What now?

[bheilman]

My MRI report is as follows:

There is straightening od the cervical lordosis. Again noted is evidence of c6-7 discectomy and fusion with plate and screw device transfixing the spine anteriorly at this level. susceptibility artifact does obscure detail within the vertebral bodies of C6 and C7 due to metalic fixation.

at c2-3 there is some mild disc bulge. no significant abnormality

at c3-4 There is generalized disc bulge with right lateral disc protusion. Moderate narrowing of the right neural foramen and lateral rescess is present. Left neural foramen is patent. Mild to moderate central canal stenosis is noted.

at c4-5 there is generalized disc bulge without significant central canal stenosis or significant neural forminal narrowing

at c5-6 there is generalized disc bulge and posterior spondylitic ridging and mild to moderate central canal stenosis but no significant cord compression. Mild to moderate bilateral neural forminal narrowing is present.

at c6-7 post surgical changes are noted. no significant central canal stenosis is present. The right neural foramen is patent and again noted is the mild to moderate left neural foraminal narrowing.

at c7-t1 no significant abnormality.

Impression post surgical and degenerative changes as described. A new right lateral disc protrusion is present at c3-4 which narrows the right neural foramen and lateral recess.

I have pain in both shoulders more so on the right than the left. I am also experiencing intermitten numbness in fingers and weakness in my bicept. I have constant neck pain and a stabbing pain between my shoulderblades when i try to lift my head. I had an anterior discectomy and fusion to the c6-7 in May 2010 and I have had problems off and on every since. When i talked to my Ortho about this MRI he said "I can do another fusion but You are way to young to have these problems." ( I am only 42) I asked if home traction, steroid epidurals or accupuncture could maybe help and he said You can try those then sent me out the door with no feedback other than " that may work." for each alternative treatment i asked about and told me. "Call me when you decide to have the fusion surgery" I feel utterly lost, confused and in pain. I scheduled a spinal epidural with the pain management specialist I saw last year for epidural injections. He can't see me until the 8th. I have no idea where to find information on home traction such as how much weight to use how often and for what amount of time. It''s not like i can just guess. I called to try to get in to see anoher Dr. for a second opinion and was told he would not see me because it is too soon after my last discectomy and fusion. I explained that this was a problem that was unrelated to the surgical site. This is a rupture of a disc above the last fusion and I was told my message would be conveyed to the Dr., but it was doubtful he would see me. What am I supposed to do? I have lost all trust in my previous Dr. I've had problems with bulging disc issues every since the discectomy and fusion surgery and now I have another rupture. I have heard multi level fusions cause even more problems. I just want fixed. I am tired of hurting.

[selmaS]

  Hi...since this current Dr is not offering the help u seek, mayb u should seek an opinion of another Dr ...just a thought.

But, the Dr works for u, not the other way round,..they can be intimidating and we leave frustrated....

  I also understand ur reluctance to even consider surgery again, I have put much thought into my own spine surgery and putting it off as long as possible.

  Keep pushing for answers : )

      "selma"

[bheilman]

I am not blaming my Dr. for any of these new issues. I simply want help in trying to navigate my options in getting on the right track. Selma, I wasn't in an auto accident. I was in an extremely abusive marriage. The only thing I can figure is that I got slammed into a wall or hit one too many times.

My Dr.‘s theory is the fact that I have been a heavy smoker since my teens is the main reason I am having so many problems. I have quit cold turkey since my last appointment with him. I haven't touched a cig and won't allow anyone to smoke around me. I hope it isn't too little too late. Osteoarthritis is also a factor. My mother has had it since her early 30's and from what I have read it is hereditary.

The last surgery I got May 10, 2010 was the discectomy and fusion at c6-7. I agreed to that surgery because I had been in severe pain and my neck was locked to the right side for over a month and I was losing feeling in my right hand. My Dr. told me I could go for a second opinion but that I would be postponing the inevitable. I was getting the surgery 3 days later.

I don't blame my current problems on the surgery, nor do I blame my Dr. However he seems so defensive. I have done my research. I had my list of questions. I got no straight answers other than "sure that could help" or "you can try that". He didn't even do a range of motion test nor did he feel where the muscles were spasming. It was a hands off going strictly from the MRI report doctor's visit. I don't understand how he can adequately diagnose the problem and advise me as to the best course of action that way.

I don't want to do more harm than good by guessing what I should do, nor do I want to agree to a surgery if there are other alternatives. I also don't want to be hooked on opiates and muscle relaxers for the rest of my life. I am confused, scared, and quite frankly angry at the lack of answers.

Too add to the frustration I tried to make an appointment with a different specialist and I was told since it was soon after the last discectomy that he wouldn't even schedule me for a consultation for a second opinion. So here I am trying to figure this out on my own to avoid being cut on again in pain. I'm totally lost. This is my spine we are talking about, not a stubbed toe. I am fully aware of the damage and consequences of making the wrong choice. I just don't know what to do.

[Caryopteris]

I know somebody in the same boat.  I doubt she is even 40 yet.  Maybe.  She did fine with her cervical spine surgery, but now her lumbar spine is crumbling.  I know you feel like your surgeon let you down because now you have more problems, but fusions are not perfect fixes because fusing one area makes other areas more vulnerable.  The lower back is usually more problematic than the upper spine because there is more weight on the lower back.  

I think it's odd that your surgeon said you were way too young to have all these problems, but then didn't seem to have a theory as to why you do, indeed have them.  It seems like they try to make the patient feel guilty just to get the pressure off themselves, although it isn't really their fault that nobody has come up with a better solution to these spine problems than fusion.  It's the best we have, but it's not good.  Whether you ran headfirst into a wall during a high school basketball game or were involved in a 90-mph helicopter accident 2 years ago is a moot point.  This is the back you have and you want to know what you can do to alleviate pain like you expected the first surgery to do.  I hope you can find relief, but I think they will all tell you that the spine needs to heal from the first surgery completely and see how your back is going to handle it a while longer before they monkey with it again.

[selmaS]

  Hi...I hope u don't mind I have a few questions since u r so young to have these disk and spine issues...were u in a MVA?

If not, were u tested to see y  u might have disk issues like joint instability due to conditions like Ehlers-Danlos.....???

   If u did not have all the other issues PT might help with the loss of cervical lordosis...and massage with a experience masseuse....

But u have so much going on that there must be something going on if u haven't had an injury to cause all this.

   "selma"