days ago at C7 and it worked. It killed the pain off the first day, by day 3 starting back up, but in control with 2400 mg of Neurontin a day and an occassional pain pill. I am going to pick up my activity and see how I do.
I finish up the PT during November, then back to Dr. I guess the good news is we know it was C7 side, now I hope I can stay stable enough to function without another surgery.
feelbad
11-04-2005, 09:44 AM
I cannot seem to remember and don't have time right now to go back through the other posts,but did you have a fusion done up in the c spine area somewhere?If you did then traction would be a definite no no as it could cause the fusion to start to pull away from the bone ends.Even without a fusion,with your wide assortment of problems,i would be a bit hesitant to even try using traction or anything that would cause possible movement up there.This is one big reason I would never ever let a chiro do any sort of adjustment on my C spine area.Just too much that could inadvertantly happen in that much more innervated area.hope you have a low pain day.hang in there and keep me posted.Marcia
eagle18
11-04-2005, 02:19 PM
Hello, do you know if the pain is or has been associated with some sort of physical movement. I only mention it because about 3 weeks after my surgery ( neck,for spinal stenosis ) I developed one night an excrutiating pain in my right arm pit. It turns out that because I was so weak from the surgery that I had to push with my arms and hands down on the sofa to rise. The pushing eventually led to some sort of muscle pull somewhere. As I said the pain was unbelievable. I don't know if that helps you at all, but just maybe the pain could be muscular in origin. I did go to the hospital that night though and they could not find anything wrong. Good luck and I hope you feel better and that it is nothing to worry about. Still Maybe you should err on the side of caution and have it checked out if you are'nt already shechuled to do so.