Chest Pains Right Arm Pains :cant Bend Forward - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

mthu2189 · 08-27-2006, 10:38 PM

Hi there anyone & everyone,
To cut a long story short, l had a ACDF in March 06 for a c5/c6 disc prolapse, apparently it actually sheared off in 2 sections!! so the neuro says, all the associated symptoms have resolved in the left arm

thats the good news.

Now in my right arm, l have streaking pain, top muscle in my right arm, my chest pains are definately getting worse (not my heart had a ECG) and my neck is killing me all the time. The pain radiates down my neck, between my shoulder blades, under the shoulder blades sticks into the chest right in the middle, and streaks pain into my right arm. All this happens on my flextion or extention of my neck, and l mean even moving it forward like 2cms!! let alone putting shoes etc...why is it everything you do involves looking down or bending forwards in life

I also still get the lump in the throat from the fusion, and that has been some time ago now, the neuro says

no no!! shouldn't have that anymore! well l gotta tell ya, everytime without fail, l bend forwards, pick something up, sit down or even read the paper ( not that easy with a sore neck) all of the above symptoms happen. I have had ct scans l had a myelogram ( note to self: don't ever do that again) and now becasue of the heart pains i have had had a thoracic ct scan and still nothing shows!!

My question is this, with the ACDF i had my neurosurgeon in Australia here, removed the disk, drilled a hole into the c5/c6 vertabrae screwed in some metal bolt with holes in it, that were filled with the shavings of the vertabrae, but did not put the plate and screws in to stabilize the 2, so could all of this be due to that? That it is not stable? Because l don't believe that l could feel so much pain and discomfort for no apparent reason!!

Does anyone out there have any info that you can share with me? I really am at my witts end, this pain is stemming form february this year and its not welcome!!

Thank you all in advance

Monica

mamakitkat · 08-27-2006, 10:59 PM

Hi,
I'm so sorry your in such pain, It does not make much sense when the tests show everyting is ok but your in such pain. I have lumbar fusion from L4-S1 so I'm not experienced in the cervical area, but I do know I had my first fusion fail and it was unstable with the rods, screws & cages in place. Because the fusion never grew solid bone there was enough play in the hardware to cause 2 of the screws to be so loose they could be wiggled. Every time I moved they moved while still in the bone, OUCH!!!

. nothing showed up on any test, he had to go in to to see it.

Have you been told that the surgery has failed?, your not really that far post op to be pain free, at least not from what I have learned so far. But your doc should have evidence of a fusion starting by now. Oh by the way, I totally agree with you on that mylogram, I had mine 3 days after my first fusion was done

told my doc he could another one after I stop breathing and not before, lol.

I do hope you find answers soon, sorry I couldn't help much but I hope I helped a lil.

God Bless & Good Luck

Carol

mthu2189 · 08-27-2006, 11:11 PM

hi carol
thanks so much for spending time to answer my whyning! Well the last time l saw my neuro he said that l should be out WATER SKIING by now!!! he had a look at the xrays re: the fusion and said there was bone growth there, but was really non commital other than that, saying maybe there is instability?. He did say tht maybe he needed to go back in and have a look to see, but l don't know whether giving him a 2nd go is the right thing to do???.. Hmmm something to ponder on l suppose :} whilst l can't do anything !lol

Hey, Carol did you have sucess after they went in again with you? did the fusion take the second time?what pains did you have to notify them that the fusion wans't sucessfull? how long ago would that have been for you? How are you feeling now?
monica

SpineAZ · 08-28-2006, 05:31 PM

Monica:

If the symptoms continue perhaps you can get a referral to a doctor who can more completely evaluate your esophagus (maybe even with a scope down the throat) to see if there's any damage, scar tissue, or even acid reflux damage (which is common and may be coincidental). Just a few thoughts.

Karin
C5-C7 ACDF 5/18/06

PNo · 08-28-2006, 05:43 PM

Hello - if doc isn't clear with you I always say get a 2nd opinion. get a copy of your current xrays - they can see the fusion from that and if there is a problem. Even with careful planning and execution you can still have problems. I personally don't think it has anything to do with plate or no plate unless you have a failed fusion - that should be visible from an xray. Get a flexion xray that shows movement.

I have had 2 acdfs with plates and my fusions are fine, and i still have all the symptoms you describe (arm, radiating pain, top muscle in my right arm, blades and chest pains) -thank my stars no long term swallowing or lump in throat stuff.

Oh and thanks, I may need a myleogram and now you guys have scared the *(&@ out of me. Have you had an EMG and is it worse than that?