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Post surgical pain after cervical disc replacement
Pain after having an artificial disc replacement~
I had ruptured discs at c5, c6, c7 and the surgery was to use an artificial disc at c6 to alleviate pain.
Right after surgery, I felt great, but about 2 years post surgery, started having pain again.
Now, and dealing with severe headaches that start at the base of my skull, and are like tension headaches.
Also, severe muscle spasms in upper back and shoulder areas (both sides) that are not responding to muscle relaxers, exercise, massage, or ultra sound therapy.
Help! Need some advice!
Had an MRI and MRA about 3 weeks ago, that show no reason in the brain as to why I am having such bad headaches, there is no rhyme or reason to the episodes either.
They can happen in an instant and can go away quickly or linger for a day or two.
The disc is the Prestige artificial disc, and I am involved in a study group.
The doctor that did the surgery says that the pain I am experiencing is not from the disc itself, so he is no help.
I feel like my shoulder and the sides of my neck are constantly tensed up, and I can crack or pop my neck sometimes and that relieves the pressure, but some days, the pain is so intense, I just want to take something to make it all go away!
I do have an office job, but try to get up and walk around the office often, and I do exercise often, walking, SCUBA diving, light weight lifting.
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks
I had ruptured discs at c5, c6, c7 and the surgery was to use an artificial disc at c6 to alleviate pain.
Right after surgery, I felt great, but about 2 years post surgery, started having pain again.
Now, and dealing with severe headaches that start at the base of my skull, and are like tension headaches.
Also, severe muscle spasms in upper back and shoulder areas (both sides) that are not responding to muscle relaxers, exercise, massage, or ultra sound therapy.
Help! Need some advice!
Had an MRI and MRA about 3 weeks ago, that show no reason in the brain as to why I am having such bad headaches, there is no rhyme or reason to the episodes either.
They can happen in an instant and can go away quickly or linger for a day or two.
The disc is the Prestige artificial disc, and I am involved in a study group.
The doctor that did the surgery says that the pain I am experiencing is not from the disc itself, so he is no help.
I feel like my shoulder and the sides of my neck are constantly tensed up, and I can crack or pop my neck sometimes and that relieves the pressure, but some days, the pain is so intense, I just want to take something to make it all go away!
I do have an office job, but try to get up and walk around the office often, and I do exercise often, walking, SCUBA diving, light weight lifting.
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks
Welcome and thank you for your information on this very old thread. I've been a member of MedHelp since 2008 and have missed this informative thread. Why? - because the title is misleading.
There is a lot of great information contained within - hidden among the multiple posts. I want encourage all new posters to begin a new thread - post - also called "Post A Question." It's easy and just takes a few more strokes.
I have nasty cervical spine pain. I had a cervical (neck) fracture of the C5 in 1985. Several years ago the cervical spine pain became chronic instead of sporadic and has gradually increased in intensity. Due to sudden onset of severe, Acute Brachical Plexus Neuritis this summer I had an MRI of my cervical spine. It revealed concerning structural changes. The Neurologist shook her head and said "Oh my. You've really got something brewing here." She referred me to a Neurosurgeon - actually made me an appointment. Mind you I am a nurse but I became frightened and cancelled the appointment. Who can blame me for cancelling after all I have read on this thread? I will avoid surgery till I can no longer function.
What I did find in this old, long thread is some very good information - information like the Shiatsu pressure point procedure mentioned by Bill Brown this July.
Please members and visitors - begin that new thread - with a powerful (or catchy) title as Philnoir suggested this July. It'll help others and that's what this and other communities of MedHelp are all about - Help, Support and Information exchange.
If you're reading this after you have already posted on this thread - no problem. Copy and Paste your comment or question into a new thread. It's simple - just go to the top of this thread and in the Green Box on the right hand side it says, "Post A Question" - click on that and it will walk you through the process. I promise it will be far less painful than your cervical spine (neck) pain. :o)
I hope y'all find solutions for your pain and cervical issues. I look forward to hearing from each of you that are still reading and/or active.
Thanks So Much,
~Tuck
There is a lot of great information contained within - hidden among the multiple posts. I want encourage all new posters to begin a new thread - post - also called "Post A Question." It's easy and just takes a few more strokes.
I have nasty cervical spine pain. I had a cervical (neck) fracture of the C5 in 1985. Several years ago the cervical spine pain became chronic instead of sporadic and has gradually increased in intensity. Due to sudden onset of severe, Acute Brachical Plexus Neuritis this summer I had an MRI of my cervical spine. It revealed concerning structural changes. The Neurologist shook her head and said "Oh my. You've really got something brewing here." She referred me to a Neurosurgeon - actually made me an appointment. Mind you I am a nurse but I became frightened and cancelled the appointment. Who can blame me for cancelling after all I have read on this thread? I will avoid surgery till I can no longer function.
What I did find in this old, long thread is some very good information - information like the Shiatsu pressure point procedure mentioned by Bill Brown this July.
Please members and visitors - begin that new thread - with a powerful (or catchy) title as Philnoir suggested this July. It'll help others and that's what this and other communities of MedHelp are all about - Help, Support and Information exchange.
If you're reading this after you have already posted on this thread - no problem. Copy and Paste your comment or question into a new thread. It's simple - just go to the top of this thread and in the Green Box on the right hand side it says, "Post A Question" - click on that and it will walk you through the process. I promise it will be far less painful than your cervical spine (neck) pain. :o)
I hope y'all find solutions for your pain and cervical issues. I look forward to hearing from each of you that are still reading and/or active.
Thanks So Much,
~Tuck
I was in pain, running down my arm and back.Was talking loratob every 4-6 hours and it was doing nothing. Started taking nerotin and the oain went away. I've been pain free for 3 months. Ask your Dr's about this med, For nerve pain and not addicting
Thanks for sharing that information Bill, and welcome to the pain forum.
I like the way you write, and appreciate your contribution. But here's the nub -- when you add a comment to an old thread, there's a good chance that many people will miss your contribution as posts quickly roll off the page, replaced by new posts.
More importantly, the title of this old thread may not attract people looking for the information you've so generously shared.
We recommend that you begin a new and give it a powerful title, for instance, "Shiatsu Helps Pain of Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery", more people will find your information and will potentially derive help from your contribution.
Thanks again for sharing. It sounds like you know your stuff and I look forward to further contributions you'd like to offer. We don't have many writers here talking about alternative pain relief practices and I would love to see more.
We're about supporting people in the task of reducing their pain here -- no matter what the means.
Thanks again and best wishes.
I like the way you write, and appreciate your contribution. But here's the nub -- when you add a comment to an old thread, there's a good chance that many people will miss your contribution as posts quickly roll off the page, replaced by new posts.
More importantly, the title of this old thread may not attract people looking for the information you've so generously shared.
We recommend that you begin a new and give it a powerful title, for instance, "Shiatsu Helps Pain of Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery", more people will find your information and will potentially derive help from your contribution.
Thanks again for sharing. It sounds like you know your stuff and I look forward to further contributions you'd like to offer. We don't have many writers here talking about alternative pain relief practices and I would love to see more.
We're about supporting people in the task of reducing their pain here -- no matter what the means.
Thanks again and best wishes.
My wife just had disc replacement surgery. She has needed this surgery for over 20 years, her migraine headaches and severe neck and shoulder pain threatened to destroy her very active sports life. Luckily we found a Shiatsu practitioner who taught me how to find the pressure points that block the nerve from sending its pain message to the brain. Over a very short time, with practice, I became proficient. A strong disbeliever in all forms of alternate medicine I further researched this and found that many progressive doctors believe if you can interrupt the signal to/from the muscle that is in spasm, it can become relaxed or “reset” and the pain naturally goes away. This allowed my wife to live an active normal life and avoid surgery for 20 years—while waiting for more medical advances.
I only know what works consistently for my wife’s condition and while it has also worked for a few others I am by no means a specialist. Most neck, head and upper back pain appears to be caused by muscle spasm— cornic recurring pain equals chronic recurring spasm. This can be brought on from almost anything it’s a good idea to keep cause and effect notes.
Our method to reset the muscle is to have her sit upright on a low backed chair, lace her fingers together on the lap and allow the elbows and shoulders to sag towards the floor. No talking means less distractions and less muscle movement. Now I rest my fingers on the shoulders and probe the back with my thumbs pressing firmly in and out until the she jumps in pain or tells me it hurts by nodding her head once.
This is the point you’re looking for. It may feel like a pea sized lump in the muscle. The suffer must breathe very deeply and slowly in and out (yoga style) after 3 initial deep breaths I begin to press firmly (this will hurt) on the pressure point while she breathes in and out at least 3 more times. The pain at the pressure point will lessen after 3 to 9 breathing cycles. When the pain is greatly reduced or gone—I slowly release the pressure point.
Make sure you press all of the sore points in the same manner. A comfortable 15 minute rest period follows and the effects should be felt. The full effect may take an hour or more. Good luck, I hope this helps everyone.
Bill
I only know what works consistently for my wife’s condition and while it has also worked for a few others I am by no means a specialist. Most neck, head and upper back pain appears to be caused by muscle spasm— cornic recurring pain equals chronic recurring spasm. This can be brought on from almost anything it’s a good idea to keep cause and effect notes.
Our method to reset the muscle is to have her sit upright on a low backed chair, lace her fingers together on the lap and allow the elbows and shoulders to sag towards the floor. No talking means less distractions and less muscle movement. Now I rest my fingers on the shoulders and probe the back with my thumbs pressing firmly in and out until the she jumps in pain or tells me it hurts by nodding her head once.
This is the point you’re looking for. It may feel like a pea sized lump in the muscle. The suffer must breathe very deeply and slowly in and out (yoga style) after 3 initial deep breaths I begin to press firmly (this will hurt) on the pressure point while she breathes in and out at least 3 more times. The pain at the pressure point will lessen after 3 to 9 breathing cycles. When the pain is greatly reduced or gone—I slowly release the pressure point.
Make sure you press all of the sore points in the same manner. A comfortable 15 minute rest period follows and the effects should be felt. The full effect may take an hour or more. Good luck, I hope this helps everyone.
Bill
One thing you can do is get a second opinion from an objective spine doctor -- one who is not a surgeon.
I suggest seeing a specialist trained in pain management and the spine. These doctors are a board certified pain medicine specialists, credentialed with the initials MD, DABPM after their name. This means they have a diploma from the American Board of Pain Management.
These are doctors who are trained in advanced anesthesiology and treat chronic pain as a disease – not a symptom. They have a thorough understanding of the nervous system, the spine, the use of advanced pain medication, and are trained in techniques that can deliver pain relief with injections and other non-invasive procedures to specific areas of the body.
They are also experts at diagnosis of rare pain syndromes, like central pain, CRPS, and RDS.
You are showing signs of what's called "failed back syndrome" which really means "failed back surgery."
When the neck is injured or diseased, the lumbar spine compensates to keep your head over your pelvis.
A DABPM may offer alternative treatments to help reduce pain, and also look into your lumbar pain problem.
These docs are also skilled in the use of pain medication.
I suggest seeing a specialist trained in pain management and the spine. These doctors are a board certified pain medicine specialists, credentialed with the initials MD, DABPM after their name. This means they have a diploma from the American Board of Pain Management.
These are doctors who are trained in advanced anesthesiology and treat chronic pain as a disease – not a symptom. They have a thorough understanding of the nervous system, the spine, the use of advanced pain medication, and are trained in techniques that can deliver pain relief with injections and other non-invasive procedures to specific areas of the body.
They are also experts at diagnosis of rare pain syndromes, like central pain, CRPS, and RDS.
You are showing signs of what's called "failed back syndrome" which really means "failed back surgery."
When the neck is injured or diseased, the lumbar spine compensates to keep your head over your pelvis.
A DABPM may offer alternative treatments to help reduce pain, and also look into your lumbar pain problem.
These docs are also skilled in the use of pain medication.
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