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herniations and bulging at c4 to c7
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MedHelp Member's Question

herniations and bulging at c4 to c7

by dmsimms, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
Hello,

I was involved in an roll over accident 18 years ago and ended up among many other issues, with herniations and bulging at c5 to c7. Recent MRI shows that c4 to c5 is now starting. I have been in and out of surgeon's offices as well as sports medicine and PT offices, the most consistent conclusion is there is spinal compression that over the years is getting gradually worse. Most noted in my hands and feet from tripping and dropping of things which I have noticed to be getting gradually more pronounced. Surgery advice are these: one disc removal, two disc removal, all three discs removed as well as a advice to have a vertebrectomy (sp?) of c6 due to the calcium build up and the two disc around it.

I can see the issues in the catscans and MRI but i am not a trained surgeon to know what is the best thing to have done.

Can the calcium not be taken out any other way? and what are the recovery issues I need to be considering?

I am a very active 40 year old woman who runs 15 to 25 miles a week as well as yoga and skiing and working out, I stay very active and enjoy being active. One doctor suggests this would all change after surgery, is this true? If i am this healthy going in should recovery be better?

I am confused, frustrated and afraid.

Any suggestions or advice? Thank you.
Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Mar 02, 2006 12:00AM
The risks of surgery need to be weighted against the benefits. I cannot tell you whether to have surgery or not as I do not know your case or your MRIs



MRI changes of disc herniation and bulging are commonly asymptomatic so it is important to be sure that your symptoms are being caused by the MRI changes. Surgery is primarily done to prevent further permament neurological damage (such as paralysis of the arms or legs) when there is evidence that this is already ocurring. I do not know if this is the case with you. Many times in milder cases, conservative treatment without surgery is adequate. The MRI can usually give an indication whether the actual spinal cord is compressed or has some signal change within the spinal cord that would indicate that damage has already occurred. The neurological examination by a skilled neurologist will also be able to give an indication if you have a significant cord injury (for example if they find spasticity in the muscles or hyperactive reflexes in the legs)



Calcium buildup is not a reason to do surgery on its own, whether it needs to be removed or not, I do not know, but hypothetically there is no other way than surgery to remove it.



Recovery depends on whattype of surgery, there would be a period of physical therapy and pain after surgery which may last up to a few weeks. Surgery has its own risks of complications that your doctors should tell you about which could potentially delay recovery, such as failure of fixation, non-union, disc fragments, postoperative pain syndromes etc

Member Comments (17)

by lschicks, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
In 1993 I had and accident also. I was fused from L2 to S1 and 6 years later had c5-6 operated on because of the spinal cord being compressed and bone material was taken from my hip to make up for the bone they needed in the cervical area being operated on. Recovery was about 2 months. I am a 55 year old female. I do have the support of a group of disabled friends. The word hurry is no longer in my vocabulary let alone "run". If I had the misfortune of someone chasing me I would have to say, oh well come and get me. Then do the best damage when he got to me. I would be too slow to get away. NOW, I am back to dropping things alot. Falling forward, its like my legs suddenly say too tired can't hold up, they let me down, let me fall while I walk forward. MRI shows I need Surgery above and below the previous surgical site. Herniations and bulging at C4-5 with spinal stenosis at C4-5 and C7. I have a strong fighting spirit, I always have. I was a runner, scuba diver, Camper, Boy Scout Leader with the Troop my boys were in. I backpacked through a lot of Florida,Georgia,North Carolina I loved horseback riding and dancing on roller skates. I feel your concern and know your fears right now. I am trying to find out more info on what these nerves handle, possible or most common things that may go wrong. Top Surgens in different states and how many successful operations they have done. Anyone can be a Doctor or Surgen who took the classes. However, was the Doctor an A or C or D passing student? How good a Surgen is he now? Food or thought. Linda J. Florida

by dmsimms, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
wow Linda, you have had a lot of surgery!

The surgeon I feel most comfortable with so far was a road scholar and has many awards for his work in the nerve repair work and the like.

I feel comfortable with him but I dont feel comfortable having this done and then done again and done again ...

I wonder do i leave it until it is an emergency or do I do it while I am strong and healthy and recovery should be 100% ... so they say.

I cant imagine my life without the activity.

Unlike you I am not at the emergency stage, I am having compression and symptoms of the compression but it is not stopping me so far.

Question is do i wait?

And does waiting mean I risk something more permanent and something that gives me a disablity, currently I dont have any.

by lschicks, Feb 28, 2006 12:00AM
It is great that you have no disabilities at this time. What I have learned is this.- If the spinal cord is compressed or put into a damaging situation you have some time to work for a plan of action or surgery with little damage. However, if it is compromised for space, for to long it will not recover and it will stay damaged. The big question is how long is too long? Everyone is different. I have been told by Doctors that because of my gymnastics from a child till my 30's is why I can walk today. My muscles are different than most peoples and the ones that are damaged and the nerves that were accidentally cut, are taken over by others to assist in some of the workload of feeding the muscles nutrition, air, helping in walking etc. But I have very little hair growth on my legs and none on the backs of my legs.- I was told this was due to perminet nerve damage. It's a way of the nerves letting something go to assist on other areas more important. Hey, I like shaving less, God always gives me a little ray of Sunshine somewhere. I even look back on my past experiences and say "look what I have done, God in helping my recovery said time to slow down stop moving so fast enjoy your kids and smell the flowers." Now, I find myself saying I've done all that NOW what can I get into. Sorry I can't help you more today I am starting one of my headaches. Time for a dark room and quiet music. When my boys know Moms head hurts they try to find me a pretty flower and they stay quiet and do their homework. Linda

by wantshope, Feb 28, 2006 12:00AM
Hi Ladies, I read your posts and I had to let you know you are not alone. I am a 41 year old female. I was a gymnast from 12 to 21. I too was very active. I had numbness from chest down on my left side. Story cut short, they called me the next day to say they were suprised I was still walking. Very severe cord compression C4-C7. Had fusion right away in 2003. Got the feeling back only to have severe pain in low back with severe left leg pain. MRI of lumbar showed disc herniation of L4-L5. Had therapy,corisone injections and discogram before having fusion on L4-L5 in 2004. No relief from pain, but some of the leg weekness(falling) went away. I still have numbness,pain and my day to day activities are really not there. I am lucky that medications keep me active enough to work(desk job), but just had another MRI this time of thoracic. Now I have several ruptured discs in that region with one compressing the spinal cord. Diagnosis now is degenerative disc disease. I will see my Neuro in a couple of weeks. But I am tired. Not sure of what to do or where to go next. I am too young to have so many surgeries and I feel like they are not really helping. I want my active life back. If either of you want to email me we can talk further. Good luck to you both.

Melanie  ***@****

by jan, Mar 03, 2006 12:00AM
I was scheduled for c-spine surg on c5-c7, problems start at c4 (w/stenosis and radiculopathy -ddd/djd).  Then a MS spec I had to see for other probs strongly advised me not to get the surgery, because the outcome is a gamble.  (My bro had to have the surg and it led to serious consequences later).  So, the neurosurg has me seeing a neuro every 6 mos to make sure I don't put off the surgery too long.

by dmsimms, Mar 06, 2006 12:00AM
To: CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW
Thank you for your response.

The MRI shows mild bulging from c4 to c5, moderate + at c5 to c6 and moderate - at c6 to c7.

The tests that the three neurologists I've seen shows the hyperactive reflexes, exactly, in both my feet and my hands.

To add to that I have been tripping and dropping, something I didnt correclate to my neck