Neurologist appt. - Neurology Message Board

IdahoBlonde · 10-24-2003, 08:42 AM

Feeling a little better about things! After my experience with the orthopedic surgeon last monday and the replies to my first post I went ahead and made an appt. with a neurogsurgeon. Will be seeing him monday. He has already seen my test results and without even seeing him he already seems more interested in my problems then the last Dr.

On a separate note, I have been noticing a lot more neuro deficits including clumsiness. I have a job where I am in front of a computer all day and it requires alot of keying. My fingers don't want to move the way that I am telling them to move. Kinda of scary to me! This is one of the reasons that I am really considering surgery. I'm afraid of the permanent damage that may occur. Anyone know of anything that can relieve some of the nerve pain that I am having? I have severe pain in my shoulder blades and an electrical feeling that travels down the back of my arms. There doesn't seem to be any position that I can get into that helps relieve the arm pain. I am currently taking Hydrocodone but that doesn't seem to help much. Willing to listen to any suggestions that you might have. Will update after my appt. on monday.

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Broad based right sided disk herniation with bulging and ridging at C4-5 with encroachment on the right C5 nerve root.
Bulging and ridging at C5-6with foraminal narrowing
Bulging and ridging at C6-7 with foraminal narrowing

CLJones64 · 10-26-2003, 02:10 PM

Hi IdahoBlond,
Glad to hear you got an appt with a neurosurgeon. I feel much more confidant with a NS when they're messing with your spine.

I just felt the need to write you and share my experiences to date. I, too, was diagnosed with bulging at the C5/C6, and C6/C7 level. I had a cervical steroid injection 2 weeks ago and it didn't help my shoulder blade or arm pain. My pain is exactly as you describe...running down the back of my upper arm to my elbow, and I, too, couldn't get any relief from it. So, I went back to my neurologist Thursday, and after examination, and explainations of how I felt, he referred back to the MRI report. Come to find out, the T1/T2 is the culprit. There is herniation, with obvious nerve root compression and foraminal narrowing. Now I'm scheduled for a thoracic steroid injection on Nov 7th, to see if that will help. If not, then the next step is a consult with a surgeon. (hoping the shot works and I don't have to face surgery!)

Anyway, in the meantime, my neuro put me on Neurontin to help with the pain, and I'm pleased to tell you that it's working! I'm taking 600mgs at night before bed, but started at 300 mgs the first of this week, which didn't do anything. Don't get me wrong, I still have a twinge in my shoulder blade and the occassional jolt down my arm, but nothing compared to the constant, unrelenting pain I was in. Maybe you should ask the neurologist about it when you see him tomorrow...and make sure they've checked the T1/T2 area, too.

I wish you the best, and I'll be looking for your post after you see him.

Carla

IdahoBlonde · 10-26-2003, 02:50 PM

Thanks for your response. I was beginning to think no one was going to respond! Glad to hear that someone else understands the specific pain problems that I have been having. Let me ask you, does the neurontin cause any side effects? I am currently taking hydrocodone for the pain but it doesn't seem to help much and it makes me pretty spacey. Besides i've heard that it's rather addictive. Don't need that on top of the other problems.
Looking forward to my appt. tommorrow. Anxious to get another dr's opionion. I, on the other hand, am ready for surgery. I have been going through this for over 3 years now and it's getting really old. I don't want to have to be going in for cortizone shots and pain treatments all the time. I can't imagine living the rest of my life like that. I'm only 38 right now but I feel like i'm 80.
I will post after my appt. and let you know how it went. Hope things go well with you and your problems. I hear that thoracic herniations are quite rare. Let me know.....

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Broad based right sided disk herniation with bulging and ridging at C4-5 with encroachment on the right C5 nerve root.
Bulging and ridging at C5-6with foraminal narrowing
Bulging and ridging at C6-7 with foraminal narrowing

PsychLea · 10-27-2003, 08:31 AM

Idaho,

Hope your appt goes well. I had similiar problems with the arm pain, still do, even after surgery. In my case the steroids didn't help,especially when there is obvious structural changes to the spine and the discs hitting the nerves.

I am going today to have another epi, now that my disc is removed. My PM said it should help this time. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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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.
New MRI 8/25/03
C5-6 posterior annular bulge, now with spurring,canal stenosis, and foraminal stenosis

IdahoBlonde · 10-28-2003, 08:51 AM

Had appt. with neurosurgeon yesterday. Still completely frustrated! He could not give me a straight answer as the whether or not he would want to do surgery. Wants me to get new x-rays that show flexion and extension to make the decision. He said that if the x-rays do show that my neck is over-extending then we will do surgery, but if not then I am not a good candidate.
I am wondering if anyone knows what makes a good candidate for surgery and what doesn't. I have seen many people on here with problems similar too and less then mine that have had surgery with great success. I am starting to feel like I am going crazy with the pain! I never have any relief. I walk around all drugged up to dull the pain but it never goes away completely. My life is nothing like it used to be. I don't do anything anymore either because of the pain or because I am so depressed about my situation. What if you want surgery? I have tried all of the conservative routes and have dealt with this for 3 years. I don't think anything else short of a miracle is going to help me. How can I get a dr. to listen to me instead of trying to send me through the same hoops i've already been thru? Help!!!!!!!!!!!

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Broad based right sided disk herniation with bulging and ridging at C4-5 with encroachment on the right C5 nerve root.
Bulging and ridging at C5-6with foraminal narrowing
Bulging and ridging at C6-7 with foraminal narrowing