Renee016
06-05-2003, 10:58 PM
Hi everyone :wave: Sorry I haven't posted in so long -been busy, went back to work (new job, more hours). Been feeling very fatigued (could be my Epstein-Barr). Also, my leg symptoms have gotten a lot worse -in addition to weakness and tingling, I now have a lot of pain. It's all up and down my right leg - sharp shooting pains in pelvis and buttocks, pain in thigh, shins so sore and all around my ankle aches. Not all at once, the pain seems to travel from day to day and vary in intensity but these are the areas I feel it. Lately when I'm walking, I get sharp pain and I feel like my leg is gonna give out. I get spasms in my lower back upon bending or lifting.
I saw my surgeon yesterday who took a look at my x-rays. The bone is starting to fuse so that's a good thing but now he wants to send me for another MRI, this time on my lower back. He also prescribed two pills to help relax me bacause I was like a lunatic the last time. Not that I'm claustrophobic, I was just worried about all the hardware in my back (you hear stories).
I'm feeling kinda down about everything now - I am now almost certain that the disc in my neck was not causing my leg symptoms (not that I regret the surgery, which I obviously needed). I'm just worried that it's something else now.
When it rains, it pours, I guess. :(
Renee
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1982 Fusion surgery for scoliosis with stainless steel Harrington Rod (T5 - L3) using pelvic bone for grafting
1999 Neck problems began
2001 Cervical Kyphosis
2002 Diagnosed with Epstein-Barr (level was 7+) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
2003 3 Herniated Cervical Discs - C4 thru C7. One disc (C5-6) pressing on the spinal cord (no nerve root compression) causing leg weakness, tingling, burning and numbness - diagnosed with myelopathy and ACDF recommended.
2/24/03 One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy with donor bone and titanium plate (C5-6)
I saw my surgeon yesterday who took a look at my x-rays. The bone is starting to fuse so that's a good thing but now he wants to send me for another MRI, this time on my lower back. He also prescribed two pills to help relax me bacause I was like a lunatic the last time. Not that I'm claustrophobic, I was just worried about all the hardware in my back (you hear stories).
I'm feeling kinda down about everything now - I am now almost certain that the disc in my neck was not causing my leg symptoms (not that I regret the surgery, which I obviously needed). I'm just worried that it's something else now.
When it rains, it pours, I guess. :(
Renee
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1982 Fusion surgery for scoliosis with stainless steel Harrington Rod (T5 - L3) using pelvic bone for grafting
1999 Neck problems began
2001 Cervical Kyphosis
2002 Diagnosed with Epstein-Barr (level was 7+) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
2003 3 Herniated Cervical Discs - C4 thru C7. One disc (C5-6) pressing on the spinal cord (no nerve root compression) causing leg weakness, tingling, burning and numbness - diagnosed with myelopathy and ACDF recommended.
2/24/03 One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy with donor bone and titanium plate (C5-6)
Sponsor
PsychLea
06-06-2003, 02:50 AM
Renee,
As I recall, you were having some myelopathy prior to your surgery. I think it is a good idea to have another MRI. You may have ruptured a disc in the neck or lumbar area, so it is good to check it out.
I had EB too, and it sucks, if you are fatigued from long work hours, that could also be the culprit,or a combination of both.
Good luck. Let us know what the results are.
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God bless,
Lea
C4-5 noncompressive disc displacement
C5-6 compressive disc displacement
C6-7 broad based disc protrusion encroaching on the anterioposterior aspect of the spinal canal.
DDD
ACDF C6-7 5/13/03 with titanium plate,4 screws, and no collar postop.
As I recall, you were having some myelopathy prior to your surgery. I think it is a good idea to have another MRI. You may have ruptured a disc in the neck or lumbar area, so it is good to check it out.
I had EB too, and it sucks, if you are fatigued from long work hours, that could also be the culprit,or a combination of both.
Good luck. Let us know what the results are.
------------------
God bless,
Lea
C4-5 noncompressive disc displacement
C5-6 compressive disc displacement
C6-7 broad based disc protrusion encroaching on the anterioposterior aspect of the spinal canal.
DDD
ACDF C6-7 5/13/03 with titanium plate,4 screws, and no collar postop.
Renee016
06-06-2003, 10:46 PM
PsychLea - Yes, I was diagnosed with myelopathy after several different tests that all came back negative. My first doctor was very reluctant to diagnose me with myelopathy because he said it was rare with herniated cervical discs but he did not want to send me for an MRI with all the hardware in my back.
All the orthopedists I have seen felt the same way - none of them want to even go there, they didn't want to touch me. One doctor told me the only way to check my lower back would be to go for a myelogram but at the time I wasn't in enough pain to do that!
This started out as mainly weakness with some tingling and mild pain but now the pain has gotten much worse. I had some doctors mention the Epstein-Barr and that it could be a cause but I was not willing to believe that. I know it contributes a lot to the fatigue and maybe the heaviness I feel in my legs but I hear conflicting things about pain. How much can it really cause?
Renee :angel:
All the orthopedists I have seen felt the same way - none of them want to even go there, they didn't want to touch me. One doctor told me the only way to check my lower back would be to go for a myelogram but at the time I wasn't in enough pain to do that!
This started out as mainly weakness with some tingling and mild pain but now the pain has gotten much worse. I had some doctors mention the Epstein-Barr and that it could be a cause but I was not willing to believe that. I know it contributes a lot to the fatigue and maybe the heaviness I feel in my legs but I hear conflicting things about pain. How much can it really cause?
Renee :angel:
Debbie2
06-07-2003, 12:12 AM
Hey Renee, I'm sorry you're back under not to great ofcircumstances, however, recovery due to myelopathy is really different than under normal circumstances. If I remember correctly the time frame is much longer as nerves need to repair. Our Mel and Niki are the experts on myelopathy(not to mention Terri, and a boat load of others)... just not me. But I do know that it is just not in the same ball park recovery wise. I dont think what you are experiencing is all that different from what it should be?!?!?!
The hardware you have (titanium) is MRI safe, so I don't know why the doctors would be skiddish?!?!
Just keep us posted and take care, someone will come along with more of an answer for you...
Good to hear from you none the less. :D
Debbie
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Debbie2
ACDF fusion (c5c6) with titanium plate and screws using donor bone -
September 4, 2002.
The hardware you have (titanium) is MRI safe, so I don't know why the doctors would be skiddish?!?!
Just keep us posted and take care, someone will come along with more of an answer for you...
Good to hear from you none the less. :D
Debbie
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Debbie2
ACDF fusion (c5c6) with titanium plate and screws using donor bone -
September 4, 2002.
Renee016
06-07-2003, 10:25 AM
Hi, Debbie - nice to hear from you again. The hardware I'm talking about is from scoliosis surgery done 20 years ago and it is stainless steel. For the longest time I thought I couldn't have an MRI for safety reasons, now as I understand it, it's because the metal would cause too much distortion.
As far as the myelopathy goes (if that's what I really have), I was told it would take a while and might even be permanent but no-one said anything about it getting worse. And what is it exactly, anyway. Is it just weakness or does it involve pain too?
So confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Renee :angel:
------------------
1982 Fusion surgery for scoliosis with stainless steel Harrington Rod (T5 - L3) using pelvic bone for grafting
1999 Neck problems began
2001 Cervical Kyphosis
2002 Diagnosed with Epstein-Barr (level was 7+) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
2003 3 Herniated Cervical Discs - C4 thru C7. One disc (C5-6) pressing on the spinal cord (no nerve root compression) causing leg weakness, tingling, burning and numbness - diagnosed with myelopathy and ACDF recommended.
2/24/03 One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy with donor bone and titanium plate (C5-6)
As far as the myelopathy goes (if that's what I really have), I was told it would take a while and might even be permanent but no-one said anything about it getting worse. And what is it exactly, anyway. Is it just weakness or does it involve pain too?
So confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Renee :angel:
------------------
1982 Fusion surgery for scoliosis with stainless steel Harrington Rod (T5 - L3) using pelvic bone for grafting
1999 Neck problems began
2001 Cervical Kyphosis
2002 Diagnosed with Epstein-Barr (level was 7+) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
2003 3 Herniated Cervical Discs - C4 thru C7. One disc (C5-6) pressing on the spinal cord (no nerve root compression) causing leg weakness, tingling, burning and numbness - diagnosed with myelopathy and ACDF recommended.
2/24/03 One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy with donor bone and titanium plate (C5-6)