2 SURGERIES, MORE PAIN HELP!!! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

NYFUSED · 09-11-2003, 08:37 PM

HI ALL,
HAVEN'T POSTED IN A WHILE DUE TO PAIN. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME I WILL BRIEF YOU. I HAD AN ACDF C5-6-7 IN OCT. 2002. AFTER SURGERY I HAD 1 WEEK OF NO PAIN. NS FOR MONTHS KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS HEALING PAIN. WENT TO ANOTHER NS AND WAS SENT FOR A MRI, CAT SCAN & MYELOGRAM. MYELOGRAM REVEALED SPINAL STENOSIS WITH HERNIATION AT C4-5 AND C5-6 BONE SPUR ALSO WITH STENOSIS. I HAD A POSTERIOR LAMINECTOMY & FORAMINOTOMY ON JUNE 4, 2003. 2 WEEKS PAIN FREE . ON JULY 4, 2003 I WAS RE-ADMITTED FOR A STAPH INFECTION. CAME HOME ON 7/9/2003. I AM AGAIN IN FULL BLOWN PAIN. FOR THE PAST 9 DAYS I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE HEADACHE THAT STARTS IN MY NECK AND WORKS ITS WAY UP TO THE TOP OF MY HEAD INTO MY EYES. THE NECK PAIN IS UNBEARABLE. I AM TAKING OXYCODONE AND VALIUM AND IT IS NOT WORKING. I CALLED MY NS AND AM SEEING HIM ON MONDAY. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVICE ON WHAT THIS MIGHT BE???? I WAS TOLD BY MY NS THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENTIRE SPUR OUT DUE TO ITS SIZE AND LOCATION NEAR MY SPINAL CORD. I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD FEEL WOULD HELP. THANK YOU ALL, AND MY PRAYERS ARE OUT FOR GLENDA. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

LORI

Sprytle · 09-11-2003, 09:07 PM

Lori -

I'm so sorry that there was not permanent relief from the posterior surgery. I hope that they are going to do another CT/MRI to see exactly what is pressing where. I also have some bone spurs after an ACDF that has not completely fused after a year. My new NS has asked me to hold on for 6 months to see if I fuse any more. He said he will repeat my Anterior procedure, get as much of the spurs out as he can, and the put in some smaller plates.

Please keep in touch.

Sprytle

PsychLea · 09-12-2003, 10:42 PM

lori,

I am so sorry you are going through this. As if you haven't been through enough

I also developed spurs after my ACDF. I also have the terrible cervical headaches. Your description of your headaches sound alot like mine.

I am going to a new PM next week and hope to get some relief. Even though I have an obvious spur and herniated disc at C5-6, the consensus of the docs I have seen is no more surgery. I am tending to agree with that right now.

My BIL returned to work 3 weeks after his posterior surgery and is in very little pain. I don't get it. I am 4 months postop and in just as much pain as before.

Hang in there kiddo. At least your doctors are working on finding the problem. For me, I think pain management is going to be the best avenue right now.

------------------
God bless,

Lea

C4-5 noncompressive disc displacement
C5-6 compressive disc displacement
C6-7 broad based disc protrusion encroaching on the anterioposterior aspect of the spinal canal.
DDD
ACDF C6-7 5/13/03 with titanium plate,4 screws, and no collar postop.
New MRI 8/25/03
C5-6 posterior annular bulge, now with spurring,canal stenosis, and foraminal stenosis

Magnum4x · 09-12-2003, 11:38 PM

Dear Lori, I know you are in alot of pain and feel hopeless sometimes (as I do). It seems like pain has taken over our lives. I read alot of peoples posts and they are mostly not to good it seems. I notice people say may God Bless You and things like that and they will pray for you also.Well I have always belived in God and I know this is more of a scientific forum but Im at my last wits. So, with alll the time I have laying around I think about God and things like where we came from ect. Im believeing God will heal me or put me in the hands of a doctor that can. I seriously am going to pray that God will heal you or put you in the hands of a healing doctor that can get to the root of your problem. Please dont think Im some Jesus freak or a religous person but you better belive that when people like us get in bad shape I think we do a little soul searching. Ok keep us posted. As you can see Im still a newbie but I love this forum. Magnum

[This message has been edited by Magnum4x (edited 09-13-2003).]