julyg
11-20-2008, 12:30 AM
How is it possible to have acdf surgery and herniate those same disks again?
I have a titanium plate there!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are my new MRI results and remember I had a 2 level fusion 2 yrs ago with c5/6 and c6/7.
c1/2 normal limits
c2/3 posterior disk bulge seen. disk space maintained.
c3/4 posterior disk bulge seen. disk space maintained
c4/5 posterior herniation with impingement on anterior subarachnoid space and cord impingement. disk space is narrowing.
c5/6 vertebral body fusion level is noted . Posterior herniation is seenwith impingement on anterior subarachnoid space.
c6/7 vertebral body fusion level is noted . Posterior herniation is seen with impingement on anterior subarachnoid space
Impression disk herniations c4/5 c5/6 c6/7
disk bulge c2/3 c3/4
reduced cervical lordosis
anterior cervical fusion apparatus atc5/c6 and c6/7
I knew I felt the little guy drilling on my neck again! And my left trap muscle feels like someone cut an inch off it.
I see my new surgeon tomorrow and I REALLY dont want to go thru surgery again as it took over a yr to speak normally again after my vocal cord was paralyzed by ACDF surgery. WhenI had other surgery this past may I could not be intubated as my ent said "too much repair work had been done" said unless its life threatning I should not be intubated!
I am going to find out what level of activity I can do as my pain is on a scale of 0 to 3 by midday and at 5 between 4pm and bedtime.
No numbness of hands or arms except intermitten tingle of pinky.
This really stinks, I was so positive I was going to sail thru the 1st surgery recover and be done with it.
I'll post new drs comments. Hope my old friends here are doing better!
July
I have a titanium plate there!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are my new MRI results and remember I had a 2 level fusion 2 yrs ago with c5/6 and c6/7.
c1/2 normal limits
c2/3 posterior disk bulge seen. disk space maintained.
c3/4 posterior disk bulge seen. disk space maintained
c4/5 posterior herniation with impingement on anterior subarachnoid space and cord impingement. disk space is narrowing.
c5/6 vertebral body fusion level is noted . Posterior herniation is seenwith impingement on anterior subarachnoid space.
c6/7 vertebral body fusion level is noted . Posterior herniation is seen with impingement on anterior subarachnoid space
Impression disk herniations c4/5 c5/6 c6/7
disk bulge c2/3 c3/4
reduced cervical lordosis
anterior cervical fusion apparatus atc5/c6 and c6/7
I knew I felt the little guy drilling on my neck again! And my left trap muscle feels like someone cut an inch off it.
I see my new surgeon tomorrow and I REALLY dont want to go thru surgery again as it took over a yr to speak normally again after my vocal cord was paralyzed by ACDF surgery. WhenI had other surgery this past may I could not be intubated as my ent said "too much repair work had been done" said unless its life threatning I should not be intubated!
I am going to find out what level of activity I can do as my pain is on a scale of 0 to 3 by midday and at 5 between 4pm and bedtime.
No numbness of hands or arms except intermitten tingle of pinky.
This really stinks, I was so positive I was going to sail thru the 1st surgery recover and be done with it.
I'll post new drs comments. Hope my old friends here are doing better!
July
Sponsor
neckpatient
11-25-2008, 02:13 PM
I can't wait to see what the doctor says. My guess is the herniations seen at the fusion level are either from discs above/below. Or your prior surgery left partial disc material in there in the back where they couldn't get to it - I have heard some do this????
Go very slowly!!! Maybe get a 2nd opinion from what this doc tells you.
Being a 2x surgery person I can only remind you that if you didn't have full success the 1st time, it is very likely that you will have some remenants if you decide to do again. Even after 2 surgeries, my lowest pain level is about 4 and mostly I sit at 6 and sometimes it goes up to 7-8 with too much activity. I had to accept my condition - that took time - sometimes we can't fix everything.
With all the probs you had first time - go slowly and take care of yourself!!! I don't spend much time on computer these days, but please keep posting status and I will come and look here.
Take care,
NP
Go very slowly!!! Maybe get a 2nd opinion from what this doc tells you.
Being a 2x surgery person I can only remind you that if you didn't have full success the 1st time, it is very likely that you will have some remenants if you decide to do again. Even after 2 surgeries, my lowest pain level is about 4 and mostly I sit at 6 and sometimes it goes up to 7-8 with too much activity. I had to accept my condition - that took time - sometimes we can't fix everything.
With all the probs you had first time - go slowly and take care of yourself!!! I don't spend much time on computer these days, but please keep posting status and I will come and look here.
Take care,
NP
erin72
11-25-2008, 11:36 PM
July,
I'm so very sorry about the news. Hang in there, don't jump to any conclusions yet. Let the drs. appts. work for you. You know all the right questions to ask. Be patient, listen to your body and don't over do it! Keep posting so we can see your progress! My prayers have already been lifted for you!! Be strong!!
Blessings,
Erin
I'm so very sorry about the news. Hang in there, don't jump to any conclusions yet. Let the drs. appts. work for you. You know all the right questions to ask. Be patient, listen to your body and don't over do it! Keep posting so we can see your progress! My prayers have already been lifted for you!! Be strong!!
Blessings,
Erin
julyg
11-27-2008, 11:47 PM
Hi and Healthy Holidays to you both!
My appointment was with a very well respected ortho who has a great reputation. He says c5 is very bad and my disc herniations where I already had surgery are most likely a gristle material left over from previous surgery and or scar tissue. Pretty grusome. Anyway he is reluctant to do any surgery because of the vocal cord mess. Ideally he would go back in and do a 3 level if it were not for my vocal cord.
So the game plan is if and when my left hand/arm goes numb or I cannot feel temperature change or I start dropping things from my left hand I immediatly get a CAT scan and maybe he can do just c5 without messing with my vocal cord.
I asked why we couldnt just go in from the back to avoid the vocal cord and he said it could not be done that way.
My neck movement is quite limited and he said if I had the surgery I would have more movement but again catch22 vocal cord.
AAAAARRRRGGGG!!!!!!! So in case anyone is reading this considering an ACDF my original surgeon left Cleveland clinic and is now at Albert Einstein hospital.
Neck Patient you were right on the money as usual and so sorry to read you are in so much pain.
Erin thank you for your prayers, and I thank both of you for your friendship and support.
July
My appointment was with a very well respected ortho who has a great reputation. He says c5 is very bad and my disc herniations where I already had surgery are most likely a gristle material left over from previous surgery and or scar tissue. Pretty grusome. Anyway he is reluctant to do any surgery because of the vocal cord mess. Ideally he would go back in and do a 3 level if it were not for my vocal cord.
So the game plan is if and when my left hand/arm goes numb or I cannot feel temperature change or I start dropping things from my left hand I immediatly get a CAT scan and maybe he can do just c5 without messing with my vocal cord.
I asked why we couldnt just go in from the back to avoid the vocal cord and he said it could not be done that way.
My neck movement is quite limited and he said if I had the surgery I would have more movement but again catch22 vocal cord.
AAAAARRRRGGGG!!!!!!! So in case anyone is reading this considering an ACDF my original surgeon left Cleveland clinic and is now at Albert Einstein hospital.
Neck Patient you were right on the money as usual and so sorry to read you are in so much pain.
Erin thank you for your prayers, and I thank both of you for your friendship and support.
July
erin72
11-30-2008, 11:50 PM
Hello my friend,
Well, so it is. No need to worry about it anymore because you know what it is and you have a game plan. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but (glass half full) we're still mobile!! I wish I could crawl through this screen and hug you! Hang in there and keep that positive attitude of yours! If it helps any, I've been taking Tylenol with codeine and it helps a great deal! Takes the pain away but it's easy on my stomach. Always remember, when you're having a bad day....eat ice cream!! (laced with vicadin) HA! HA! :) You are on my mind and in my prayers, hang in there girlfriend!!!
Erin
Well, so it is. No need to worry about it anymore because you know what it is and you have a game plan. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but (glass half full) we're still mobile!! I wish I could crawl through this screen and hug you! Hang in there and keep that positive attitude of yours! If it helps any, I've been taking Tylenol with codeine and it helps a great deal! Takes the pain away but it's easy on my stomach. Always remember, when you're having a bad day....eat ice cream!! (laced with vicadin) HA! HA! :) You are on my mind and in my prayers, hang in there girlfriend!!!
Erin
julyg
12-02-2008, 08:25 AM
Hi Erin!
Whats up with the pain meds? I thought 2nd surgery went very well. So tell me what is really going on and how is your walking and swallowing. Remind me of your 2nd surgery date.
My stress level is 10 on a scale of 10, Industry I work in has nose dived and just had a hospice consult for my Mom who has CHF. I am working 2 f/t jobs one real one and one taking care of my Mom at the hospital.
Am scheduling myself a play date walk on the beach thursday for sanity.
Wishing you pain free days!
JUly
Whats up with the pain meds? I thought 2nd surgery went very well. So tell me what is really going on and how is your walking and swallowing. Remind me of your 2nd surgery date.
My stress level is 10 on a scale of 10, Industry I work in has nose dived and just had a hospice consult for my Mom who has CHF. I am working 2 f/t jobs one real one and one taking care of my Mom at the hospital.
Am scheduling myself a play date walk on the beach thursday for sanity.
Wishing you pain free days!
JUly
sammyo1
12-02-2008, 09:36 AM
July, I did not realize that you could have this occur after having an ACDF either. That is alittle scary & makes me realize I am really done with my line of work even after my surgery.
That is really to a bummer. May I ask what happened to your vocal cords?
My surgeon mentioned some risks & I was wondering what occured with you. I am having the C5-6 done.
I feel I am just learning about all of this & glad you posted, made me think about my post op plans. God bless & take care, Sammy
That is really to a bummer. May I ask what happened to your vocal cords?
My surgeon mentioned some risks & I was wondering what occured with you. I am having the C5-6 done.
I feel I am just learning about all of this & glad you posted, made me think about my post op plans. God bless & take care, Sammy
SKZ
12-02-2008, 04:58 PM
Hi July,
I havent been here for awhile, but I just saw this thread. I am so sorry you are still struggling with this garbage. And you are right, this economy CERTAINLY does not help any of our stress levels. My surgery was 2 yrs. ago after yours. I still have abnormally tight traps, neck muscles and upper back muscles. I had Botox shot in there in Sept. It helped, but now I have to have CT scan for sinuses where I lie on my stomach and my head goes back. Last yr. I had the same thing, and my neck flared up BAD for a longgggggggg time. Just wanting you to know I am thinking of you!!!!!!!!
Sue
I havent been here for awhile, but I just saw this thread. I am so sorry you are still struggling with this garbage. And you are right, this economy CERTAINLY does not help any of our stress levels. My surgery was 2 yrs. ago after yours. I still have abnormally tight traps, neck muscles and upper back muscles. I had Botox shot in there in Sept. It helped, but now I have to have CT scan for sinuses where I lie on my stomach and my head goes back. Last yr. I had the same thing, and my neck flared up BAD for a longgggggggg time. Just wanting you to know I am thinking of you!!!!!!!!
Sue
julyg
12-03-2008, 11:30 PM
Hey Sue!!!!!!
I wondered if you would see my post and join in :) How is your chair? I love mine!
Pretty much in spasm hell 50% of time again but at least this time I know what NOT to try! Remember that old post we did.... "stupid therapies I have tried" I remember your rolfing! How desperate we all get. And there are so many quacks ready to take our money too!
We are so similar.... I've had the whole sinusitis deal forever. In fact I had cancer of nasal septum and they used a sinus bone to rebuild septum. Wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy. Now NOBODY is going near my nose!!!
Sammy ignore most of my post, I was worst case scenerio for possible "Hoarseness" post surgery. You know how they quote less than 2% of people.... I was in that percentile.
I had a surgeon who was the chief NS at C.Clinic who believed he was great, he was very impressed with himself and maybe he is great on brains but not on necks, or at least not on mine. If you are going into surgery find out your drs reputation not the reputation of the spine center or hospital where he works. That was my mistake, The C.Clinic , they only employ the best and the chief NS! And I will pay for it the rest of my life. You talk to anyone you see in a cervical collar, and ask who did the surgery. Look at everyone for a ACDF scar and ask who did their surgery and how it went. Surprise! There are a lot of us with these scars. Call you local spine centers and hospitals and ask to speak to the nurses. Ask who they would pick. They know who is good.
When I went back to C.Clinic for vocal cord repair, 2 nurses in preop asked who did my ACDF surgery causing my vocal cord paralysis and they asked me why I picked him? Why didn't I pick so and so who was also on staff. Answer was I didnt know any better. Now I do.
July
I wondered if you would see my post and join in :) How is your chair? I love mine!
Pretty much in spasm hell 50% of time again but at least this time I know what NOT to try! Remember that old post we did.... "stupid therapies I have tried" I remember your rolfing! How desperate we all get. And there are so many quacks ready to take our money too!
We are so similar.... I've had the whole sinusitis deal forever. In fact I had cancer of nasal septum and they used a sinus bone to rebuild septum. Wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy. Now NOBODY is going near my nose!!!
Sammy ignore most of my post, I was worst case scenerio for possible "Hoarseness" post surgery. You know how they quote less than 2% of people.... I was in that percentile.
I had a surgeon who was the chief NS at C.Clinic who believed he was great, he was very impressed with himself and maybe he is great on brains but not on necks, or at least not on mine. If you are going into surgery find out your drs reputation not the reputation of the spine center or hospital where he works. That was my mistake, The C.Clinic , they only employ the best and the chief NS! And I will pay for it the rest of my life. You talk to anyone you see in a cervical collar, and ask who did the surgery. Look at everyone for a ACDF scar and ask who did their surgery and how it went. Surprise! There are a lot of us with these scars. Call you local spine centers and hospitals and ask to speak to the nurses. Ask who they would pick. They know who is good.
When I went back to C.Clinic for vocal cord repair, 2 nurses in preop asked who did my ACDF surgery causing my vocal cord paralysis and they asked me why I picked him? Why didn't I pick so and so who was also on staff. Answer was I didnt know any better. Now I do.
July
SKZ
12-04-2008, 05:21 PM
Hey July!!!!
Oh my God, you have sinus stuff, too! oyyyyyyyyyyy. I cannot decided which of my chronic stuff I hate more......the neck stuff, the sinus infections up the wazoo for the last 16 years or the arthritis in my back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.:D (which I had the nerves fried (rhizotomy) and it helped a reasonable amount. I had that in my neck too before my fusion. Ever had that? It was alot worse in my neck, to be honest.
I just went for a CT scan of my sinuses, after almost 3 weeks of being sick and on Levaquin, which didnt work, and I am on my 3rd Zithromax pak. I looked at my CT just now...FORGET IT....I can still see infection. They wouldnt let me do a nasal wash for 24 before the scan. Well now I feel like I am SO past the point of no return, swelling and congestion wise. I had to just resort to Afrin. Oh, and of course I had to lie on my stomach with my neck extended back for the CT scan. God please dont flare me up again. I know you totally GET what I am talking about. I am glad my mother is coming to visit next week. I want maternal sympathy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I am almost 53. oy haha)
Oh my God, you have sinus stuff, too! oyyyyyyyyyyy. I cannot decided which of my chronic stuff I hate more......the neck stuff, the sinus infections up the wazoo for the last 16 years or the arthritis in my back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.:D (which I had the nerves fried (rhizotomy) and it helped a reasonable amount. I had that in my neck too before my fusion. Ever had that? It was alot worse in my neck, to be honest.
I just went for a CT scan of my sinuses, after almost 3 weeks of being sick and on Levaquin, which didnt work, and I am on my 3rd Zithromax pak. I looked at my CT just now...FORGET IT....I can still see infection. They wouldnt let me do a nasal wash for 24 before the scan. Well now I feel like I am SO past the point of no return, swelling and congestion wise. I had to just resort to Afrin. Oh, and of course I had to lie on my stomach with my neck extended back for the CT scan. God please dont flare me up again. I know you totally GET what I am talking about. I am glad my mother is coming to visit next week. I want maternal sympathy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I am almost 53. oy haha)
julyg
12-05-2008, 06:40 PM
Hey Sue!
You are lucky your Mom is coming, as you may have seen in my post my Mom is doing quite poorly. So no matter what treat her well!
Are they talking sinus surgery with you? I swear I sneezed sea slugs after my surgery (how's that for a visual? ;))
You and I had surgery about 2 months apart I think, mine was 10/06 and didn't we all think we would be done with all of this!
Best of health and freedom of pain to you. Ck in soon!
July
You are lucky your Mom is coming, as you may have seen in my post my Mom is doing quite poorly. So no matter what treat her well!
Are they talking sinus surgery with you? I swear I sneezed sea slugs after my surgery (how's that for a visual? ;))
You and I had surgery about 2 months apart I think, mine was 10/06 and didn't we all think we would be done with all of this!
Best of health and freedom of pain to you. Ck in soon!
July
SKZ
12-05-2008, 07:08 PM
I had 2 sinus surgeries in the 90s. I just found out today that I have huge polyps. So i am going to start a large dose of steroids for 3 weeks and then get another CT to torque my neck out again. (lying on the stomach with head extended. oy). But the good news is that the steroids will make my neck and back feel better, at least. I hope i dont get sickenly cranky on those thing. They make one "edgy"
Mod08
12-06-2008, 03:23 AM
Please stick to those topics that are pertainent to this board. You may ask someone to please visit a specific board to discuss a question/problem that you are having.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mod08
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mod08
hugg724
12-06-2008, 03:29 AM
July, I had a 3 level fusion (c4 - c7) in October 2006. My MRI's also showed similar to yours. I asked my surgeon about it and he told me it was indeed scar tissue and that radiologists basically just see "something" resembling a herniated disc. Mine shows this along with moderate narrowing of the left neural foramen. I have had 3 MRI's since my surgery and they all basically have the same thing but read by different radiologists. I thought my surgeon was nuts but glad to see yours is saying something similar.
I am dealing with issues in my C3/C4 disc and my C7/C8 is bulging. My surgeon wants to hold off on the surgery and I obviously jumped on that agreeing with him lol. The reason he is holding off is because when he has to go in he will fix both discs BUT he will have to remove my hardware and replace it with a cage to encompass all the discs fused. I will also have limited motion/movement after my next surgery so I will wait til I can't stand it any more.
Good luck with which ever route you take. :) I will be following along with your posts since we have similar issues.
I am dealing with issues in my C3/C4 disc and my C7/C8 is bulging. My surgeon wants to hold off on the surgery and I obviously jumped on that agreeing with him lol. The reason he is holding off is because when he has to go in he will fix both discs BUT he will have to remove my hardware and replace it with a cage to encompass all the discs fused. I will also have limited motion/movement after my next surgery so I will wait til I can't stand it any more.
Good luck with which ever route you take. :) I will be following along with your posts since we have similar issues.
julyg
12-07-2008, 12:56 PM
Hi Hugg
Thanks for your information! So we are pretty much in the same boat. What are you doing for pain relief? I cannot tolerate narcotics.
I'll look for your posts in the future.
July
Thanks for your information! So we are pretty much in the same boat. What are you doing for pain relief? I cannot tolerate narcotics.
I'll look for your posts in the future.
July
hugg724
12-08-2008, 02:26 AM
hmmm what do I do for pain relief..........I eat chocolate :D lol j/k
It took my pain doc alot of trial and error to come up with meds that work for me. I break out in serious hives when it comes to anything with codeine or chemically derived codeine. Morphine tablets made me feel like I was literally losing my mind. It altered my mood swings so bad I flushed them down the toilet. Ironically, I can take Kadian with is a slow release morphine and they help considerably. I take mepergan for break through pain because it helps with any nausea I might have.
We alternate between neurontin and lyrica for nerve pain. Lyrica makes me gain weight big time so I will only take them short term to give my body a rest from the neurontin so they will continue to work for me.
One other thing my pain doc does if I am just having a spell that I can't take it right now is he sends me over to the rehab clinic where I did some phsyical therapy. They will do an ultrasound massage on my neck that seems to help some temporarily. He tried the epidural injection in January and I flat out refuse to ever have another one in my neck. There is some type of solution that is put in the injection that will actually help shrink some of the scar tissue. That was the goal but I just couldn't tolerate that injection.
Outside of what my pain doc tries to do, I use hot compresses to my neck when I am hurting or having bouts of the burning pain. A moist heating pad on low works instead of just a hot compress too. When we are in pain (and stress), our muscles tend to tighten up and/or spasm which adds more pressure to the nerves. The heat seems to relax the muscles enough once in a while that I can get some relief that way. If I am sitting on the couch watching tv, I always make sure I have a pillow on top of the couch behind my head to take pressure off my neck from just sitting there.
When I sleep (and this doesn't always work but it does some times), I have a feather pillow that I basically shape in a U around my neck for support then lay on another pillow. I always take advil before I go to bed too just in case there is any inflammation from my day that may irritate my nerves while I am trying to rest. Once again, sometimes this helps, some times it doesn't...it just depends on how much I have over done it that day.
Outside of all these that MIGHT help in some way, I just live with the pain and it sucks lol I have had quite a few appointments with my neurologist over the last 3 years. While we know I have these issues with the 2 discs that I have, he basically said right now I can't do anything about the scar tissue. I think hearing that made me finally face that this is just how my life is going to be right now and I had to learn to live with it the best way I can, like it or not. You have your hands full with everything you are doing and you need to slow down before you make it worse. I know that is easier said than done though.
If you find any type of relief (and I hope you will), even if it sounds strange to try, please let me know. I am willing to try just about anything!
It took my pain doc alot of trial and error to come up with meds that work for me. I break out in serious hives when it comes to anything with codeine or chemically derived codeine. Morphine tablets made me feel like I was literally losing my mind. It altered my mood swings so bad I flushed them down the toilet. Ironically, I can take Kadian with is a slow release morphine and they help considerably. I take mepergan for break through pain because it helps with any nausea I might have.
We alternate between neurontin and lyrica for nerve pain. Lyrica makes me gain weight big time so I will only take them short term to give my body a rest from the neurontin so they will continue to work for me.
One other thing my pain doc does if I am just having a spell that I can't take it right now is he sends me over to the rehab clinic where I did some phsyical therapy. They will do an ultrasound massage on my neck that seems to help some temporarily. He tried the epidural injection in January and I flat out refuse to ever have another one in my neck. There is some type of solution that is put in the injection that will actually help shrink some of the scar tissue. That was the goal but I just couldn't tolerate that injection.
Outside of what my pain doc tries to do, I use hot compresses to my neck when I am hurting or having bouts of the burning pain. A moist heating pad on low works instead of just a hot compress too. When we are in pain (and stress), our muscles tend to tighten up and/or spasm which adds more pressure to the nerves. The heat seems to relax the muscles enough once in a while that I can get some relief that way. If I am sitting on the couch watching tv, I always make sure I have a pillow on top of the couch behind my head to take pressure off my neck from just sitting there.
When I sleep (and this doesn't always work but it does some times), I have a feather pillow that I basically shape in a U around my neck for support then lay on another pillow. I always take advil before I go to bed too just in case there is any inflammation from my day that may irritate my nerves while I am trying to rest. Once again, sometimes this helps, some times it doesn't...it just depends on how much I have over done it that day.
Outside of all these that MIGHT help in some way, I just live with the pain and it sucks lol I have had quite a few appointments with my neurologist over the last 3 years. While we know I have these issues with the 2 discs that I have, he basically said right now I can't do anything about the scar tissue. I think hearing that made me finally face that this is just how my life is going to be right now and I had to learn to live with it the best way I can, like it or not. You have your hands full with everything you are doing and you need to slow down before you make it worse. I know that is easier said than done though.
If you find any type of relief (and I hope you will), even if it sounds strange to try, please let me know. I am willing to try just about anything!
neckpatient
12-09-2008, 02:28 AM
I hope this thread doesn't get moved because of all this talk on pain management (moderator please leave it here, this is pertinent to this discussion!!) but hugg and julyg i wanted to tell you that I am pretty medication sensitive too. I am prescribed neurontin for my cervical caused nerve pain but I can only take it in small bursts of about 3 months. So I am off it right now again. I was taking vicodins but after a couple years fighting off meds (the morpheine types put me out for hours) I gave in to PM suggestion to try duragesic patch. I was nervous at first, but it was a smooth transition and I am so much more comfortable after being miserable for the last 2 years. I have a light in the tunnel.
I also tried lidocaine patches and they help a little at my muscle spasm sites.
I totally agree - acceptance is the key to achieving a little piece of mind - sometimes there aren't enough surgical techniques or pills to fix what's wrong or it just isn't in the cards for you to resolve all your pain. For some of us, this is a life journey and we need to strengthen our brain to help battle. I finally got there after fighting it too long. The pain psychologist visits I did (5 of them) helped me over that aspect.
I didn't find any magic bullet, either - kind of same as "hugg", I do the cycles of rest, ice/heat, meds, simple stretching, short lived injections, and all the little comforts, like good bed, pillows (take them everywhere), using a electric cart in the store instead of making myself miserable, a little reflexology where I even learned a couple pressure points that seem to distract my mind from the pain signals, and just plain old taking care of myself and saying no sometimes instead of yes to everyone, and letting people help me sometimes. Finally accepting that some decisions I make are going to make me hurt worse and I accept that fact and make sure it is worth it when I decide to do that thing.
Hugg I am starting a question in another thread - look for it I have a question for you.
NP
I also tried lidocaine patches and they help a little at my muscle spasm sites.
I totally agree - acceptance is the key to achieving a little piece of mind - sometimes there aren't enough surgical techniques or pills to fix what's wrong or it just isn't in the cards for you to resolve all your pain. For some of us, this is a life journey and we need to strengthen our brain to help battle. I finally got there after fighting it too long. The pain psychologist visits I did (5 of them) helped me over that aspect.
I didn't find any magic bullet, either - kind of same as "hugg", I do the cycles of rest, ice/heat, meds, simple stretching, short lived injections, and all the little comforts, like good bed, pillows (take them everywhere), using a electric cart in the store instead of making myself miserable, a little reflexology where I even learned a couple pressure points that seem to distract my mind from the pain signals, and just plain old taking care of myself and saying no sometimes instead of yes to everyone, and letting people help me sometimes. Finally accepting that some decisions I make are going to make me hurt worse and I accept that fact and make sure it is worth it when I decide to do that thing.
Hugg I am starting a question in another thread - look for it I have a question for you.
NP
pevan
12-11-2008, 02:25 AM
Hi July, This is Donna, (signed on as Pevan) I don't know if you will remember me but I had the thyroidectomy a year ago on 11-8-07 and suffered rt. vocal cord paralysis, waited until 7-08 and had the thyroplasty. I do have some improvement but still have problems with speech, swallowing, breathing with exertion, etc. I havn't been on the boards for quite awhile, but I am so sorry to hear you are having neck problems again. If you remember I also had a acdf c5-6 and then about 4 years ago I herniated c6-7. I am too scared to have another cervical surgery especially after the permanent laryngeal nerve paralysis. I have not returned to work yet and still do speech, occupational , and resp. therapies. I take Neuronton and Zanaflex at bedtime, occasional Motrin if I did alot more than I should. I have an idea what you are dealing with, and know how hard it is not to be able to do the things you used to do. I remember how you were a source of encouragement to me when I was at my lowest point! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep in touch, Donna
julyg
12-11-2008, 08:56 PM
Hey Donna! Why don't we meet over at the ear nose and throat board, OK?