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Back & Neck Pain (Expert Forum)
Multi-level Cervical DDD, Areflexia and Options
Questions in the Back & Neck Pain forum are answered by Dr. Kwan Yin Chong and Dr. Prem Pillay. Topics covered include herniated disc, pinched nerves, sciatica, degenerative spine disease, spinal stenosis, spine trauma and fractures, and pine tumors.
Multi-level Cervical DDD, Areflexia and Options
by MVanS, Jan 22, 2009 10:17AM
Hi! I am a 30 year old female who has lived with cervical DDD since I was 25. I have no kids but we are looking to start a family in the next couple of years.
I have moderate to severe disc herniations at 4 levels in my cervical spine. I am followed by a pain mgmt doc and recently went to be re-evaluated by my ortho doc. Previously I had good days where my neck barely hurt or didn't hurt at all and my ortho recommended I not pursue any surgery at the time as a 4 level fusion would cause pain and stiffness daily. I readily agreed as I would like to wait until disc replacements are available for multi-level usage. However, I recently went for an appt with my pain mgmt doc as I have been having some daily pain and stiffness, primarily on the left side. She was unable to get any reflexes from my left arm and my right arm reflexes were very limited. I am able to find very little about what areflexia can mean for my future. I am not numb but have trouble gripping well. I have broken a number of dishes lately because I just couldn't hold onto them! :)
What, if anything, can I or should I look into with the areflexia? Will it resolve on it's own? Should I have surgery before I begin trying to have children? Are there any online resources that can give me more information on areflexia and cervical DDD? I work at a hospital so I do have access to a number of journals. Are there any you recommend? Any advice would be very appreciated.
Thank you!
Morgan
I have moderate to severe disc herniations at 4 levels in my cervical spine. I am followed by a pain mgmt doc and recently went to be re-evaluated by my ortho doc. Previously I had good days where my neck barely hurt or didn't hurt at all and my ortho recommended I not pursue any surgery at the time as a 4 level fusion would cause pain and stiffness daily. I readily agreed as I would like to wait until disc replacements are available for multi-level usage. However, I recently went for an appt with my pain mgmt doc as I have been having some daily pain and stiffness, primarily on the left side. She was unable to get any reflexes from my left arm and my right arm reflexes were very limited. I am able to find very little about what areflexia can mean for my future. I am not numb but have trouble gripping well. I have broken a number of dishes lately because I just couldn't hold onto them! :)
What, if anything, can I or should I look into with the areflexia? Will it resolve on it's own? Should I have surgery before I begin trying to have children? Are there any online resources that can give me more information on areflexia and cervical DDD? I work at a hospital so I do have access to a number of journals. Are there any you recommend? Any advice would be very appreciated.
Thank you!
Morgan
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Cervical DDD questions (1 replies):Multi-level Cervical DDD, Areflexia and Options Hi! I ...[more]
You might look into nonsugerical decompression like "Vax-d" - a friend did treatment for her neck at a clinic in Chicago and she was really helped.