Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Pain after spinal fusion?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Pain after spinal fusion?
by dorothy, Jan 19, 2000 12:00AM
Dear CCF Doctor,
On December 9th, I had a suboccipital craniectomy for Chiari Type I malformation and C3-6 laminectomy, partial C2 laminectomy, partial C7 laminectomy, bilateral C3-4 through C6-7 formninoctomies, bilateral C3-4 through C-67 arthrodesis and instrumentation with Cervi-Fix hardware. Can you explain to me what foraminotomies and arthrodesis are?
All in all I am doing very well with the exception of pain in my upper shoulders and upper arms. Could this be due to the fact that muscles were cut during surgery? I will be starting PT this week for the pain. The more I use my arms the worse the pain can become, do you think this is normal?
I realize this is a bunch of surgery, is this the norm for recovery?
Thanks for your time!
On December 9th, I had a suboccipital craniectomy for Chiari Type I malformation and C3-6 laminectomy, partial C2 laminectomy, partial C7 laminectomy, bilateral C3-4 through C6-7 formninoctomies, bilateral C3-4 through C-67 arthrodesis and instrumentation with Cervi-Fix hardware. Can you explain to me what foraminotomies and arthrodesis are?
All in all I am doing very well with the exception of pain in my upper shoulders and upper arms. Could this be due to the fact that muscles were cut during surgery? I will be starting PT this week for the pain. The more I use my arms the worse the pain can become, do you think this is normal?
I realize this is a bunch of surgery, is this the norm for recovery?
Thanks for your time!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Jan 19, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Dorothy:
You should ask your neurosurgeon and I bet he/she would be overjoyed to talk to you about what he/she did in surgery. The foramnia are areas of the vertebra that the nerves exit and the surgeon removed these. The occurrance of pain is normal, be sure to stick with the rehab as this is critical to recovery.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro mD
You should ask your neurosurgeon and I bet he/she would be overjoyed to talk to you about what he/she did in surgery. The foramnia are areas of the vertebra that the nerves exit and the surgeon removed these. The occurrance of pain is normal, be sure to stick with the rehab as this is critical to recovery.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro mD
CCF Neuro MD
Good luck, and hang in there.
Yes pain is normal after any surgery, especially the spine. However, the time of pain, the intensity of the pain, and the duration of the pain varies between patient and procedure. I cannot tell you exactly but you are in the majority with pain at this time after surgery.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Thanks for the informaiton. My Neurosurgon is out of state, but I did talk to him and he said what I am experiencing is normal. I will continue with PT and also he has suggested acupunture. Well, living near Ann Arbor I have managed to find a seventh generation acupuncturist who is great, and seems to be helping. I just think I had a great deal of surgery and recovery will be long. As for the Chiari symptoms, they are MUCH better. In the past I have been dx with CFS, Fibro, Orthostatic Intolerance, just to find out all along it was the Chiari. 20/20 will be airing a segment this month about all of this.......should cause some controversy in the medical profession.....but I know first hand these are all related. With the exception of my neck I have not felt this good in 12 years!.