What is definition of symptomatic? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

julyg · 01-31-2008, 06:49 PM

I go to new nurosurgeon tomorrow regarding my nonfusion, I am 15 months post-surgery. One level is fused one is not.

In my office today was an orthopedic surgeon (client) and I showed him my xrays where it states no fusion is seen. My original surgeon pronounced me fused, yet reports says not so.

Anyway this dr in my office says are you symptomatic? If not don't worry about it. If you are it needs to be addressed.
What is definition of symptomatic?

I am not sure how to answer this question tomorrow. The back of my neck often feels like a toothache, a dull ever present pain that stays all day and then goes away for days. Ring fingers get tingly occcasionally, desire to curl and uncurl toes also occassional. Still have problems finding sleeping position, and yikes getting hair done at salon in the wash bowl(super careful).

Also have issues at c4/5 level with narrowing and ostephyte which was not addressed with surgery.

PNo · 01-31-2008, 10:30 PM

Hi, sorry - didn't get back to you, I haven't been on very much this week. What you describe here is not what a surgeon is going to make much of. I don't want to minimize what is important to you, however, you could expect that we are going to have some nuisance things after these surgeries.

I think it is quite normal to have an achy neck for life - that is arthritis, is probably affected by weather even. Remember you also have a fusion and loss of some motion and a plate in there. A little numbness or tingling is also not too off the chart. Tenderness and sleeping positions are also not unusual. Heck, I still have a tender spot on my lumbar from a epidural during the birth of my kid 26 years ago.

With an unfused segment that isn't slipping what they would find interesting is if you are having constant pain levels of radicular pain (shooting, stabbing, that are above pain level 5-6 and above and go up higher with activity). Shocking pain down your spine, neck, blades that is more than random once or twice here and there. Any significant new symptom that wasn't there before. Most likely an unfused segment is going to cause pain symptoms - unless it has slipped and is compressing on your spinal cord or other tissues. Which I think your MRI did say there was good bony alignment - so that is not a problem. Your plate/screws are holding it tight and your other level did fuse - they would call you a success.

If you have left over things at C4/5 that aren't causing symptoms - then I would consider leaving well enough alone, unless the picture changes.

If these symptoms you described are all you have, then consider yourself lucky and just be careful with your neck (don't go riding roller coasters) , you've got your voice back, you went back to your career, enjoy yourself!

julyg · 02-01-2008, 04:44 AM

Thanks so much for the reply. I was losing a lot of sleep, perhaps I should have never looked at the Drs. notes. I'll let you know what dr says, appt already set for this am.

julyg · 02-01-2008, 09:16 AM

Hi Neck Patient

Just back from new NS He showed me my previous xray and am NOT fused as test results indicated.

Said pretty much what you did (Are you sure about your lack of medical degree

) In addition I have real range of movement limitations and wants me back to physical therapy And NO chiro (which I wouldn't anyway). In addition I am not to lift anything heavy.

He said DDD C4-5 needs to be rechecked in 6 months I have slight kyphosis and said I could be looking at surgery at that level in the future.

I wish original surgeon had told me truth about the the fusion and had done the 3 levels to begin with.

Again thanks for your time and wisdom.

July

PNo · 02-01-2008, 10:58 PM

I am glad you had a good appointment with decent news for once! Boy that old saying "until you walk a mile in those shoes" is so true with spinal conditions. Thank you for your kind words, I am just like everyone else here. I am not in the medical profession at all, I have been a spinal patient for 4 years . Unfortunately, I have a case that has multiple problems making it necessary for me try to learn about how it all works. I like to research medical journals and books, and have very good doctors that take the time to explain the answer to any question I ask them.

I don't like to generalize but surgeons are a unique kind of animal and they have significant training. They typically don't like us asking too many questions or question their decisions, and when they withhold information they probably think it is in our best interest. I think your doctor should have told you that you were not fused at the one level, you could have done something stupid and put yourself in more dangerous situations that could have been avoided. Now that you know, do take care, but try to relax a bit !!!!

I hope you stay around here - even though it's time for you to stop focusing on your neck for your own mental health.