ACDF for neck pain and migraines? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

KeithEugeneW · 06-03-2003, 10:23 AM

The advice I've gotten from surgeons so far is that surgery only to alleviate headaches and neck pain can be disappointing as far as results, whereas surgery to relieve the numbness and tingling symptoms in the shoulders, arms, fingers, etc (i.e. myelopathy and/or radiculopathy) seems to be more successful. I don't know whether that is just the opinion of a couple of surgeons or the general consensus. I would be intersted in hearing from anyone who has had ACDF surgery primarily to relieve neck pain and migraines and to hear how successful they were in their results.
Keith

Memer · 06-03-2003, 11:35 AM

Hi Keith,

I had surgery to get rid of the cord compression and pain. I did have headaches (not migraines) before the surgery and also neck pain, arm pain, and tingling. No numbness before surgery. At three months postop, I still have a lot of neck pain and arm pain. The only things gone are the tingling and shooting pains down my arms. I now have numbness in a few spots. My neck and arm a lot of times hurt worse than before surgery. I have only had one sleep headache since surgery.

[This message has been edited by Memer (edited 08-05-2003).]

KeithEugeneW · 06-05-2003, 10:59 AM

That's kind of what I'm afraid of, that if I ever do end up having the surgery, the pain that I feel in my neck and shoulder may not be helped, and I would really be disappointed. I don't seem to have a whole lot of the tingling in my hand and arm that much any more. It's more like the right arm feels like it's been filled up with lead. I still have quite a bit of strength in the bicep, but the tricep is weaker. When I try to push something sideways, it really shows (and hurts!). My left arm used to be about 20% weaker than my right because I'm right handed. Now I can push things sideways with my left arm pretty well, but trying it with the right arm I can barely move the same object. I can pick it up and carry it, as long as I don't have to pick it up past my chest. I got frustrated the other night because I need to put a limestone sidewalk in for our house. I have an old foundation full of limestone where an old farm house was half a century ago, and I figured if I did just a couple stones at a time, maybe I coul pull this thing off. I took my tractor with the bucket over as close as I could get it, and got down into the foundation and grabbed one stone at a time, and brought 3 of them out, one at a time and put them into the bucket. They each weighted about 80-100 lbs. That went pretty well (relatively speaking), so I did it twice more. Nobody ever accused me of being too bright, and so here I am 2 days later, still paying for it. I woke up the last 2 nights with jolts going through my shoulders and down my arms (both of them this time). Looks like time to bite the bullet and check my ego for a while, and hire some help. Never thought I'd see the day I couldn't handle a simple job like this! It's just a bit frustrating and a whole lot humbling!
Keith

melanie dawn · 06-05-2003, 11:16 AM

Keith,
ah that superman ability, I can do anything has to go. I am sorry to hear about the flare up in symptoms, and also is this flare up different ? If it has any change in symptoms or increase of same, notify your DR. You have to remember that you can increase the amount of injury, not just the symptoms.
I too suffer from the I can do it, and sometimes I know I cant , but I get sick and tired of the limitations and do it anyway. Of course the outcome of this is always paid for, in triplicate sometimes.
Please take it easy on youself, and I hope your flare up abates ASAP.
Did you ever go and get a second opinion?Or third? It sounds like you have more symptoms than just headaches, loss of strength and increasing pain can certainly be corrected in many cases.
Take care, look forward to hearing from you soon
Mel

KeithEugeneW · 06-05-2003, 04:57 PM

Hi Mel,

Yeah, it really stinks having to admit to myself that I can't do some of the things my mind still says I should be able to do. I can visualize myself doing these things, and then when I get the urge to go for it the body just says, "Whoa there, hold up bozo, before you hurt me again!" I see the new pain mgmt doc tomorrow and then my regular doc next week to get a referral for the 2nd opinion. I get another MRI again in September at my surgeon's regularly scheduled 6-month checkup to monitor what's going on in there. I think he was right in that C5-6 & 6-7 have degenerated to the point where they can't protrude any further into the canal and cause any increase in horizontal movement toward the back of the spinal canal. That's my biggest concern, watching for any spinal cord compression. Right now it is pushing the cord to the back of the canal, but not compressing it. I see the surgeon again next Thursday, though, to discuss my shoulder problems, and to get his opinion on whether there might be something wrong with it other than it being nerve related due to my neck problem. Maybe they have a cortisone shot for that too, who knows. It's always good to hear from you! Take care!

Keith