babsinga
10-18-2007, 05:21 PM
Hi,
I was wondering how long you were in pain before you even considered surgery? I have had slow going stenosis that didnt really bother me terribly for a while for the last 4 years when I cough or laugh or strain myself. Mostly heavy duty tingling.
Then a second car accident started a trail of pain ranging from acute , scary and tingly, BURNING and sometime just low grade numbness in my arm. First one and now both. Depends on what I am doing (which lately is mostly sitting)!
Decided after 5 months of pain, meds and needles that I am going for it. 2 level ACDF. Really tired of waiting for it to go away.....
What about you????? Whats your story?
Babs
I was wondering how long you were in pain before you even considered surgery? I have had slow going stenosis that didnt really bother me terribly for a while for the last 4 years when I cough or laugh or strain myself. Mostly heavy duty tingling.
Then a second car accident started a trail of pain ranging from acute , scary and tingly, BURNING and sometime just low grade numbness in my arm. First one and now both. Depends on what I am doing (which lately is mostly sitting)!
Decided after 5 months of pain, meds and needles that I am going for it. 2 level ACDF. Really tired of waiting for it to go away.....
What about you????? Whats your story?
Babs
Sponsor
BobM
10-18-2007, 10:34 PM
Hi babs!
I see you are still somewhat new to this forum - welcome!
I've had two ACDFs (2004 & 2005) that have fused C4/5/6/7. I trace my troubles back to 1992 and a head/neck injury I had that caused a concussion, but never detected the problem in my C Spine until 2004. I was in pain for most of that 13 or 14 years, but it was never diagnosed or treated. Things took a sudden turn for the worse in Jan of 2004, such that I lost all the strength in my left arm and hand, and that is when my problem was 'discovered'. By then I was so far gone, that my neurosurgeon adjusted his schedule and I was in surgery in less than two weeks.
Some neurosurgeons will operate to relieve pain, but it seems that a combination of pain plus other symptoms (numbness, tingling, atrophy, etc) is what makes surgical treatment less 'optional'. It also depends on whether the neuro problems are on the nerve branches that leave the spinal cord (often call radiculopathy), or the spinal cord itsself (called myelopathy).
If pain is the 'only' symptom it can be more of a choice on whether to have surgery or not. However, there are people here that talk about having permanent nerve damage from waiting too long.
Best advice is to find a medical team you trust, and then go with their recommendations. You can get a lot of info here from other peoples' experiences, but none of us know the details of your case like your medical team should.
Best wishes!
Bob
PS - I was lucky -even after such a lengthy time with this problem, I recovered more than 90% of the strength in my arm and hand. I still have some chronic pain (more likely the outcome after fusing multiple levels, multiple surgeries, etc) but it is so much better now than in 2004
I see you are still somewhat new to this forum - welcome!
I've had two ACDFs (2004 & 2005) that have fused C4/5/6/7. I trace my troubles back to 1992 and a head/neck injury I had that caused a concussion, but never detected the problem in my C Spine until 2004. I was in pain for most of that 13 or 14 years, but it was never diagnosed or treated. Things took a sudden turn for the worse in Jan of 2004, such that I lost all the strength in my left arm and hand, and that is when my problem was 'discovered'. By then I was so far gone, that my neurosurgeon adjusted his schedule and I was in surgery in less than two weeks.
Some neurosurgeons will operate to relieve pain, but it seems that a combination of pain plus other symptoms (numbness, tingling, atrophy, etc) is what makes surgical treatment less 'optional'. It also depends on whether the neuro problems are on the nerve branches that leave the spinal cord (often call radiculopathy), or the spinal cord itsself (called myelopathy).
If pain is the 'only' symptom it can be more of a choice on whether to have surgery or not. However, there are people here that talk about having permanent nerve damage from waiting too long.
Best advice is to find a medical team you trust, and then go with their recommendations. You can get a lot of info here from other peoples' experiences, but none of us know the details of your case like your medical team should.
Best wishes!
Bob
PS - I was lucky -even after such a lengthy time with this problem, I recovered more than 90% of the strength in my arm and hand. I still have some chronic pain (more likely the outcome after fusing multiple levels, multiple surgeries, etc) but it is so much better now than in 2004
SpineAZ
10-19-2007, 12:06 AM
The pain started about 3 years before my surgery. Epidural Steroid Injections helped for a while but when the pain got much worse I chose surgery. I think the question is not so much how long you are in pain but the level and impact of that pain (in terms of quality of living/functionality).
Monty44
10-19-2007, 08:11 PM
You should really have a talk with your surgeon to see if he thinks this surgery will relieve your pain. My surgeons were very clear that these types of surgery are primarily to stabilize your spine and to prevent further nerve damage. There was never any guarantee that my pain would be relieved and so far, three years after the last surgery, I still have constant and considerable pain. I just don't want you to expect more than is possible. Good luck!
SKZ
10-20-2007, 12:56 PM
I was in pain for 5 years before I had a 2 level fusion last Jan. I tried every single thing a person can try, so I finally gave into having surgery. I am glad I did, personally.
neckpatient
10-20-2007, 02:25 PM
I will pray for a good outcome for you.
I waited 6 months. I don't know about these people that went years, they must be iron "men/women". I woke up one morning, previously being a healthy and active person, and had to go to Emergency Room and be knocked out it was so bad. I had level 10-12 pain for 6 months (I made 12 up) for the 6 months I took so much meds to function that I decided that I wasn't going to wait years living that way. This was both times. I am not a baby, I have had giant kidney stones - that were not as bad as the nerve pain.
I agree with MONTY44, you may still have residual pain but at least you won't continue to create damage or make it worse. After surgeries I am left with a lowest level of pain is 5 and the highest I get is 8 on a very bad day. Believe me, that is worth it. there is a big difference between those levels and 10s.
I waited 6 months. I don't know about these people that went years, they must be iron "men/women". I woke up one morning, previously being a healthy and active person, and had to go to Emergency Room and be knocked out it was so bad. I had level 10-12 pain for 6 months (I made 12 up) for the 6 months I took so much meds to function that I decided that I wasn't going to wait years living that way. This was both times. I am not a baby, I have had giant kidney stones - that were not as bad as the nerve pain.
I agree with MONTY44, you may still have residual pain but at least you won't continue to create damage or make it worse. After surgeries I am left with a lowest level of pain is 5 and the highest I get is 8 on a very bad day. Believe me, that is worth it. there is a big difference between those levels and 10s.
Fiona_Jo_324
10-21-2007, 03:28 AM
My initial injury to my neck was in Oct, 2006 and I had surgery on 7/17/07. I know that doesn't sound very long. But, I did try every non-surgical option that was reasonable for my condition - PT and injections. What also impacted my decision to move forward with surgery was the fact that I had and EMG and the results showed substantial nerve damage. The fact that I was having such scary symptoms involving my left arm/hand I felt I really had no choice, my symptoms seemed to worsen daily.
I had a lumbar fusion (a few years ago) and actually lived with issues with my back for quite a few years before I had the fusion. But, it had gotten to the point where my discs were literally bone to bone and there were days when walking was challenging and an EMG had revealed substantial nerve damage. (Sometimes, I wonder WHAT'S up with my SPINE?? :eek:)
For me the issue of nerve damage and the fear of it becoming permanent had a major influence on my decisions in both cases (lumbar and cervical). Also, quality of life issues became BIG issues in both cases.
My frustration post ACDF is my quality of life isn't what I expected it to be 14 weeks post surgery. I realize I shouldn't compare the two surgeries, but the interesting thing to me is the lumbar fusion involves a lot more cutting through muscle, etc. and it seemed like I was higher functioning much sooner and with minimal need for pain medication. With the fact that my cervical fusion was anterior I expected to see the same level or faster progress that I experienced with my lumbar fusion. I guess I can't dwell, it's just frustrating for me. :(
~ Fiona :wave:
I had a lumbar fusion (a few years ago) and actually lived with issues with my back for quite a few years before I had the fusion. But, it had gotten to the point where my discs were literally bone to bone and there were days when walking was challenging and an EMG had revealed substantial nerve damage. (Sometimes, I wonder WHAT'S up with my SPINE?? :eek:)
For me the issue of nerve damage and the fear of it becoming permanent had a major influence on my decisions in both cases (lumbar and cervical). Also, quality of life issues became BIG issues in both cases.
My frustration post ACDF is my quality of life isn't what I expected it to be 14 weeks post surgery. I realize I shouldn't compare the two surgeries, but the interesting thing to me is the lumbar fusion involves a lot more cutting through muscle, etc. and it seemed like I was higher functioning much sooner and with minimal need for pain medication. With the fact that my cervical fusion was anterior I expected to see the same level or faster progress that I experienced with my lumbar fusion. I guess I can't dwell, it's just frustrating for me. :(
~ Fiona :wave:
babsinga
10-22-2007, 04:00 PM
Hi Again,
I just wanted to address a question Monty asked about whether or not my pain will go away after surgery. Both the orthopedic surgeon and the neurosurgeon feel that my problem is radiculopathy that is caused by foraminal stenosis, so the outcome should be good. I know that radicular pain can go away from herniated discs with an 80% chance of resolving on their own, but problems that are caused by disc degeneration and bony spurs or osteophytes are different. It is true that my pain my not resolve, but both of them who have seen me for some months feel that since I do not have nerve damage, I should see resolution.
BB in GA
I just wanted to address a question Monty asked about whether or not my pain will go away after surgery. Both the orthopedic surgeon and the neurosurgeon feel that my problem is radiculopathy that is caused by foraminal stenosis, so the outcome should be good. I know that radicular pain can go away from herniated discs with an 80% chance of resolving on their own, but problems that are caused by disc degeneration and bony spurs or osteophytes are different. It is true that my pain my not resolve, but both of them who have seen me for some months feel that since I do not have nerve damage, I should see resolution.
BB in GA
NAPPSIE
10-22-2007, 04:47 PM
Thank you for an interesting thread as I am dealing with such decision myself. Herniated disc c5-6. I am trying to convince myself to have surgery before the years end. I've seen two NS's.