erica1976
03-16-2007, 10:49 PM
Hi everyone...always had a cervical herniated disc but since an injury where i felt my spine get pulled out of place, I have spinal cord compression at c5c6. Just curious...has anyone with cord compression ever had problems swallowing? Sometimes, since the injury, it feels as if a tennis ball is lodged in my throat...Doctors say it's unrelated but i noticed it the night of my injury (a little under 1 year ago)...Anyone else have this?
Also, anyone else with cord compression feel like they are losing their breath every now and then?
Also, anyone else with cord compression feel like they are losing their breath every now and then?
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PearlDoves
03-17-2007, 10:31 AM
I had swallowing problems off and on after my accident. I went to a GI doc and had a swallow study done and everything came back fine; it doesn't hurt to get it checked out though, everybodies situation can be different, they make actually find something for you. One thing I wish I had done is some sort of scan muscles/ligament/tendons in my neck to see if any damage was there as well from the accident in addition to the neck spine. But ultimatly the car accident jolted my neck enough to start causing problems. To make matters worse I had stenosis of C5-C6 due to a bone spur. I got along okay for nearly 6 years, then I fell on the stairs really hard and that was the beinning of my road to surgery. I'm 4 months post-op now.
ICC
03-18-2007, 08:15 AM
Same here. 3 bulged disks, stenosis and a large bone spur indenting the cord at the C5-C6. Have been to two ENT's who have both said swallowing problem has nothing to do with my neck injur, Spine Specialist agrees. Have had every test under the sun done and nothing. Have a slightly enlarged thyroid that has been outruled as the problem. Just seems coincidental to me as it started within 3 weeks of the neck injury. Also have reflux and it is believed that the steroids taken shortly after the injury may have aggravated it to the point of esophageal spasms. It's anybody's guess at this point. No answers in 10 months. Wishing you all the best.
ICC
ICC
neckpatient
03-18-2007, 05:19 PM
Many of us have been told they are unrelated and have odd symptoms or stories.
About 5 years ago I started up with adult asthma, really bad, interstingly enough after my first ACDF C4-6 in 2004 , I have not had any asthma nor needed any medications! lol
I also have had swallowing problems, I had really bad muscle spasms once food passed around my upper sternum level, they did swallowing study and found nothing, but it improved after my first ACDF C4-6 . It then came back prior to my 2nd one for C6-7.
There are other things that can cause problems or join in the party, like if you have these cervical problems AND things like enlarged thyroid, or acid reflux, etc.
Boy those spasms hurt like heck - don't they!
About 5 years ago I started up with adult asthma, really bad, interstingly enough after my first ACDF C4-6 in 2004 , I have not had any asthma nor needed any medications! lol
I also have had swallowing problems, I had really bad muscle spasms once food passed around my upper sternum level, they did swallowing study and found nothing, but it improved after my first ACDF C4-6 . It then came back prior to my 2nd one for C6-7.
There are other things that can cause problems or join in the party, like if you have these cervical problems AND things like enlarged thyroid, or acid reflux, etc.
Boy those spasms hurt like heck - don't they!
monarog
03-19-2007, 08:48 PM
Not the swallowing per se...but, yes I have had weird episodes where it feels like I just can't catch my breath right. I have had unilateral facial numbness a few times (my NS says he's heard of this before with cervical problems). I also have on and off tongue symptoms, burning, irritated - just not right. My NS has not heard so much of the tongue issues, but attributes it to a domino effect of angry nerves.
I have a herniated disc at C6-7 with cord compression. I have ACDF surgery scheduled for one week from today...and counting.
I have a herniated disc at C6-7 with cord compression. I have ACDF surgery scheduled for one week from today...and counting.
bdancer
03-20-2007, 10:46 AM
funny thing
a week after my car accident two and half years ago, I went to the ortho (neck specialist ha ha ha) to get "checked up" what a joke he didn't do xrays or anything ..he said I had neck strain!! Well I told him I was having a lump in the throat feeling..not trouble swallowing but feeling like something was stuck there.. and you know what he said to me..."it is in your imagination.. do you know how far your esophagus is from your c-spine??" Well let me tell you post-op acdf it is not that far...my throat hurt 100x more than my neck ever did!! Don't listen to them!! He also told me the tingling and burning down my arms was from my carpal tunnel (which I had had for 10 years and NEVER had symptoms like that and up that far) so I ran to another ortho ( a friend of mine who is a hand surgeon) she ordered xrays which showed c5/6 were messed up then she sent me to a mri which showed things were REALLY messed up!! Some doctors are so arrogant!! Jean
a week after my car accident two and half years ago, I went to the ortho (neck specialist ha ha ha) to get "checked up" what a joke he didn't do xrays or anything ..he said I had neck strain!! Well I told him I was having a lump in the throat feeling..not trouble swallowing but feeling like something was stuck there.. and you know what he said to me..."it is in your imagination.. do you know how far your esophagus is from your c-spine??" Well let me tell you post-op acdf it is not that far...my throat hurt 100x more than my neck ever did!! Don't listen to them!! He also told me the tingling and burning down my arms was from my carpal tunnel (which I had had for 10 years and NEVER had symptoms like that and up that far) so I ran to another ortho ( a friend of mine who is a hand surgeon) she ordered xrays which showed c5/6 were messed up then she sent me to a mri which showed things were REALLY messed up!! Some doctors are so arrogant!! Jean
barmc5
03-23-2007, 06:26 PM
I'm another one who had a feeling of something stuck in my throat and felt
so much better when I read I was not alone - thanks for the threads it keeps me sane.:blob_fire
so much better when I read I was not alone - thanks for the threads it keeps me sane.:blob_fire
erica1976
03-24-2007, 01:35 AM
I'm another one who had a feeling of something stuck in my throat and felt
so much better when I read I was not alone - thanks for the threads it keeps me sane.:blob_fire
Good, I am glad!! Now...if only the doctors can tell us why and not tell us it's unrelated!!!!!
so much better when I read I was not alone - thanks for the threads it keeps me sane.:blob_fire
Good, I am glad!! Now...if only the doctors can tell us why and not tell us it's unrelated!!!!!
alex12
03-24-2007, 08:55 AM
Maybe we need to send our Dr's a copy of this thread.... Some doctors feel if it's not written int eh book there is no way it could be true, especially if they have never gone through it.
CowboyCarpenter
03-27-2007, 12:51 AM
I too have been struggling with these weird symptoms. It all started with a weird episode of difficulty getting a full breath last May. I went through all the typical causes. I had not seen a Dr in Over 10 years. First they said it was anxiety, then hypoglycemia, then sinus problems, etc. Since a chiropractor adjusted me last winter, I learned that it was my back/spine out of adjustment. I would have chronic sinus problems that could not be fixed with antibiotics. Next came the heavy compressed feeling in my mid back. Then I had a month of weird tongue, lump/throat problems all fixed with chiropractic adjustments. The only problem now is that it will not stay fixed. I am seeing a PT friend of mine who says that my muscles are in constant spasms causing my rib and diaphragm muscles to restrict leading to struggle in catching a complete inhale. BTW, I am not nervous or anxious. Good to hear of other folks having similar problems.
erica1976
03-27-2007, 09:09 PM
I too have been struggling with these weird symptoms. It all started with a weird episode of difficulty getting a full breath last May. I went through all the typical causes. I had not seen a Dr in Over 10 years. First they said it was anxiety, then hypoglycemia, then sinus problems, etc. Since a chiropractor adjusted me last winter, I learned that it was my back/spine out of adjustment. I would have chronic sinus problems that could not be fixed with antibiotics. Next came the heavy compressed feeling in my mid back. Then I had a month of weird tongue, lump/throat problems all fixed with chiropractic adjustments. The only problem now is that it will not stay fixed. I am seeing a PT friend of mine who says that my muscles are in constant spasms causing my rib and diaphragm muscles to restrict leading to struggle in catching a complete inhale. BTW, I am not nervous or anxious. Good to hear of other folks having similar problems.
Hi Cowboy...Not to sounds overly cautious, you should probably have a MRI before going for anymore chiropractic adjustments....my particular problem is a compressed spinal cord which SHOULD NEVER be manipulated by a chiropractor or therapist. Not saying the chiropractor would do you any harm...I would rule those things out before having any more adjustments.....Best Wishes!!
Hi Cowboy...Not to sounds overly cautious, you should probably have a MRI before going for anymore chiropractic adjustments....my particular problem is a compressed spinal cord which SHOULD NEVER be manipulated by a chiropractor or therapist. Not saying the chiropractor would do you any harm...I would rule those things out before having any more adjustments.....Best Wishes!!
KonaKid
04-01-2007, 12:55 AM
Been choking for seven years...found out that food, pills, ect, becomes stuck right where metal from double fusion in neck is...ever hear that you don't really need the screws? Yeah, the cage if yer unfortunate to have to have fusion...Now there is ADR's for some folk..but lawyers on jumpin' aboard that train...I've spoken to folks at Stenum in Germany...said American's docs using the inferior hardware...saw British forum about when to fuse and when not to fuse...Speaker said American docs love to cut...oi....The hardware made for ADRs in Germany is made here, but we can't use it so says the Regulators.
julyg
04-01-2007, 11:29 PM
I also had problems with swallowing, food getting stuck. On occasion a bite of dry sandwich would not go down and I feared choking. A swallow study revealed "remarkable" ostyophyte from spine pushing into throat. That was the "hangup" so to speak.
Have a peak at your MRI's and xrays and see if anything is pushing into your throat!
Have a peak at your MRI's and xrays and see if anything is pushing into your throat!