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Guest
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 Posted: 06/19/08 - 20:57 Post subject: Still having problems 3 month later |
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| I had surgery March 10th (c6-c7). 3 weeks after the surgery I felt great. The surgeon told me to remove the collar. I waited until the 4 week mark. At 5 weeks all of the problems I was having before came back. Both of my feet turn colors, are real cold, and ache all of the time. My lower legs tingle like they are asleep and are real weak. My right arm gets cold and I have lost some funtion of my hand. I am unable to drive because after sitting for 30 minutes I lose feeling in my feet. My right side of my face is tingly and I had to get glasses because my right eye is now 5 times weaker than my left. They have checked me for every other disorder possible and they have no answers. I am 34 years old and I have been told that this may never get any better! I am not going to give up though. I am still doing as much as I can. If this is going to get worse, I want to make sure I spend as much of my free time as I can with my kids. For right now, I will ddeal with the pain, but I hope things turn around soon. I would say I am at least twice as bad as I was before the surgery, but I didn't have a choice. My spinal cord was compressed. I really think I would have been better off if I would have left the collar on for a few more weeks. Good luck to all! |
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dolphinblu
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| Posted: 07/03/08 - 01:36 Post subject: |
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hi all im 44 female,well its 5 weeks since i had my ACDF surgery,i had 2disc removed and 2 put in,titanium plate and 6 screws,im going good,all the deep pain in my left is gone,im still having trouble swalling cant lay flat or straight on my sides makes me feel like im choking,still drinking with a straw cant tilt my head back,cant look over my shoulders yet,still server pain in back of my neck up to base of skull,bad headaches, but i also had injury in my shoulder blades so i cant lift or carry heavy things yet cause it pulls to much on my shoulders,had MRI showed that the op went well,,now is time to start physio an get some strength back,  |
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dolphinblu
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| Posted: 07/03/08 - 06:34 Post subject: |
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hi all wish i could remember ,anyway i had c5 c6 to c6 c7,im still taking mersondole forte,2every 4hours so i can get things done at home with less server pain an 200mg tremoll,if i don't take my pills,an i do a little washing or try to vacuum,anything involving my upper body,i end up in so much pain,then have to rest ,im still very weak no energy,but yet cant sleep,frustrated,i don't have neck brace,was in hospital 4days,cant drive yet,um when i think of more ill write again,night,  |
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| Posted: 07/07/08 - 11:55 Post subject: cervical cartilage replacement |
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i haven't had the surgery yet but they are going to replace the cartilage and cut off the spurs so i was wondering what to expect instead of the folks who had fusions done.  |
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dolphinblu
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| Posted: 07/16/08 - 00:29 Post subject: |
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| hi its Deb,how are you all doing,i have started physio today 16/07/08,went well just collar heat packs,10mins then hydro pool 15mins, going 3 times a week, really sore and painful after,but im hoping things will improve over time,my physio sore my ct scan of my neck,and the plate an screws in there he said it looks good,i actually smiled when he said that , anyway goin to lay down very tired now ,talk to you all soon, |
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91744
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| Posted: 08/03/08 - 08:26 Post subject: Re: fatigue and pain four weeks post multiple level anterior |
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| Hhp wrote: | Last fall, I started having major shoulder pain, then right arm pain, then tingling and weakness in both arms, loss of balance, etc. Eventually an MRI showed a major herniation at C6-7 and a minor herniation at C5-6. C4-5 had already been fused back in January 2002.
I had surgery on 12/28/06 - 4 weeks ago today (fusion from C5-7, with a titanium plate). So now I am fused from C4-7. I am am surprised at how fatigued I am all the time. I am 31 years old and otherwise in good health. At the end of last week (3 weeks out) I tried to cut down to plain tylenol but I still need the percocet or loritab for the pain. (I still take the muscle relaxant soma 2/day- down from 3/day). I noticed that I was even more tired when I stopped the narcotics. When the pain kept me from my walks, I went back on them. Is it the pain that's making me so tired? How do you manage the fatigue, and any ups and downs? I felt better last week than this week. Primarily, I have pain in the shoulders (which makes sitting here at the computer uncomfortable to say the least). My upper left arm and the inside of my neck hurts too. Getting so tired is what bothers me more, though. When did your energy level come back? I hoped to go back to work after my post-op NS appt next week. Now I get so tired after every exertion that I don't know if I can. Believe me, all I want to do is get out of this house and back to work. I am walking every day - I'm up to 40 minutes. I went to a two hour meeting at my office last week just to put in an appearance. Counting the car ride and going through my mail, the entire outing was about 4 hours. It just about killed me. When did you folks go back to work? |
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ksf
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| Posted: 08/04/08 - 05:23 Post subject: |
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I had acdf in Sept 05. I went back to work in Nov. 05. I was just like you. I hurt all of the time and was absolutely exhausted. I struggled through until July 06 (when I went back on medical leave) thinking that it was just going to take me awhile to recover from the surgery. Unfortunately for me I still have all of the same pain and fatigue that I did then...It has never went away.
I sleep about 3-4 hr sessions on a nighly basis. I can only be in bed so long and I wake up cramped and hurting. I can only do minimal housework. Sometimes when I'm having a good day I over do it and then end up paying for it the next day. I cannot stand, sit, lay, bend or move my neck for any legnth of time. The one thing I can do is walk. It's the only thing that doesn't bother me too bad.
I have been to many doctors since surgery. I have been diagnosed with RSD, Myofascial Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Nothing shows up on any test I have had so the doctors are just guessing. I feel like a guinea pig. I'm 48yrs old and I finally had to apply for disability! If someone would have told me this was going to be "my life" 5yrs ago I would have told them they were nuts! I've always been active and have worked full time since I was 17yrs old!
Hopefully your age will play a factor in your healing and you will eventually recover from this. I sincerely hope so because life for me has been hell. Just take it slow, continue walking and consume a healthy diet. |
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dolphinblu
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| Posted: 08/04/08 - 17:46 Post subject: |
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| hi all its deb,sorry haven't been on my internet is down and im at my sis house today,well so far im going to physio its very slow and painful not doing much exercise just in a hydro pool making little movements with my arms to get shoulders to move,im still getting headaches up back of my neck to my skull,shoulders ,and shoulder blades don't respond to much of anything but pain is always there,im not at work ,i don't think ill be going back there my doctor has told me not a good idea,as my work load is to heavy and my injury that i sustained will not cope,still taking tremadole 2 times everyday + merzendole forte every 5 hours,generally my health is good ,still very tired no energy but yet don't sleep lots either ,accidentally bent my head back the other day ,and feel over now im getting giddy spells when i lay down,and move to quick ,well i hope this has helped a little ,im of to doctors for my monthly review ,take care my friends deb |
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visitor2
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| Posted: 08/26/08 - 11:24 Post subject: Re: post operative cervical pain |
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| Guest wrote: | OK I am not recommending that you folks try this at home. I am a 50 yr old male. I train daily with running/or elyptical for 20 minutes then lift weights for one hour. I am 6' 1" at 220 lbs. I had c4-c5 fused with bone and plate and two screws. I had surgery six days ago. The disc was basically exploded and lodged against the cord. The pain was absolutely excruciating. I am not one to rest. I am too much of a stress hound if I don't work out. I wore the brace for one day. I went to the gym after three days. I went today with my wife (sixth day). I lifted very heavy and used perfect form. Being sure not to involve any neck movement. I do have pain but am down to 2-3 number 5 percocet. I have been back to work as a prison counselor for 2 days. I read on the internet spine-health.com/topics/surg/overview/cervical/cerv07.html#5
about braces one level is 6 weeks, multi level about 12. Some surgeons are using them less or not at all. The braces are used mostly for pain control. Yes I hurt, but not like what I have read. I have recovered from multiple knee surgeries and now this. I always get right back to exercise as soon as I can tolerate it. My c4-c5 location in my neck, after much research is not really effected by chest and lower back, and leg exercise. Of course I don't squat, but use leg extensions and leg curls. I have done chest, back, triceps and biceps with legs daily now for three days. If I am careful of the weight and position of my head I have no problem. I would recommend as much exercise as you can tolerate. This has always helped me. I am not saying you should pursue stupidity if you are a non athlete, but really I have had many sport related injuries. Without any doubt I have only benefited from exercise. You can disagree or make any joke you want to. I am active and plan to stay that way. Stronger and flexible muscle will always prevent or at least make any cervical pain less. If you have corrected your injury, don't be afraid to walk with a couple of five or ten pound weights in your hand. You won't die, but you will get better faster |
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visitor2
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| Posted: 08/26/08 - 12:43 Post subject: |
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| Sorry about the copy of what the user, Guest, wrote but this is the first time that I have every used one of these sites. What the "Guest" wrote did inspire me. I am a 40 year old male. My first symptoms that I experienced was tingling in the left arm and left side of my head. This was making me very panickey, espically when my doctor said that he could not see anything wrong with me and said I might need to see a psychologist for anxiety. I knew that I did not have anxiety problems and pushed the issue that something was wrong. My primary care physician then set me up with an MRI. The MRI showed that I have Chaiari malformation with the tonsillar extension of 10-11mm, Cervical(C) 5-6 disc bludge resulting in bilateral lateral recess stenosis with flattening of the anterior thecal sac and cord without focal cord lesion or syrinx and Posterolateral osteophytes and disc buldge at C3-4 and C4-5 resulting in bilateral lateral recess stenosis and borderling pinal stenosis. I do work out with weights 5 days a week and some cardio before my MRI results. I am waiting to see a neurosergeon Sept 4 and I am very nervous about what is to come. My primary doctor has given me xanax and it does help, but I hate taking it. In the mean time I have been experienceing pain in the left side of my neck and across my pectorial muscels with on and off tingling in my left arm and the left side of my head. The one good thing is the Neurosergeon that I am going to is well recommended by many doctors in the area. AS I said I am very nervous and my prayers are with all of you. |
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