What about my aching spine? Please help! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

nabrown · 04-02-2005, 07:44 PM

Hey fellow pain sufferers,

I got an MRI after one more year of hurting worse with ddd and a herniated disc and the pain dr. is going to give me a cervical epidural within a month (gave me a series of 3 for the first time in Nov/Dec - it took me mos. to find this guy, and I wasn't diagnosed for a long time - migraine headaches was my only symptom!) Anyway, I asked him, "So after this shot, what do we step up to next? He said, " Your next step is surgery." I have cervical radiculopaty, and the MRI only shows narrowing of the nerves as they exit the vertebral column - the disc is putting pressure there and it is abutting against the spinal column. WHAT IS THAT SURGERY LIKE? IS IT USUALLY A SUCCESSFUL ONE? WHAT DO THEY DO? WHAT IS IT CALLED ON THE INTERNET? I have a great neurosurgeon chosen and have seen, but he is not knife happy, so I will have to be in severe pain before I get relief, and I hate taking pain pills. Right now my pain dr. also has me trying vitamins and supplements too.
PLEASE HELP WITH IDEAS: I am in therapy, I do home traction on the floor, home exercises, and try to use proper posture and positional therapy for lesser pain. Gotta go. It is killing me know. Thanks, Nan

flyonthewall · 04-03-2005, 06:25 AM

Can you get a referral to an orthopedic spine specialist? A neurosurgeon told me I wasn't in enough pain. He also said he didn't know/couldn't do anything about the tingling/numbness in my legs. The OSS who had a spine fellowship didn't hesitate to go in and fix me.
fly

Cindee 2 · 04-03-2005, 10:26 AM

First of all did the first set of shots help? I had these done and got about 2 days relief each time. My OSS felt is was not enough and told me I could try the shots again in 6 months, but didn't think they would help much more than the first time. He also suggested surgery ACDF. I plan on scheduleing this in July so I can go home to visit this summer. (only get to see family once a year) Here is a website that will help you understand what this surgery is [ please do not post commercial websites ]

Cindee

karen34 · 04-06-2005, 07:53 PM

well i had the shots done and have had no relieve from it..actually had more pain then before...even had my Dr who administered the epidurals tell me that what i was feeling afterwards was odd and that the shots should have helped..i have seen an orthopedic dr and well he said there was nuthing he could do for me because he didnt feel that my injuries needed surgery... i guess maybe i amnot on the right track with these doctors.. i have a C5-C6 T5 T6 and T7 T8 herination.. T7 T8 have flattened the spinal cord but im guessing from the docs side that that isnt a serious enuff injury to operate on...

flyonthewall · 04-07-2005, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karen34

... i guess maybe i amnot on the right track with these doctors.. i have a C5-C6 T5 T6 and T7 T8 herination.. T7 T8 have flattened the spinal cord but im guessing from the docs side that that isnt a serious enuff injury to operate on...

Have you seen a fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeon? Check out spine.org.
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