PainInTheNeckJackie
07-28-2003, 12:16 PM
Hi everyone, I am new to all of this...I have been reading these boards for a few weeks now and you all seem so nice and really help each other out. I was in a terrible accident in May and I have two herniated discs in my neck... C5-6 and 6-7 causing foraminal stenosis on the left. I've had therapy since May, a few cortisone injections and an occipital nerve block for the awful headaches. My doctor is mentioning two choices to me, the first being epidural injections or the alternative... SURGERY. All of this scares me, can anyone shed some insight on this for me. I am only 34 years old and I cannot imagine limiting my life at this point, I enjoy aerobics, motor boating and sailing... I cannot do any of this. I am still working full time and cannot handle the pain after a days work... Any suggestions? Thanks so much. JACKIE
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firefighter_101
07-28-2003, 12:23 PM
Welcome Jackie,
I'm not sure, so I'll leave this one to someone else, but I did want to welcome you and I know someone will be along soon to help you.
Good Luck,
Harvey,
I'm not sure, so I'll leave this one to someone else, but I did want to welcome you and I know someone will be along soon to help you.
Good Luck,
Harvey,
AngelicMoon
07-28-2003, 12:24 PM
Welcome Jackie~ :wave:
I found this board last week and it has been a great help to me. Everyone here is SO nice. I had my surgery 4 weeks ago. I am having difficulty with recovery, but each person is different. My pain started in March and it quickly told ahold of me. I had done all the things that was reccomended(pt, etc), but my only option was surgery as I could not live with the pain I was having. Ask alot of questions here!
Much luck to you~ :angel:
I found this board last week and it has been a great help to me. Everyone here is SO nice. I had my surgery 4 weeks ago. I am having difficulty with recovery, but each person is different. My pain started in March and it quickly told ahold of me. I had done all the things that was reccomended(pt, etc), but my only option was surgery as I could not live with the pain I was having. Ask alot of questions here!
Much luck to you~ :angel:
magtize
07-28-2003, 01:38 PM
Hi Jackie
Welcome to the boards. Sorry about your pain. I can only tell you what I have been through but remember everyone is different. I have had the works to (PT,epidorals,Facet blocks) with no relief am now waiting for NS appointment.
Remember one thing research, research,and stick around as I am sure someone will be around that can help you more
Again welcome
Elaine
------------------
car accident 72 S2 fused 76 Surgery 96 c5-6 fused
aug pains in neck started with pain meds. had X-rays MRI Mylagram
c2-3 c3-4 broadbase buldge c6-7 buldge.pinched nerve,arthritis,spinal stenosis.Meds.Celebrex200mg 1 a day Lexapro 10mg 1 day apap/codeine 300mg as needed oxycod/apap 500 mg as needed neurontin 300mg 2 xs a day Massages,PT,PM SO FAR NO RELIEFLost job as have been off work since Sept 02 3 good days since then
Welcome to the boards. Sorry about your pain. I can only tell you what I have been through but remember everyone is different. I have had the works to (PT,epidorals,Facet blocks) with no relief am now waiting for NS appointment.
Remember one thing research, research,and stick around as I am sure someone will be around that can help you more
Again welcome
Elaine
------------------
car accident 72 S2 fused 76 Surgery 96 c5-6 fused
aug pains in neck started with pain meds. had X-rays MRI Mylagram
c2-3 c3-4 broadbase buldge c6-7 buldge.pinched nerve,arthritis,spinal stenosis.Meds.Celebrex200mg 1 a day Lexapro 10mg 1 day apap/codeine 300mg as needed oxycod/apap 500 mg as needed neurontin 300mg 2 xs a day Massages,PT,PM SO FAR NO RELIEFLost job as have been off work since Sept 02 3 good days since then
PainInTheNeckJackie
07-28-2003, 01:47 PM
Thank you all so much for the warm welcome. I hope to find some relief soon. I can tell that these boards will be alot of help because you guys have first hand experience and it is nice to know that we can share those thoughts and stories among each other. Thanks again!
more
07-28-2003, 01:50 PM
Well you have involved the same two discs that I had taken out and fused. I also managed to work but drove home at night in tears because I could not sit any longer. I think it was the best move I made to have the surgery - but I researched it fully before deciding. I am not back to where I was before the surgery - but I have done some dumb things since the surgery that set me back. I can say I am not in as much pain as I was before surgery and am back to doing some things that I was not able to do before the surgery - i.e. walking, bikeriding, exercising.
No one can guarantee you will or will not be able to go back to doing the things you did before your injury or if you will be any better than you are now. What you have to weigh is how you are feeling now and what you can or can not do and if this is how you want to spend the rest of your life.
Good luck with your decision and come back if you want more information.
PS - I tried PT, home traction (twice a day) Acupuncture and triggerpoint injections before going for the surgery. In the beginning the acupuncture worked and held off surgery for two years but after reinjuring the site a second round of acupuncture did not work.
[This message has been edited by more (edited 07-28-2003).]
No one can guarantee you will or will not be able to go back to doing the things you did before your injury or if you will be any better than you are now. What you have to weigh is how you are feeling now and what you can or can not do and if this is how you want to spend the rest of your life.
Good luck with your decision and come back if you want more information.
PS - I tried PT, home traction (twice a day) Acupuncture and triggerpoint injections before going for the surgery. In the beginning the acupuncture worked and held off surgery for two years but after reinjuring the site a second round of acupuncture did not work.
[This message has been edited by more (edited 07-28-2003).]
catgirl
07-28-2003, 01:59 PM
Hi Jackie :wave:
Wow, your story & mine are very similar except you were in a wreck & I was sleeping in bed on vacation.
My disc's are the very same 2 as yours & my pain began May 25th. I have done the PT & have had 2 epidural shots so far. I'm still doing my PT exercises at home & at work I try to take a break often in order to get out of the same position. I also try to do my exercises at work, but I sometimes forget~~~~~~I get so busy.
Yes, I'm limited in my activities & I have a scuba diving trip scheduled for the middle of September, so I'm really hoping to alleviate this pain so I can scuba dive.
Still on pain killers & muscle relaxers & taking it 1 day at a time. I don't do pilates anymore but am still walking on my treadmill every night now rather than when I was doing the every other day routine of treadmill walking/pilates.
Anyway, that's my story, which I thought you might find interesting since both of us are in the same boat with limited activities & the same discs herniated.
Hope you are pain free soon. Cat :)
opps~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~forgot to tell you that as soon as I found out where the pain was coming from I began taking the glucosamine/MSM combination in order to help those discs heal & alleviate some of the pain.
[This message has been edited by catgirl (edited 07-28-2003).]
Wow, your story & mine are very similar except you were in a wreck & I was sleeping in bed on vacation.
My disc's are the very same 2 as yours & my pain began May 25th. I have done the PT & have had 2 epidural shots so far. I'm still doing my PT exercises at home & at work I try to take a break often in order to get out of the same position. I also try to do my exercises at work, but I sometimes forget~~~~~~I get so busy.
Yes, I'm limited in my activities & I have a scuba diving trip scheduled for the middle of September, so I'm really hoping to alleviate this pain so I can scuba dive.
Still on pain killers & muscle relaxers & taking it 1 day at a time. I don't do pilates anymore but am still walking on my treadmill every night now rather than when I was doing the every other day routine of treadmill walking/pilates.
Anyway, that's my story, which I thought you might find interesting since both of us are in the same boat with limited activities & the same discs herniated.
Hope you are pain free soon. Cat :)
opps~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~forgot to tell you that as soon as I found out where the pain was coming from I began taking the glucosamine/MSM combination in order to help those discs heal & alleviate some of the pain.
[This message has been edited by catgirl (edited 07-28-2003).]
PainInTheNeckJackie
07-28-2003, 04:02 PM
glucosamine/MSM combination??? My doctor has never discussed this with me... what is it and how do I go about trying it?
catgirl
07-28-2003, 04:13 PM
Jackie, instead of explaining the whole scenerio read the post "natural alternatives". This will give you all sorts of good information that I and Afnosaid (sp) have mentioned on this subject. As far as where to purchase it~~~~~~~~you can buy it anywhere, from a health food store to a discount store, such as Wallmart. And No, your Dr. would never mention this to you. It's a natural occuring substance that our body is supposed to produce. I'll leave you to read that post. Good Luck, Cat
DebbieMc
07-28-2003, 04:23 PM
Hi Jackie,
I can't really comment on your condition since it was the result of an accident. Mine was degenerative. My decision was made easily when my doctor flat out told me that no matter what, I would eventually have the surgery. He said it was just a matter of how long I wanted to be in pain. That sure put it into perspective for me.
I came to this board about a month before my surgery in a total panic. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from him and I needed someone to talk to. You found the right place. Just start asking him (and us) as many questions as you need to to make a decision. You're in a lot of pain now, if he thinks surgery will help, it's worth a shot isn't it? As far as cervical epidurals, I never had one. From everything I heard about them, they give temporary results at best. But in your case, give it a try. It might work for you. I was in pain for many many years before someone presented surgery as an option for me, and I certainly understand your anxiety about it.
Just try to arm yourself with as much info as you can so you can make the most informed decision possible. And if you have any questions...ask away. Somebody on this board will have an answer because they've been through it.
Good Luck and Welcome Aboard!
DebbieMc
I can't really comment on your condition since it was the result of an accident. Mine was degenerative. My decision was made easily when my doctor flat out told me that no matter what, I would eventually have the surgery. He said it was just a matter of how long I wanted to be in pain. That sure put it into perspective for me.
I came to this board about a month before my surgery in a total panic. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from him and I needed someone to talk to. You found the right place. Just start asking him (and us) as many questions as you need to to make a decision. You're in a lot of pain now, if he thinks surgery will help, it's worth a shot isn't it? As far as cervical epidurals, I never had one. From everything I heard about them, they give temporary results at best. But in your case, give it a try. It might work for you. I was in pain for many many years before someone presented surgery as an option for me, and I certainly understand your anxiety about it.
Just try to arm yourself with as much info as you can so you can make the most informed decision possible. And if you have any questions...ask away. Somebody on this board will have an answer because they've been through it.
Good Luck and Welcome Aboard!
DebbieMc
jdog
07-28-2003, 04:45 PM
Jackie -
I just wanted to tell you that you are in a good state. PA that is. There is a doctor in Pittsburg named Dr. Jho. He specializes in minimally invasive surgeries and from what I read on this and other back boards, he is highly regarded.
I really think that it would be worth your time to set up an appointment with him. Since most of us live out of state, we usually just e-mail and he reviews our films. I'm awaiting a CT result and then will be contacting him. You can search and find his web site. We are not allowed to give out websites directly per rules of the board. But search on Dr. Jho and it should show up.
I wish you the best in your recovery.
jdog
I just wanted to tell you that you are in a good state. PA that is. There is a doctor in Pittsburg named Dr. Jho. He specializes in minimally invasive surgeries and from what I read on this and other back boards, he is highly regarded.
I really think that it would be worth your time to set up an appointment with him. Since most of us live out of state, we usually just e-mail and he reviews our films. I'm awaiting a CT result and then will be contacting him. You can search and find his web site. We are not allowed to give out websites directly per rules of the board. But search on Dr. Jho and it should show up.
I wish you the best in your recovery.
jdog
PainInTheNeckJackie
07-28-2003, 05:05 PM
Thanks so much for all the info... i will begin researching and researching and obviously i will stay in touch with this much needed and appreciated board. Thanks to all of you who made me feel so welcomed. We really aren't alone!