Phan
02-03-2008, 01:42 PM
My 24yr old son had C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and disk replacement just a few days ago. Since the surgery, he has numb fingers and aching arms. The doctor said it will settle in a few weeks. Does anyone else have experience of this and did the problem settle. He is very worried that it will be permanent. He had some leg problems before surgery and we thought it would all disappear once he had the surgery but he's still getting some problems. Is this normal after the surgery?
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Backinthesaddle
02-05-2008, 01:23 PM
That really could be either or. I had a lot of relief after my decompression of C4/5. I was left with permanent arm, hand and neck pain due to spinal compression but I am much better. I do not have numbness at all. Your son will just have to wait and see. For me I was back to normal the same day. I have C6/7 issues and after the first surgery there I had immediate relief of arm and hand pain and didnt get any until recently when the nerve was collapsed on. I expect relief post acdf of that. Nerves do calm down but it takes about a month per inch of nerve damage. He is young and hopefully will feel better soon.
Phan
02-05-2008, 05:45 PM
That really could be either or. I had a lot of relief after my decompression of C4/5. I was left with permanent arm, hand and neck pain due to spinal compression but I am much better. I do not have numbness at all. Your son will just have to wait and see. For me I was back to normal the same day. I have C6/7 issues and after the first surgery there I had immediate relief of arm and hand pain and didnt get any until recently when the nerve was collapsed on. I expect relief post acdf of that. Nerves do calm down but it takes about a month per inch of nerve damage. He is young and hopefully will feel better soon.
Thank you for your reply. My son saw the surgeon today and he says the problem may be caused by inflammation of the nerves round the operation site. Hopefully it will all settle down in time. He is starting physiotheraph treatment on Thursday which will hopefully help recovery. His legs have been very bad the last couple of days and it's been very worrying. Did you have a replacement disc put in? My son had this without any fusion.
Thank you for your reply. My son saw the surgeon today and he says the problem may be caused by inflammation of the nerves round the operation site. Hopefully it will all settle down in time. He is starting physiotheraph treatment on Thursday which will hopefully help recovery. His legs have been very bad the last couple of days and it's been very worrying. Did you have a replacement disc put in? My son had this without any fusion.
Backinthesaddle
02-06-2008, 03:19 PM
I wish I had a disc replacement but I am a workers comp patient and they won't do that. I had acdf. I am wondering why your sons legs hurt though that is odd to me. I have had a few issues and a few surgeries but no leg pain with it. He doesn't have any lumbar issues does he?
Phan
02-08-2008, 05:44 PM
No, his lumbar scans were good. He's got bad leg problems the last couple of days and he just found the original report from his original MRI. It stated he also has a disc bulge at another level from the one he's just had replaced, so worrying that his leg problems are coming from this other disc bulge. It is all very worrying. Waiting to hear from the surgeon next week.
ladybumblebee
02-09-2008, 05:26 PM
Hello,
I'm in exactly the same position as your son. I had c4/c5 removed in 2005 and now have a bulge at c6/7 with leg problems. I'm having a full body scan on Monday to try and establish what the problem is and why I have serious leg/pain issues.
My advice after 6 yrs of this - since I was 28 - is push hard with the surgeons. If your son goes back to work you get 'yellow flagged' which basically means that you aren't seen as quickly as you can work 'so it can't be that bad....'.
request another MRI if it doesn't settle and make friends with the consultants receptionist. Believe it or not it really does help!
when did he have the surgery? did they remove any spurs? did your son's surgeon look at both sides of the spinal column when he was in there? (if he did his scar on his neck will be on the opposite side of the pain problem)
I really really feel for you both. If i can help let me know.
Best wishes, Ellie
I'm in exactly the same position as your son. I had c4/c5 removed in 2005 and now have a bulge at c6/7 with leg problems. I'm having a full body scan on Monday to try and establish what the problem is and why I have serious leg/pain issues.
My advice after 6 yrs of this - since I was 28 - is push hard with the surgeons. If your son goes back to work you get 'yellow flagged' which basically means that you aren't seen as quickly as you can work 'so it can't be that bad....'.
request another MRI if it doesn't settle and make friends with the consultants receptionist. Believe it or not it really does help!
when did he have the surgery? did they remove any spurs? did your son's surgeon look at both sides of the spinal column when he was in there? (if he did his scar on his neck will be on the opposite side of the pain problem)
I really really feel for you both. If i can help let me know.
Best wishes, Ellie
Phan
02-11-2008, 06:16 PM
Hello Ellie
How did your scan go today? I hope all is well for you. I've written to my son's surgeon about all the problems and requested some answers. I have sort of made friends with the secretary and she has been very helpful. I'm now waiting to see if I get a reply. I dont really know exactly what they did in the surgery, apart from replacing the disk. Thank you for your interest. I hope you get things sorted out.
How did your scan go today? I hope all is well for you. I've written to my son's surgeon about all the problems and requested some answers. I have sort of made friends with the secretary and she has been very helpful. I'm now waiting to see if I get a reply. I dont really know exactly what they did in the surgery, apart from replacing the disk. Thank you for your interest. I hope you get things sorted out.
ladybumblebee
02-13-2008, 08:54 PM
Hiya,
I think you've done the right thing writing to the consultant to get some answers. My scan was long..... an hour and a half. just waiting for results and when they arrive my consultants receptionist will book me back in. should get them on Saturday really.
Please remember that your son should only go back to work if he absolutely has to.Once you start coping you're out of the system and have to start again which is a nightmare.
If you get really worried present at casualty and refuse to move. The only positive side is at the hospital a&e they prioritise spinal issues as they can be really serious so he should get seen really quickly. I went to casualty about a month ago and there were 45 people there and a sign saying 4 hr wait. I got called within 5 mins which was superb.
How is your son doing? Is his scar across his throat?
Thanks for your thoughts. You know where to find me if you need advice/help. I'm a pro now!
ellie
I think you've done the right thing writing to the consultant to get some answers. My scan was long..... an hour and a half. just waiting for results and when they arrive my consultants receptionist will book me back in. should get them on Saturday really.
Please remember that your son should only go back to work if he absolutely has to.Once you start coping you're out of the system and have to start again which is a nightmare.
If you get really worried present at casualty and refuse to move. The only positive side is at the hospital a&e they prioritise spinal issues as they can be really serious so he should get seen really quickly. I went to casualty about a month ago and there were 45 people there and a sign saying 4 hr wait. I got called within 5 mins which was superb.
How is your son doing? Is his scar across his throat?
Thanks for your thoughts. You know where to find me if you need advice/help. I'm a pro now!
ellie
Phan
02-14-2008, 05:58 PM
Hello Ellie,
Had reply from surgeon today and it seems doctors are on another planet to us and talk in a different language. He didnt really answer my questions and wrote a lot of stuff that didnt seem to make much sense to me.
I hope your results are okay when they come through. It's a worrying time waiting for results.
Yes, my son's scar is across his throat. It's actually healed up very well seeing as it's only just over 2 weeks since his operation. It's just a thin line and I think it will fade with time and not be noticeable. He was a bit worried about it at first and self conscious about it. He went to physio again today and has exercises to do. I dont think he'll be going back to work just yet but is seeing GP tomorrow for further certificate.
Keep well.
Had reply from surgeon today and it seems doctors are on another planet to us and talk in a different language. He didnt really answer my questions and wrote a lot of stuff that didnt seem to make much sense to me.
I hope your results are okay when they come through. It's a worrying time waiting for results.
Yes, my son's scar is across his throat. It's actually healed up very well seeing as it's only just over 2 weeks since his operation. It's just a thin line and I think it will fade with time and not be noticeable. He was a bit worried about it at first and self conscious about it. He went to physio again today and has exercises to do. I dont think he'll be going back to work just yet but is seeing GP tomorrow for further certificate.
Keep well.
ladybumblebee
02-16-2008, 03:32 PM
Sounds like he's had a cervical discetomy which is what I had. He needs to understand that the scar tissue extends right through his throat to the back and it's a 10 week recovery. Sorry.