charlotte1
01-01-2003, 08:34 PM
Has anyone had or scheduled to have cervical surgery going thru the posterior (back of the neck area). If so any info would be very helpful.
Thanks
Charlotte
Thanks
Charlotte
Sponsor
angelfan
01-03-2003, 05:47 PM
Hi there! Yes, I have had cervical surgery (4level laminectomy) through the back of the neck (posterior). I would be happy to answer any ?'s you might have. Good Luck.
charlotte1
01-06-2003, 01:23 PM
Thanks for replying angelfan
I'm not sure if I will have to have my surgery by way of posterior neck but my family doc mentioned this. What reason were you given for doing the surgery posteriorly and how are you doing. It seems that going thru large muscle would cause all kinds of problems with neck strength. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated
Charlotte
I'm not sure if I will have to have my surgery by way of posterior neck but my family doc mentioned this. What reason were you given for doing the surgery posteriorly and how are you doing. It seems that going thru large muscle would cause all kinds of problems with neck strength. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated
Charlotte
melanie dawn
01-06-2003, 02:50 PM
HI Charlotte,
How was your weekend? I hope you enjoyed yourself. As far as I know , the decision to do posterior surgery is based on the number of levels that need to be fused. Generally 1-2 levels are done anteriorly and more than that are accomplished with posterior entry. Basically the route is decided by the surgeon. Posterior route is usually avoided for the reason you mentioned, ie: the large muscle groupings. Hope this helps. As for the myelogram, the dye infiltrates the local tissues, giving much clearer picture, especially of nerve entrapments. The most common side effect is post headache, the headache can infrequently be severe , which is remedied by a blood patch. A small sample of your blood is injected at the puncture site , to stop the leaking of CSF at the site. Talk to your doc about side effects or any other questions you have, Local freezing is used.
Take care of yourself, Mel
Ps. when is your myelogram booked for?
[This message has been edited by melanie dawn (edited 01-06-2003).]
How was your weekend? I hope you enjoyed yourself. As far as I know , the decision to do posterior surgery is based on the number of levels that need to be fused. Generally 1-2 levels are done anteriorly and more than that are accomplished with posterior entry. Basically the route is decided by the surgeon. Posterior route is usually avoided for the reason you mentioned, ie: the large muscle groupings. Hope this helps. As for the myelogram, the dye infiltrates the local tissues, giving much clearer picture, especially of nerve entrapments. The most common side effect is post headache, the headache can infrequently be severe , which is remedied by a blood patch. A small sample of your blood is injected at the puncture site , to stop the leaking of CSF at the site. Talk to your doc about side effects or any other questions you have, Local freezing is used.
Take care of yourself, Mel
Ps. when is your myelogram booked for?
[This message has been edited by melanie dawn (edited 01-06-2003).]
charlotte1
01-06-2003, 04:48 PM
Mel,
Its good to hear from you and thanks for all the info. They are going to try to schedule myelogram for this Friday. They should call and let me know. I guess it would help if I would stay off the net so they can get thru. I don't know but the info I get may give you an idea of whats going on with you because our symptoms are so much a like. Who knows, everybody is so different.
There wasn't any snow in Gatlinburg but 5 mins up the mountain and snow was everywhere. It was absoultely gorgeous. I didn't cry for three days yipee! I came home yesterday and cried my eyes out last night. Feel better today though. What about you? How are your spirits?
Charlotte
Do you know who does the myelogram?
Its good to hear from you and thanks for all the info. They are going to try to schedule myelogram for this Friday. They should call and let me know. I guess it would help if I would stay off the net so they can get thru. I don't know but the info I get may give you an idea of whats going on with you because our symptoms are so much a like. Who knows, everybody is so different.
There wasn't any snow in Gatlinburg but 5 mins up the mountain and snow was everywhere. It was absoultely gorgeous. I didn't cry for three days yipee! I came home yesterday and cried my eyes out last night. Feel better today though. What about you? How are your spirits?
Charlotte
Do you know who does the myelogram?
empi
01-07-2003, 03:54 PM
I believe (still not confirmed yet) that I may have to have a 4 level cervical laminectomy because of stenosis -sever spnal narrowing. I would love to hear from Angelfan as to her experience. I a 7 weeks post op toda y from my anterior cervical disectomy and C-4-C-5 and am doing absolutely fantastic.
Would love to hear from angelfan as to the whole experience. Thanks everyone for being so supportive, This is the best site for people in our positions.
Maria
Would love to hear from angelfan as to the whole experience. Thanks everyone for being so supportive, This is the best site for people in our positions.
Maria
atvbooboo
01-10-2003, 10:44 PM
HI!!
I wish you all the best with your surgery, everything will work out for the best with which ever way they decide to go in. i had anterior AND posterior surgeries simutaneously, took them a little over 9 hours to fix me up but they did it!! (but of course i had my pastor right by my side the minute before i was sent into OR) oh, another little tidbit of info i would ask about before surgery, hehe, hope you dont have long hair!! they shaved my head!! and boy oh boy was that a pretty site!! talk about rude awakening!!
well, good luck with whatever you decide and feel free to email me with any questions, i will try to help in anyway that i can!! TAKE CARE!!
BOO
------------------
anterior cer. diskectomy c5-6 & c6-7, with titanium plate-4screws, posterior cer. fusion c3-4, wired together
I wish you all the best with your surgery, everything will work out for the best with which ever way they decide to go in. i had anterior AND posterior surgeries simutaneously, took them a little over 9 hours to fix me up but they did it!! (but of course i had my pastor right by my side the minute before i was sent into OR) oh, another little tidbit of info i would ask about before surgery, hehe, hope you dont have long hair!! they shaved my head!! and boy oh boy was that a pretty site!! talk about rude awakening!!
well, good luck with whatever you decide and feel free to email me with any questions, i will try to help in anyway that i can!! TAKE CARE!!
BOO
------------------
anterior cer. diskectomy c5-6 & c6-7, with titanium plate-4screws, posterior cer. fusion c3-4, wired together
angelfan
01-18-2003, 05:01 PM
Hi Charlotte,
So SORRY it took so long for this response. I won't bore you with the details of why :) Anyway, the decision to operate through the back of the neck (posterior laminectomy) was because it was such a big area of stenosis involved. My neurosurgeon said had it been one or two levels, he definitely would have done anterior surgery. Three was questionable. Four levels - NO WAY! He said it would fail. Top notch surgeon in NYC - my surgery was 18 months ago. 90% of my pre-op symptoms have improved significantly. Yes, the surgery is very hard recovering from. Having those muscles cut in back takes long to recover from. The nape of my neck seems to cave in a little now. I had much difficulty holding up my head for quite a while after surgery. After the hard and soft collars came off (about 12 weeks post op), I felt as if my head could fall into my hands. Gradually, the strength in my neck returned. I work with special needs children and returned to work 14 weeks after. When I would bend over, I would feel as if I couldn't pull myself back up. To this day, I feel it in my neck when I bend. BUT< I am so happy I had the surgery, as most of my terrible neurological symptoms have disappeared. Of course, my range of motion is half what it was, and the fusion takes some getting used to. I still need to take pain med's daily. Am currently taking Ultram, and it works for me. Please let me know if there are any particular ?s you need to answer. I would love to help. Good luck and God Bless.
Angelfan
So SORRY it took so long for this response. I won't bore you with the details of why :) Anyway, the decision to operate through the back of the neck (posterior laminectomy) was because it was such a big area of stenosis involved. My neurosurgeon said had it been one or two levels, he definitely would have done anterior surgery. Three was questionable. Four levels - NO WAY! He said it would fail. Top notch surgeon in NYC - my surgery was 18 months ago. 90% of my pre-op symptoms have improved significantly. Yes, the surgery is very hard recovering from. Having those muscles cut in back takes long to recover from. The nape of my neck seems to cave in a little now. I had much difficulty holding up my head for quite a while after surgery. After the hard and soft collars came off (about 12 weeks post op), I felt as if my head could fall into my hands. Gradually, the strength in my neck returned. I work with special needs children and returned to work 14 weeks after. When I would bend over, I would feel as if I couldn't pull myself back up. To this day, I feel it in my neck when I bend. BUT< I am so happy I had the surgery, as most of my terrible neurological symptoms have disappeared. Of course, my range of motion is half what it was, and the fusion takes some getting used to. I still need to take pain med's daily. Am currently taking Ultram, and it works for me. Please let me know if there are any particular ?s you need to answer. I would love to help. Good luck and God Bless.
Angelfan