just burning now - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

BlueBelle · 01-09-2003, 10:24 AM

Hello,

I just found this site, wish I would have found it when all this first started. Wouldn't have wasted so much of my painful time with clueless doctors.

Briefly, I have gone through all the pain, numbness, tingling. Physical therapy, epidural shots (5 over the summer) then was told I need surgery. Had to put the surgery off for very good reason. Now the pain has subsided to burning in my elbow and shoulder area. My question is, should I still have the surgery? If I don't can I do damage to my nerves?

In my head, I know I should still have the surgery, I'm tired of living this way. But I also have fibro and I am used to living in pain. Now I have been told I have low IGG. Not sure about that or what that even means.

Anyway, has anybody had the surgery after the main pain is gone and just left with burning?

So confused.

SherryElaine · 01-14-2003, 10:05 AM

I would like to know the answer to that question too. I was also in severe pain and did PT and refused the injections and I was told I needed surgery for C5/6 but I also put off my surgery for reasons "long story" My pain is less now but have some numbness in thumb and arm muscles jump alot but I don't have constsnt high pain but always have some sort of pain but lower level. Do I still need surgery? Is it dangerous to stay this way and live with it? Anyone have the surgery and regret it?

Niki47 · 01-14-2003, 02:32 PM

Hi there,

This may not be the answer you want, but I too had bad pain I lived with for years. During a relatively pain free spell, I became crippled. Had to have more of an emergency surgery. The most serious spinal cord problems have no to low level pain.

The less pain I had, the more wierd cramping, twitches and numbness I did have.

My problems were cervical, and the prognosis is alot worse since it was left to go for so long.

Trust your instincts and your doctors, and do not rely on pain as the determining factor.

Hope this helps.

Niki47

SherryElaine · 01-14-2003, 04:52 PM

Thanks Niki47 for the reply. How are you doing now? What kind of surgery did you have in the cervical? I've been in pain for 18 months, MRI showed herniated disc and bone spurs pinching nerve in one level only and no cord compression. I just saw a new doc last week for another opinion and he took x-rays and said I almost have bone rubbing bone and it was up to me if I want to have new MRI and surgery or live with the pain. He said surgery would reguire going thur the throat and removing disc and spurs and implant donor bone and plate and screws and one night stay in hospital. He made it sound so simply and easy.... What you said about less pain and more muscle cramps and twitching is when you had more damage has got me worried cause that is where I am at now. I wonder why the doc never mentioned that to me? They also did a EMG test and said I had no nerve damage yet. So confusing to me. I supose I am never going to heal after 18 months and need to just get my courage up and go for surgery......

lmotivans · 01-14-2003, 09:12 PM

Hi Sherry,

I'm 9 months post from ACDF, they went thru the front of the throat, removed 2 herniated disks at levels C5/C6 and C6/C7, implanted donor bone and fused everthing with a titanium plate and 6 screws. I was only in the hospital overnight and out of work for 2 weeks. I have an office job. The surgery is not that bad, the first day or so is a little uncomforatble and your throat is a little sore. You can go back and look up my early posts and see my progress.

I was in pain for over six months before I had surgery. After surgery the pain went away. It will take time to build your muscles back.

If you decide on the surgery, I wish you lots luck.
Regards,
Leo

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 01-16-2003).]