lol,
ok, uhm..I will go with the later part of your reply.
What happened is my surgeon had 2 MRI's to look at. I was having left arm pain with the pain just reaching my wrist and as you know it was from the neck down. I had been in a car accident 2yrs prior and continuous chiropractic care since. My chiro treatments quit working and that spurred my MRI. I had 3 injections, none of which worked. Then the NS. He saw my 4 herniations and bulges from C3-4-5-6-7. He at first was going to do C5-6-7. But due to me not having any right arm problems he opted out of the C6-7, and out of the C3-4 so he would only have to do a 2 level which he said was simpler for both of us. Now he says that the reason for my right arm problems are from this: My C4-5-6 was so bad in comparison to C6-7 that I never felt the problems associated with it(right arm pains).
So now he is concerned that he might have been wrong and I may need the C6-7 done. Damnit!
Yes, I have a plate with 6 screws and had some sort of hollowed out fake bone put in place of the disks and they were filled with ground up and sterilized doner bone.
No, I had my 1st post-op and no X-Rays. Due to my NS knowing that it was going to take the full 6 weeks for me to fuse. I guess the reason is due to what he used for my disks.
As for my coverage... HAHAHA. My insurance covered $300. total! my bill is $42,000 for just the hospital. The total os now close to 100 grand. out of pocket so to speak.
The one time I had numbness in the fingers was the middle finger/ring/pinkey.
My NS ordered a Miami J collar for 4 weeks at first then extended it another 2 weeks. At night I had to wear a soft collar. So 24/7 for 6 weeks total in a collar.
And yes about the Nerve. What I was wondering was: Since taking the Neurontin my nerves are calming down. Will I continue to feel better after I stop taking it? Or will it act like my painkillers and the pain comes back if you miss a dose?
As for sleeping, I can now sleep on my left side for a little while and I always end up on my back. My problem is when I move or stretch it feels like my fused area is being shifted around. If you can imagine that. I wake up every time. The pain does not stay, and I wonder if maybe I am getting used to dealing with it. It seems it doesn't matter if I take my Lortab and flexeril before bed or not. That stuff quit working all together. I still have my left arm lingering problems like you, but thank god I was not to your point yet. My wife said last night while I told her how bad you were that if I had not done my surgery when I did that I would have gotten there real soon. My symptoms came on real quick once they started.
OK, Talk about rambling. I hope I answered all of your questions.
Rob
ok, uhm..I will go with the later part of your reply.
What happened is my surgeon had 2 MRI's to look at. I was having left arm pain with the pain just reaching my wrist and as you know it was from the neck down. I had been in a car accident 2yrs prior and continuous chiropractic care since. My chiro treatments quit working and that spurred my MRI. I had 3 injections, none of which worked. Then the NS. He saw my 4 herniations and bulges from C3-4-5-6-7. He at first was going to do C5-6-7. But due to me not having any right arm problems he opted out of the C6-7, and out of the C3-4 so he would only have to do a 2 level which he said was simpler for both of us. Now he says that the reason for my right arm problems are from this: My C4-5-6 was so bad in comparison to C6-7 that I never felt the problems associated with it(right arm pains).
So now he is concerned that he might have been wrong and I may need the C6-7 done. Damnit!
Yes, I have a plate with 6 screws and had some sort of hollowed out fake bone put in place of the disks and they were filled with ground up and sterilized doner bone.
No, I had my 1st post-op and no X-Rays. Due to my NS knowing that it was going to take the full 6 weeks for me to fuse. I guess the reason is due to what he used for my disks.
As for my coverage... HAHAHA. My insurance covered $300. total! my bill is $42,000 for just the hospital. The total os now close to 100 grand. out of pocket so to speak.
The one time I had numbness in the fingers was the middle finger/ring/pinkey.
My NS ordered a Miami J collar for 4 weeks at first then extended it another 2 weeks. At night I had to wear a soft collar. So 24/7 for 6 weeks total in a collar.
And yes about the Nerve. What I was wondering was: Since taking the Neurontin my nerves are calming down. Will I continue to feel better after I stop taking it? Or will it act like my painkillers and the pain comes back if you miss a dose?
As for sleeping, I can now sleep on my left side for a little while and I always end up on my back. My problem is when I move or stretch it feels like my fused area is being shifted around. If you can imagine that. I wake up every time. The pain does not stay, and I wonder if maybe I am getting used to dealing with it. It seems it doesn't matter if I take my Lortab and flexeril before bed or not. That stuff quit working all together. I still have my left arm lingering problems like you, but thank god I was not to your point yet. My wife said last night while I told her how bad you were that if I had not done my surgery when I did that I would have gotten there real soon. My symptoms came on real quick once they started.
OK, Talk about rambling. I hope I answered all of your questions.
Rob
Rob, I just search for your Miami J collar. Good Lord, it looks like you are going into space with that thing! 4-6 wks, dude I feel really crappy about that (for you). It's a no wonder why you can't sleep, that is unreal!
I was wondering if you thought that maybe the restriction of that collar is causing more harm than good, you think? I would hate to give such a personal opinion, but that collar scares me! It doesn't look like you could move your head an inch. Are you plated? I don't remember if you said. If you aren't, I guess stabilization of the neck and head is warranted, but if you got a Titanium plate inserted, your neck is plenty stable to keep your head up and neck muscles active and strong.
As far as my right arm, still relatively dead! Thumb and pointer are somewhat useable (I guess), but arm wrestling my 8 year old only net me one victory out of three. Normally the first one, then the arm is spent. Can open things, twisting and such but some bags are impossible and scissors....well that is another story too!
We had about 5-7" of snow in the Chicagoland area prior to Christmas, I started my snowblower (myself) and used it without any problems. Now I do not have one of those big $799-999 chain driven jobs either. Two-cycle Yard Machine, but I just took my time, trying not to slip and fall. No pains or nothing. Alittle tired after the fact, but I am tired alot with the healing process and all. (I think that is the problem) I try to walk on the tread mile 3-4 times a week for no less than a 1.5m each time. So far, so good!
Enough for now, take care. Happy New Year 2009!
Tom
I was wondering if you thought that maybe the restriction of that collar is causing more harm than good, you think? I would hate to give such a personal opinion, but that collar scares me! It doesn't look like you could move your head an inch. Are you plated? I don't remember if you said. If you aren't, I guess stabilization of the neck and head is warranted, but if you got a Titanium plate inserted, your neck is plenty stable to keep your head up and neck muscles active and strong.
As far as my right arm, still relatively dead! Thumb and pointer are somewhat useable (I guess), but arm wrestling my 8 year old only net me one victory out of three. Normally the first one, then the arm is spent. Can open things, twisting and such but some bags are impossible and scissors....well that is another story too!
We had about 5-7" of snow in the Chicagoland area prior to Christmas, I started my snowblower (myself) and used it without any problems. Now I do not have one of those big $799-999 chain driven jobs either. Two-cycle Yard Machine, but I just took my time, trying not to slip and fall. No pains or nothing. Alittle tired after the fact, but I am tired alot with the healing process and all. (I think that is the problem) I try to walk on the tread mile 3-4 times a week for no less than a 1.5m each time. So far, so good!
Enough for now, take care. Happy New Year 2009!
Tom
Yes I am plated. I think I put everything in my last post.
I read in some other posts where they had to where that collar also. I wore the soft collar for sleeping and the Miami-J for the rest of the time except showers. T don't know if my surgery was done differently or not, but I know I could not turn my head more than an inch or two for the first 2 weeks without extraordinary pain! and I mean that much pain. I was so happy, as you now know why, to get that thing off. I think it did do a lot of muscle damage. Still in a lot of pain but it comes and goes and moves from side to side from week to week. In week 9 now.
Happy New Year!
Rob
I read in some other posts where they had to where that collar also. I wore the soft collar for sleeping and the Miami-J for the rest of the time except showers. T don't know if my surgery was done differently or not, but I know I could not turn my head more than an inch or two for the first 2 weeks without extraordinary pain! and I mean that much pain. I was so happy, as you now know why, to get that thing off. I think it did do a lot of muscle damage. Still in a lot of pain but it comes and goes and moves from side to side from week to week. In week 9 now.
Happy New Year!
Rob
Hey Tom I also forgot this.
I had C4-5-6 ACDF. with disk degeneration at all levels, C3-4 is bulging but did not need surgery and C6-7 is herniated with minimal nerve compression with no visible signs of it affecting me physically.
So when my NS decided not to operate on C6-7 he probably thought I needed the extra support from the Miami-J collar. Only a thought.
From the search my wife did on my NS prior to surgery we saw where he is ranked in the top of his field in the nation. Not the best, just up there. So I value his choices but now am questioning him on not doing C6-7. He told me that if he did C6-7 also that it was going to be a lot more complicated for both of us. So he gambled I think.
Hope this helps some.
Rob
I had C4-5-6 ACDF. with disk degeneration at all levels, C3-4 is bulging but did not need surgery and C6-7 is herniated with minimal nerve compression with no visible signs of it affecting me physically.
So when my NS decided not to operate on C6-7 he probably thought I needed the extra support from the Miami-J collar. Only a thought.
From the search my wife did on my NS prior to surgery we saw where he is ranked in the top of his field in the nation. Not the best, just up there. So I value his choices but now am questioning him on not doing C6-7. He told me that if he did C6-7 also that it was going to be a lot more complicated for both of us. So he gambled I think.
Hope this helps some.
Rob
My NS said C3/4, C4/5 were bulging, C5/6, C6/7 were herniated. Now I say this for one reason: "C6-7 is on the nerve, we might as well take out C5/6 while we are in there." Lucky he said that because when he got in there it was the opposite, C5/6 was all but gone and on the nerve, C6/7 was a mess without nerve trauma.
He stated that eventually, C3/4 and C4/5 will have to come out. Depending how I treat myself for the remainder of my life (ie trucking, football, physical activity [or lack of] stuff like that. I asked him to take them all now, so I can get on with life not worrying about a possible additional surgery in the future. Four level ACDF would render you over 50% disabled, he told me.
Rob, I am not trying to make you doubt your surgeon. Post a link where I can see if my NS is near the top of his field. I was just curious on the NASCAR style (HANS) device that you had to wear.
I only had restriction from movement because of the tape they had on my incision itself. Once my NS took off the tape (13 days later) I had more range than I had pre-op. It still hurts, very stiff in the mornings, and that is a reality. But it is nothing like the hell I was living prior to the surgery. I was never scared about surgery, never had any doubts about the surgery. I only knew that hell or high water, I was having surgery because a grown man isn't supposed to be rendered to mush everytime he had to go to the bathroom (if you know what I mean). I couldn't live that way!
Take Care of yourself! I am looking forward to the message that you are getting better and better. Should be a great day for you and your family.
Tom
He stated that eventually, C3/4 and C4/5 will have to come out. Depending how I treat myself for the remainder of my life (ie trucking, football, physical activity [or lack of] stuff like that. I asked him to take them all now, so I can get on with life not worrying about a possible additional surgery in the future. Four level ACDF would render you over 50% disabled, he told me.
Rob, I am not trying to make you doubt your surgeon. Post a link where I can see if my NS is near the top of his field. I was just curious on the NASCAR style (HANS) device that you had to wear.
I only had restriction from movement because of the tape they had on my incision itself. Once my NS took off the tape (13 days later) I had more range than I had pre-op. It still hurts, very stiff in the mornings, and that is a reality. But it is nothing like the hell I was living prior to the surgery. I was never scared about surgery, never had any doubts about the surgery. I only knew that hell or high water, I was having surgery because a grown man isn't supposed to be rendered to mush everytime he had to go to the bathroom (if you know what I mean). I couldn't live that way!
Take Care of yourself! I am looking forward to the message that you are getting better and better. Should be a great day for you and your family.
Tom
Thanks Tom,
Here is the only info I have on where my sis found info about my NS. I don't know where to see a rating, she told me that part and I believed her from what I heard first hand from friends.
**edited by moderator**
I hope that helps.
Don't take this wrong, But a few of the things you say make me laugh... in a good way. Just the way you word things, like "rendered to mush everytime he had to go to the bathroom". And it's not you that makes me doubt my NS. I already did.
One more thing I want to add is, I am definitely better off now than I was before the surgery if you look at an average of good -vs- bad days. But, I wish I was given a choice of a 2 level or 3 level. I would have chosen the way you did for the same reasons. I am happy for your progress and your having a NS like you do. I am looking at my probability of having another surgery according to my NS's reaction to my new pains. It is very disappointing news since this is all on my dime. And I am poor man who is already loosing his home to foreclosure.
The positive for me is that I am able to use both arms with minimal pain, not debilitating. I am able to do all the house work for my wife and have begun moving lumber piles around. I just have setbacks every other day it seems.
Thank you for the feedback Tom! I keep checking for reply's.
Rob
Here is the only info I have on where my sis found info about my NS. I don't know where to see a rating, she told me that part and I believed her from what I heard first hand from friends.
**edited by moderator**
I hope that helps.
Don't take this wrong, But a few of the things you say make me laugh... in a good way. Just the way you word things, like "rendered to mush everytime he had to go to the bathroom". And it's not you that makes me doubt my NS. I already did.
One more thing I want to add is, I am definitely better off now than I was before the surgery if you look at an average of good -vs- bad days. But, I wish I was given a choice of a 2 level or 3 level. I would have chosen the way you did for the same reasons. I am happy for your progress and your having a NS like you do. I am looking at my probability of having another surgery according to my NS's reaction to my new pains. It is very disappointing news since this is all on my dime. And I am poor man who is already loosing his home to foreclosure.
The positive for me is that I am able to use both arms with minimal pain, not debilitating. I am able to do all the house work for my wife and have begun moving lumber piles around. I just have setbacks every other day it seems.
Thank you for the feedback Tom! I keep checking for reply's.
Rob
Cool, I looked up my NS and it tells you everything. My NS is ranked 32nd and 33rd out of 144 in his field. so I guess he is in the top 25%. :-)
I am glad I am still a comedian. I think the rating system may be a scam. My surgeon is also #33 of 144, so how does your surgeon and my surgeon ranked the same. The second line he was ranked #34.
I know that the only thing my NS said no pushing or pulling of 15# prior to therapy. Anything my therapist said to do, I can do on my off days also. One week and counting, so I have something else to look forward to.
Tom
I know that the only thing my NS said no pushing or pulling of 15# prior to therapy. Anything my therapist said to do, I can do on my off days also. One week and counting, so I have something else to look forward to.
Tom
well, where yours was ranked 33 in line one mine was 32. And where yours was ranked 34 in line two mine was ranked 33. So neither had the same number, but your NS was also in the top 25%. :-)
Happy New Year!!!
I didn't think I have been that busy not to update but I guess I haven't.
Physical therapy since the 5th, going OK but nothing to brag about. The atrophy in my right arm is still apparent. Strength isn't returning, not as of today. I can grab things but not lift.
Got sick last weekend, had to pass on therapy on Monday, by Wednesday I was better, was in total pain on Thursday couldn't move my neck. Either the coughing and sneezing were too much for my neck muscles or working out (therapy) isnt a good idea when I was still sick. Not sure, but last weeks therapy was only one day.
But as of today, I am just about recovered from whatever illness I had. Thanksfully it happened last week instead of last month, that could have been a disaster.
A week from tomorrow is my monthly appointment, I finally get to see my hardware in my first post-op x-ray.
The only real disappointment I have had was having to deal with are the hospital/doctor bills. In-Network and Out of Network, charging too much and charging for things that I hadn't done or seen. Not having a choice to select the Bone Stimulator Collar or not. This through away collar is going to cost me over $2100 out of pocket. But all and all, this hasn't been near as bad as I expected nor what I have read.
Just need to return to work, funds are slowly running out!
I didn't think I have been that busy not to update but I guess I haven't.
Physical therapy since the 5th, going OK but nothing to brag about. The atrophy in my right arm is still apparent. Strength isn't returning, not as of today. I can grab things but not lift.
Got sick last weekend, had to pass on therapy on Monday, by Wednesday I was better, was in total pain on Thursday couldn't move my neck. Either the coughing and sneezing were too much for my neck muscles or working out (therapy) isnt a good idea when I was still sick. Not sure, but last weeks therapy was only one day.
But as of today, I am just about recovered from whatever illness I had. Thanksfully it happened last week instead of last month, that could have been a disaster.
A week from tomorrow is my monthly appointment, I finally get to see my hardware in my first post-op x-ray.
The only real disappointment I have had was having to deal with are the hospital/doctor bills. In-Network and Out of Network, charging too much and charging for things that I hadn't done or seen. Not having a choice to select the Bone Stimulator Collar or not. This through away collar is going to cost me over $2100 out of pocket. But all and all, this hasn't been near as bad as I expected nor what I have read.
Just need to return to work, funds are slowly running out!
Hello Robert and all;
I have been through over two months of therapy and I wish I had some good news. But I do not, I still haven't gotten ANY of my strength back in my right arm and my two fingers on my hand are marginal at best. Theraphy was almost laughable though, 3# bicep curls but the arm just doesn't want to conform to what I need it to do.
My injuries (truck driving for 22yrs) was turned down by WC, I have been sitting in a swamp of bills, as all you probably know about how much these types of surgeries costs. My company did actually promote me to a G.M. position (with a $20k pay cut). But my attorney is positive about switching this to a WC case but it has been continued for 5 hearing dates so far. No luck on the legal front.
As far as pain, there isn't any. Frustration and stiffness, you bet! C5/C6 according to my xrays did fuse. C4/C5 did not, which all us know the more than one level you are considered high risk for just this reason. The only good part is that I haven't any movement in the cadavor bone, so as long as she stays in place, nothing else needs to be done. If the bone starts moving, then we have a whole new problem, starting with another surgery.
Life moves on, and when you have limitation you learn to adjust. My neck is stiff, can't look up to the top of a shoe display at shoe store. I have to walk backwards a couple of steps. I can't put the 5 Gallon water jugs in at the house of the office. I had to learn to ask for help, manly? NO, necessary, YES! Some jars/bottles I can't open, some packages of chips or things that have to get pulled apart I have to ask my 9yr for help. I can type, but after a little while the burning starts and I have to crack my knuckles and shake my hand out. Other than that, it could be much much worse.
Just this morning, I was talking on the phone for about 10mins. I hung the phone up and had my arm siezed up and had to use my left arm to straighten it out. Like I said before, it could be much worse. I can live with my situation "as is". Happy about, hell no - but I can deal with it.
Good luck to you all, especially for the ones just starting the journey. My journey is far from over. I will check in from time to time. Robert I hope you are doing better. Thanks for reading.
Tom
I have been through over two months of therapy and I wish I had some good news. But I do not, I still haven't gotten ANY of my strength back in my right arm and my two fingers on my hand are marginal at best. Theraphy was almost laughable though, 3# bicep curls but the arm just doesn't want to conform to what I need it to do.
My injuries (truck driving for 22yrs) was turned down by WC, I have been sitting in a swamp of bills, as all you probably know about how much these types of surgeries costs. My company did actually promote me to a G.M. position (with a $20k pay cut). But my attorney is positive about switching this to a WC case but it has been continued for 5 hearing dates so far. No luck on the legal front.
As far as pain, there isn't any. Frustration and stiffness, you bet! C5/C6 according to my xrays did fuse. C4/C5 did not, which all us know the more than one level you are considered high risk for just this reason. The only good part is that I haven't any movement in the cadavor bone, so as long as she stays in place, nothing else needs to be done. If the bone starts moving, then we have a whole new problem, starting with another surgery.
Life moves on, and when you have limitation you learn to adjust. My neck is stiff, can't look up to the top of a shoe display at shoe store. I have to walk backwards a couple of steps. I can't put the 5 Gallon water jugs in at the house of the office. I had to learn to ask for help, manly? NO, necessary, YES! Some jars/bottles I can't open, some packages of chips or things that have to get pulled apart I have to ask my 9yr for help. I can type, but after a little while the burning starts and I have to crack my knuckles and shake my hand out. Other than that, it could be much much worse.
Just this morning, I was talking on the phone for about 10mins. I hung the phone up and had my arm siezed up and had to use my left arm to straighten it out. Like I said before, it could be much worse. I can live with my situation "as is". Happy about, hell no - but I can deal with it.
Good luck to you all, especially for the ones just starting the journey. My journey is far from over. I will check in from time to time. Robert I hope you are doing better. Thanks for reading.
Tom
Thanks Tom,
I am glad you say that there is no pain associated with your disscomforts(for lack of a better word). I was not so lucky, my NS said I did not fuse all the way but he thinks I will over time. I think it is due to me being an ex-smoker who smoked for 20+ yrs. He told me I am only going to be doing mundain boring do nothing jobs from now on.
Please keep us posted,
Rob
I am glad you say that there is no pain associated with your disscomforts(for lack of a better word). I was not so lucky, my NS said I did not fuse all the way but he thinks I will over time. I think it is due to me being an ex-smoker who smoked for 20+ yrs. He told me I am only going to be doing mundain boring do nothing jobs from now on.
Please keep us posted,
Rob
I read through your blog and am happy to see you have such a positive attitude. From the outside looking in it doesn't seem as rosy though LOL.
I'm having my surgery done next Monday and am really concerned about the healing time and medical expenses. I'm on long term disability at the moment from my work til I return, but as we all know, that doesn't pay for peanuts. I need to get back to word ASAP.
I was under the impression it was more like two weeks healing time???
Also, what was the size of your scar?
I'm having my surgery done next Monday and am really concerned about the healing time and medical expenses. I'm on long term disability at the moment from my work til I return, but as we all know, that doesn't pay for peanuts. I need to get back to word ASAP.
I was under the impression it was more like two weeks healing time???
Also, what was the size of your scar?
It depends on how many disks they are going to work on. The author of this post does not come in very often so I will help you if I can. My scar is about 2 1/2 inches long and I had 2 disks done. My sisters is about 5 inches long and she had 5 levels done. As for the 2 week recovery time, I have not heard of anyone going back to work that early. 4 weeks is the earliest I think and then it will depend on your healing. I hope, for you, that your doctor does the very minimum on having you wear a collar. From all the reading I done over my 6 months of healing, I have seen that the ones who wear it the shortest have an easier time of recovery due to not losing thier muscle tone in thier necks. BUT, That is also just a reflection of how severe the damage to your nerve in your spinal colum. So dont think that if you disregard the doctors orders and take that collar off sooner that you'll heal faster... It doesn't work that way.
I hope some of this is useful,
Rob
I hope some of this is useful,
Rob
I had surgery on 3/12 to fuse C5-6-7 for stenosis and degenerative disc disease. My neurosurgeon discovered these 3 discs had collapsed sometime between my 10/08 MRI and the surgery. Can't believe I didn't notice! He used synthetic bone graft and plate. The surgery took 4 hours and I spent 1 night in the hospital. The morning after surgery, my surgeon visited me in ICU and encouraged the staff to get me up and walking and out of the hospital by that evening. I wasn't too happy about being weaned from the morphine shots and really wanted to be taken care of for at least another night (and my insurance would have covered 2 nights). Anyway, nearly 2 weeks later, I am doing very well. Have my post op visit with surgeon's nurse tomorrow. I guess he was right to give me the bum's rush after all!
I'm using the soft collar neck brace only when a passenger in the car of if I'm moving around a lot. I've been a pretty bad patient - impatient and not good about skipping the housework. My husband is also of the mindset that moving is better than not - so I'm hopeful it isn't creating a problem with the graft. BTW, I've been using the bone graft stimulator since the day I left the hospital for 4 hrs. per day.
I have pain mostly in my biceps/triceps, shoulders and between shoulder blades. I haven't had pain in my neck and minimal headaches (before surgery I had excruciating headaches frequently). The 6th day after surgery, though, I had a wicked migraine type headache which caused me to vomit. I think that may have been because I tried to do too much the day before.
Anyway, I am so thankful to have discovered your blog since it's good to know I'm not alone. I also have to say I am super careful about getting into cars given you head bumping story :-) Hope you are feeling better. I am also curious to know who your neurosurgeon is as I also reside in Chicagoland.
Thanks! Jayne
I'm using the soft collar neck brace only when a passenger in the car of if I'm moving around a lot. I've been a pretty bad patient - impatient and not good about skipping the housework. My husband is also of the mindset that moving is better than not - so I'm hopeful it isn't creating a problem with the graft. BTW, I've been using the bone graft stimulator since the day I left the hospital for 4 hrs. per day.
I have pain mostly in my biceps/triceps, shoulders and between shoulder blades. I haven't had pain in my neck and minimal headaches (before surgery I had excruciating headaches frequently). The 6th day after surgery, though, I had a wicked migraine type headache which caused me to vomit. I think that may have been because I tried to do too much the day before.
Anyway, I am so thankful to have discovered your blog since it's good to know I'm not alone. I also have to say I am super careful about getting into cars given you head bumping story :-) Hope you are feeling better. I am also curious to know who your neurosurgeon is as I also reside in Chicagoland.
Thanks! Jayne