DonnaKay
10-29-2003, 02:10 AM
I am new here ... all of you seem so friendly and welcoming, so I feel free to ask questions. :) Thank you in advance for your replies.
I had a fusion (my own hip bone) at C5-6 in 1997. It was an 8mm herniation, and the surgery lasted 4 hours after they had to bring in some kind of special machine to retrieve parts of my disk from my spine. I recovered well ... no complaints on my part.
Last week, I found out I have herniations at C4-5 (3-4 mm) and C6-7 (2mm). I have a very weak right arm, for example it's hard to brush my hair, my teeth (seems uncoordinated), and can't put the car in gear or reach.
My MRI films are at my NS's office waiting to be evaluated, I was hoping today would be the day to get the phone call as to what I am looking at in terms of what the method of treatment will be. I assumed surgery, but then someone mentioned steroid shots? Will this take care of the arm weakness?
My other question concerns whether herniations above/below fusions are common? Have any of you experienced this?
I was in a hard collar for 8 weeks post-op before being allowed to go back to work. I just read where one of you (I'm sorry I can't remember who) had surgery last Friday and is back at work half days already? This seems unbelieveable to me! Has the recovery time decreased so much, or is this a remarkable recovery?
Another question (thanks for reading) - how big were the herniations that you had surgery for? I'm wondering if a 3-4 mm herniation is even considered for surgery. There is spinal cord involvement. Does that make a difference?
You guys may be laughing at all my questions ... I was going to wait to post until after I heard from my NS, but I don't know when that will be. I am also on drugs ... Hydrocodone, Carisoprodol (sp?), and the steroid pack ... so feeling kinda spacey, but happy to have the drugs for the pain!
Thanks again for your input!
Donna
I had a fusion (my own hip bone) at C5-6 in 1997. It was an 8mm herniation, and the surgery lasted 4 hours after they had to bring in some kind of special machine to retrieve parts of my disk from my spine. I recovered well ... no complaints on my part.
Last week, I found out I have herniations at C4-5 (3-4 mm) and C6-7 (2mm). I have a very weak right arm, for example it's hard to brush my hair, my teeth (seems uncoordinated), and can't put the car in gear or reach.
My MRI films are at my NS's office waiting to be evaluated, I was hoping today would be the day to get the phone call as to what I am looking at in terms of what the method of treatment will be. I assumed surgery, but then someone mentioned steroid shots? Will this take care of the arm weakness?
My other question concerns whether herniations above/below fusions are common? Have any of you experienced this?
I was in a hard collar for 8 weeks post-op before being allowed to go back to work. I just read where one of you (I'm sorry I can't remember who) had surgery last Friday and is back at work half days already? This seems unbelieveable to me! Has the recovery time decreased so much, or is this a remarkable recovery?
Another question (thanks for reading) - how big were the herniations that you had surgery for? I'm wondering if a 3-4 mm herniation is even considered for surgery. There is spinal cord involvement. Does that make a difference?
You guys may be laughing at all my questions ... I was going to wait to post until after I heard from my NS, but I don't know when that will be. I am also on drugs ... Hydrocodone, Carisoprodol (sp?), and the steroid pack ... so feeling kinda spacey, but happy to have the drugs for the pain!
Thanks again for your input!
Donna
Sponsor
nero
10-29-2003, 02:46 AM
Hi Donna,
I have c5-6 herniation that sequestered (broke apart) and pieces are compressed against my spinal chord and fragments moved up the spinal cord to next vertebrae level. I also have c6-7 bulging and was told and read that herniations at c5-6 often when fused often bulge above or below and common to have to reattend 2-5 years laters.
Even a pain clinic dr. retired anathesiologist told me he saw plenty of redone surgeries and that my first surgeon who did not think double fusion was warranted was incorrect.
Now i am booked nov 10 for ACDF with autograft and asked my surgeon about double fusion and he is to let me know. Its very common to have this happen and pre-existing bulges will generally herniate after fusion specifically at that level.
Money is to be made if theY do each separate and its hard to get a surgeon to do both unless you're really lucky. My first surgeon was quite snippy i dared bring it up and said we don't just go in there and look around..when i said i give my permission todo both if necessary... everybody's answer seems based on economics.
good luck NERO
I have c5-6 herniation that sequestered (broke apart) and pieces are compressed against my spinal chord and fragments moved up the spinal cord to next vertebrae level. I also have c6-7 bulging and was told and read that herniations at c5-6 often when fused often bulge above or below and common to have to reattend 2-5 years laters.
Even a pain clinic dr. retired anathesiologist told me he saw plenty of redone surgeries and that my first surgeon who did not think double fusion was warranted was incorrect.
Now i am booked nov 10 for ACDF with autograft and asked my surgeon about double fusion and he is to let me know. Its very common to have this happen and pre-existing bulges will generally herniate after fusion specifically at that level.
Money is to be made if theY do each separate and its hard to get a surgeon to do both unless you're really lucky. My first surgeon was quite snippy i dared bring it up and said we don't just go in there and look around..when i said i give my permission todo both if necessary... everybody's answer seems based on economics.
good luck NERO
kcin
10-29-2003, 09:38 AM
I am the one that has had the great recovery so far. I can't recall if I mentioned in my post but I do work from the home mostly (and am self-employed) so that makes it easier and more urgent for me to get back to work than others. My disc was herniated to the point of spinal cord involvement but they never told me specifically how many mms. I also have problems above and below the fusion so one of these days I will probably be back. I asked the doc on Monday about it and he said it is the million dollar question. It seems to me that they just fix things as they break instead of trying to anticipate a problem.
Deb F
10-29-2003, 01:44 PM
Hi-
New here too. Herniation at C6-7 post MVA.
At my 1st appt w/ NS he said that it was likely that if I had surgery, I would have problems in the future above the surgical site. (He didn't mention below ?)
So sorry to read of your problems. Deb F.
New here too. Herniation at C6-7 post MVA.
At my 1st appt w/ NS he said that it was likely that if I had surgery, I would have problems in the future above the surgical site. (He didn't mention below ?)
So sorry to read of your problems. Deb F.
Beeyes
10-29-2003, 02:50 PM
I asked my neuro that question..He said he has only had a handful return for that reason. He said those people would have had problems with their discs with or without prior ACDF. It pretty much depends on the person. If you have bad discs, they will go bad with or without surgeries. If its an injury type thing that happened from outside circumstances, there should be no increased risk..I plan on taking things much easier on my neck in the future, regardless. I dont want to do this again!! My driving habits have changes so much since my ACDF. I slow down for traffic lights 1/2 mile in advance to lower my chance of getting rear ended. Let the tailgators pass me! I dont care. I actually witnessed a horrible rear ender this morning, just 3 cars ahead of me! I was in shock for about an hour...scary!!
Brett
Brett
Beeyes
10-29-2003, 02:58 PM
BTW..
I am now 26 days post op ACDF c4/5/6. Back to normal work week. I have been driving since Friday. I can take my Aspen collar off 9 hours today! Just 1 more week until I am out of it all day and night! I cant wait to go to sleep without it, it really is hot to sleep in. I am used to the feel of it on my neck, though.
Also, I have seen posts regarding caffeine use and fusion. Both of my surgeons said no problem. No studies have linked problems...Whew...I tried dropping my morning coffee out of my day and the head aches were unbearable!
Brett
I am now 26 days post op ACDF c4/5/6. Back to normal work week. I have been driving since Friday. I can take my Aspen collar off 9 hours today! Just 1 more week until I am out of it all day and night! I cant wait to go to sleep without it, it really is hot to sleep in. I am used to the feel of it on my neck, though.
Also, I have seen posts regarding caffeine use and fusion. Both of my surgeons said no problem. No studies have linked problems...Whew...I tried dropping my morning coffee out of my day and the head aches were unbearable!
Brett
DonnaKay
10-29-2003, 05:38 PM
Brett (and others) -
Thanks for all the replies!
I wanted to say I understand about how your driving habits have changed since surgery and totally understand how witnessing that rear-ender must have affected you! I am a fairly short person (5'3") and try to sit as far away from my steering wheel as possible b/c I'm deathly afraid of the airbag. Any airbag. I never tailgate anyone. The very first outing I had without my neckbrace (in 1997) we were sitting at a stop sign and were rear ended (very lightly) by a big monster truck - the kind that plays in the mud - and it knocked out our Tahoe's back window and did very little other damage. But, it was the SHOCK of "what if" that lasted so much longer. You're right ... SCARY!
Congrats on being back in the workforce 26 days post op. I heard from my NS office today ... they are trying to work me in as soon as possible. I should know something soon.
Thanks again for all the replies.
Donna
Thanks for all the replies!
I wanted to say I understand about how your driving habits have changed since surgery and totally understand how witnessing that rear-ender must have affected you! I am a fairly short person (5'3") and try to sit as far away from my steering wheel as possible b/c I'm deathly afraid of the airbag. Any airbag. I never tailgate anyone. The very first outing I had without my neckbrace (in 1997) we were sitting at a stop sign and were rear ended (very lightly) by a big monster truck - the kind that plays in the mud - and it knocked out our Tahoe's back window and did very little other damage. But, it was the SHOCK of "what if" that lasted so much longer. You're right ... SCARY!
Congrats on being back in the workforce 26 days post op. I heard from my NS office today ... they are trying to work me in as soon as possible. I should know something soon.
Thanks again for all the replies.
Donna