Jeannie45
03-30-2003, 02:19 AM
okay. Hello old and new friends. I am 8 weks post op. My surgery went well. I am back to work full time and going to pyhsical therapy. I had the C4-5 & C5-6 disc removed with donor replacement. They also opened up my spinal canal due to stenosis. I never felt the pain that most everyone else felt during their ordeals. I just started going numb. And it went fast. Within 4 weeks I went from losing the feeling in my finger tips to losing the feeling in my fingers, hands, arms, feet and my legs up to my knees. I lost the sense of taste and heat and cold in my mouth.
Well, to make a long story short, they did the surgery within 72 hours. It went well. I regained most all of my feeling right after surgery. I have the same things that everyone else is going through. I still feel like someone is standing on my windpipe, that hasn't left yet. They tell me that is because of scar tissue. But...I have this debilitating pain in my joints. Sometimes I can't walk. It depends what joint it masifests in. Sometimes it's in my shoulder, sometimes in my hip, sometimes in my knee. Lately it's been in my feet. I mean I can't walk! I don't know if this is an after affect from the surgery? HELP! I always had this pain before the surgery. I just attributed this joint pain as "gettin older, maybe the on-set of arthritis" pain. Since it was never directly in my back or neck area, I never attributed it to my condition. I was even "surprised" when I found out I had "blown disc's" and was told I had to have surgery within 72 hours or I my become permantly paralysed.
I know I may have to deal with symtoms in the future with the "stenosis", but I am not sure if this joint pain is something else. I thought that I had a high pain tolerance, and I just didn't regonize the signs of my condition, but now that I am post-op, I am wondering if this isn't something else. Can anyone advise?
Well, to make a long story short, they did the surgery within 72 hours. It went well. I regained most all of my feeling right after surgery. I have the same things that everyone else is going through. I still feel like someone is standing on my windpipe, that hasn't left yet. They tell me that is because of scar tissue. But...I have this debilitating pain in my joints. Sometimes I can't walk. It depends what joint it masifests in. Sometimes it's in my shoulder, sometimes in my hip, sometimes in my knee. Lately it's been in my feet. I mean I can't walk! I don't know if this is an after affect from the surgery? HELP! I always had this pain before the surgery. I just attributed this joint pain as "gettin older, maybe the on-set of arthritis" pain. Since it was never directly in my back or neck area, I never attributed it to my condition. I was even "surprised" when I found out I had "blown disc's" and was told I had to have surgery within 72 hours or I my become permantly paralysed.
I know I may have to deal with symtoms in the future with the "stenosis", but I am not sure if this joint pain is something else. I thought that I had a high pain tolerance, and I just didn't regonize the signs of my condition, but now that I am post-op, I am wondering if this isn't something else. Can anyone advise?
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BABS42
03-30-2003, 09:05 AM
Hi Jeannie
I am glad to hear your surgery went well. I have not had surgery yet (and dont want to). So I cant help you there but im sure someone else here will. Sorry to hear you are having these other problems and pain. Since you basically had mostly numbness vs pain pre-surgery, is it possible that pain in your feet could be your nerves rejuvanating?? I wish I could help but I dont know. I also have had more numbness than pain, except for really bad headaches which have subsided. I was also shocked that my C45 , C56 were problematic. I started PT but after 1 1/2 weeks they told me it wont help. I go back to NS on 4/9. I was curious about the numb foot. Is that connected to your cervical disc problem? The tops of my feet also went numb and left foot dragged one day. If connected I will mention it my NS. I really hope you feel better! If you do have arthritis, ask doc about glucosamine, I personally think it is very helpful. Take Care Babs
I am glad to hear your surgery went well. I have not had surgery yet (and dont want to). So I cant help you there but im sure someone else here will. Sorry to hear you are having these other problems and pain. Since you basically had mostly numbness vs pain pre-surgery, is it possible that pain in your feet could be your nerves rejuvanating?? I wish I could help but I dont know. I also have had more numbness than pain, except for really bad headaches which have subsided. I was also shocked that my C45 , C56 were problematic. I started PT but after 1 1/2 weeks they told me it wont help. I go back to NS on 4/9. I was curious about the numb foot. Is that connected to your cervical disc problem? The tops of my feet also went numb and left foot dragged one day. If connected I will mention it my NS. I really hope you feel better! If you do have arthritis, ask doc about glucosamine, I personally think it is very helpful. Take Care Babs
BWL
03-30-2003, 12:26 PM
Hi Jeannie,
Nice to see you. :) I'm sorry you're having some pain probs. Can you tell if the pain is nerve pain or does it feel like joint (bone) pain?? I get occassional nerve pain in several places since surgery, but nothing of significance and no real intensity. It also seems to be getting better as the days pass. I am just over 8 weeks out myself.
Feel good,
Bruce
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ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7 (1/29/03)
Nice to see you. :) I'm sorry you're having some pain probs. Can you tell if the pain is nerve pain or does it feel like joint (bone) pain?? I get occassional nerve pain in several places since surgery, but nothing of significance and no real intensity. It also seems to be getting better as the days pass. I am just over 8 weeks out myself.
Feel good,
Bruce
------------------
ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7 (1/29/03)
NucleoGirl
03-31-2003, 10:23 AM
Jeanie -
My surgery was no where near as involved as yours (I had a nucleoplasty 2/20, L5-S1), but I sometimes find that certain joints hurt more some days than others. I have suspected that I have been "carrying myself" in odd positions in order to shield my injured back. This, of course, put a lot of stress and pressure on muscles and joints which are not use to it. Especially the shoulders, knees and feet.
From what you wrote, though, I would go back to the doctor ASAP. If for nothing else, your piece of mind! Pain is never a normal state. Hope you are feeling better soon.
L.
My surgery was no where near as involved as yours (I had a nucleoplasty 2/20, L5-S1), but I sometimes find that certain joints hurt more some days than others. I have suspected that I have been "carrying myself" in odd positions in order to shield my injured back. This, of course, put a lot of stress and pressure on muscles and joints which are not use to it. Especially the shoulders, knees and feet.
From what you wrote, though, I would go back to the doctor ASAP. If for nothing else, your piece of mind! Pain is never a normal state. Hope you are feeling better soon.
L.
kat721
04-01-2003, 03:40 PM
Jeannie, Surgery is a complicated matter. There are a lot of pains that happen after surgeries because we had a whole bunch of pain all running together before the surgeries define one from the other.
And yes, it could be nerve pain.
And it could be joint pain.
and it could be other things.
I had pain recently that I was sure was my old injuries and some big spinal problem.
It turned out to be my bowel by way of nerve transmission to the back.
So you begin by trying to take one pain at a time and investigating answers to help things get better.
If it's nerve pain, you probably have already been tried on the several kinds of medicine that are extremely effective in helping to relieve nerve pain. If your med is not working well, then do a little personal research to see if maybe another kind of medication for nerve pain might be a better pick for you. If it's joint pain, then that might require another type of medication for that specific problem.
So keep a focus on finding the workable answers.
Take care and be well on your road to more recovery.
kat
And yes, it could be nerve pain.
And it could be joint pain.
and it could be other things.
I had pain recently that I was sure was my old injuries and some big spinal problem.
It turned out to be my bowel by way of nerve transmission to the back.
So you begin by trying to take one pain at a time and investigating answers to help things get better.
If it's nerve pain, you probably have already been tried on the several kinds of medicine that are extremely effective in helping to relieve nerve pain. If your med is not working well, then do a little personal research to see if maybe another kind of medication for nerve pain might be a better pick for you. If it's joint pain, then that might require another type of medication for that specific problem.
So keep a focus on finding the workable answers.
Take care and be well on your road to more recovery.
kat
BWL
04-01-2003, 06:28 PM
Kat,
Wasn't that a TV show? "One Pain at a Time."
Bruce :)
------------------
ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7 (1/29/03)
Wasn't that a TV show? "One Pain at a Time."
Bruce :)
------------------
ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7 (1/29/03)
Jeannie45
04-02-2003, 09:31 PM
Thanks everyone!
This is frustrating. Today the pain is manifesting in my shoulder. I can't lift my arm. I guess I thought that my surgery would be a cure all. It never dawned on me that the pain in my joints was caused by something else. When they diagnosed the disc problem I guess I resolved (in my own mind) that when they fixed that problem, it would fix everything.
As far as med's, I am not on anything right now. I do take calcium pills for my bones. I have tried glycocimene, but after 3 months, it didn't seem to be doing anything. My doctor said that it's most beneficial for load bearing joints. I have been thinking that I will have to head back to the doctor. I just hate to think about it. Perhaps more test, etc., and I was just beginning to think that I was past all of that.
Peace and painfree days (and nights) to all of you, and thanks again! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
This is frustrating. Today the pain is manifesting in my shoulder. I can't lift my arm. I guess I thought that my surgery would be a cure all. It never dawned on me that the pain in my joints was caused by something else. When they diagnosed the disc problem I guess I resolved (in my own mind) that when they fixed that problem, it would fix everything.
As far as med's, I am not on anything right now. I do take calcium pills for my bones. I have tried glycocimene, but after 3 months, it didn't seem to be doing anything. My doctor said that it's most beneficial for load bearing joints. I have been thinking that I will have to head back to the doctor. I just hate to think about it. Perhaps more test, etc., and I was just beginning to think that I was past all of that.
Peace and painfree days (and nights) to all of you, and thanks again! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
winged phantom
04-02-2003, 11:10 PM
Hi Jeannie,
Welcome to the board. I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions about your particular problems, but I can give you another shoulder to cry on. I'm sure your symptoms are alarming, especially post-surgery. I'm not sure why they did not address the stenosis problem while they were in there, but I will not try to second-guess your doctor. There must have been a reason?
It's so hard to regroup and get yourself through another round of diagnostics and office visits while you are still recovering. But just know we are here for you and are encouraging you to do the best you can to find the best care for yourself that you can. Take care,
wr :wave:
Welcome to the board. I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions about your particular problems, but I can give you another shoulder to cry on. I'm sure your symptoms are alarming, especially post-surgery. I'm not sure why they did not address the stenosis problem while they were in there, but I will not try to second-guess your doctor. There must have been a reason?
It's so hard to regroup and get yourself through another round of diagnostics and office visits while you are still recovering. But just know we are here for you and are encouraging you to do the best you can to find the best care for yourself that you can. Take care,
wr :wave:
Niki47
04-03-2003, 12:01 AM
Hi Jeanie,
Since your surgery was done so quickly and your condition degraded so fast... I wonder: Did you have myelopathy? If so, all of the symptoms you have now can be related. Check out some of the threads that deal with that... I am 5 months post op from cervical corpectomy and suffer many of the same things. Melanie Dawn is still pre-op and has alot of them.
Search out the EXACT diagnosis they gave you, and read up.
Luck and renewed health to you!!
Niki47
Since your surgery was done so quickly and your condition degraded so fast... I wonder: Did you have myelopathy? If so, all of the symptoms you have now can be related. Check out some of the threads that deal with that... I am 5 months post op from cervical corpectomy and suffer many of the same things. Melanie Dawn is still pre-op and has alot of them.
Search out the EXACT diagnosis they gave you, and read up.
Luck and renewed health to you!!
Niki47