[no subject]

iWhat is C-5 neural foraminal stenosis?

[sumbmw]

Hello...
this is exactly what i have not and im still trying to work it out myself hun

[LLWB]

C-5 neural foraminal stenois is: In your vertebra, there are holes in the bone where the nerves branch off from the spinal cord. When these foramin narrow, it puts pressure on the exiting nerves, causing symptoms where these nerves lead to. It can cause pain, numbness, tingles, loss of use, etc. Needs evaluation by a neuro-surgeon.

Hope this helps.

[honey_1991]

hi all
i am in the u.k. and am due to have a formainotomy in 3 wks. time i also had a car accident 14 yrs ago. i now have probs at c6-c7 my nuerosurgeon says pain management ie. spinal injections and drugs wont help as MRI scan shows stenosis nerve compression and spondelities he did say there are risks involved gave me some time to think about the op. but did not really explain the risks or recovery time just said my husband would have to do everything for me for about a month can anyone tell me anymore ie. how long is it before you can drive and get back some normal life am worried and frightened as dont know what to expect.

[LLWB]

I had C5-6 fused June 2007. I could not lift over 10lbs for a month. My daughter came and stayed with me, as I'm a widow. I was in a lot of pain for the first week or so, but then it improved fairly rapidly. I didn't wear a collar at all, my neuor-surgeon doesn't believe in them. I drove a very short distance in two weeks, but probably shouldn't have. At the end of one month, my daughter flew back home, and I went back to work 8 hrs a day driving. A little challenging, but was released for work so no choice.  Neck surgery is scary, but I was showing signs of nerve damage, numbness, tingling, weakness, in my arm and hand, so not a lot of choice. I would do it again. My biggest concern is that once the first fusion is done, it puts a lot of strain on the next levels, possible leading to more problems, more surgery. Now I have C4-5 bulging. I have lots of stenosis and osteophytes., and nerve entrapment at C4-5 left foraminal opening. I will be looking at further surgery at a later date. But my problems caused from degenerative osteo-arthritis and disc disease, not an accident. An accident might not have different future outlook. I don't know about that. Good luck with the surgery. It's difficult, but not bad if you follow the post surgical instructions.

[honey_1991]

hi,
thanks for telling me of your experience with the op. i must say am not looking forward to my op. but know that my symptoms are getting worse first just the deadness in left hand then pins and needles and always cold, now pain in arm and neck. so really no option, had carpal tunnel ops on both arms done many years ago, also have fibromyalgia so when this first started happening did not think much of it and it was only mentioning it to my Dr. when i visited her for somthing else that she sent me to see a ortho surgeon then he sent me for nerve conservation test thinknig carpal tunnel needed doing again then when it showed it was further up in neck/shoulder they sent me for MRI. and then sent me to Neurosurgeon when he got results and from august to now the problems have really accelerated but though I know it has to be done I am not looking forward to the op. how long were you in hospital ? was yours in the back of your neck or the front ? thanks again for the info. its good to ask someone who has had the same op.

[honey_1991]

did you have much post op. pain medication ? SORRY MEANT TO INCLUDE THE QUESTION IN THE LAST POST. take care.

[LLWB]

Mine was a frontal surgery. I was supposed to be out of the hospital on the same day, but I reacted badly to the morphone, so was kept in overnight. I was first surgery in am, and should have been out by 4 pm. I was really surprised by that, and worried, but as it turned out it didn't happen, I took pain meds for the first two weeks, then tapered them off slowly. I drive for my work, so couldn't take them while driving. Had pain pills to take when I got home after work. All in all, I would say the pain was only really bad the first week. But my daughter stayed with me, and I didn't do anything not allowed by the dr's orders. I really didn't want to screw it up, and have teo go back in and have it done again. My surgeon assured me that my neck was stronger immediately after surgery, with the titanium plate and screws, than it was before the surgery. I was allowed to turn my head as much as I was comfortable with. Which wasn't a lot at first, as you can imagine! I too have CT in both wrists, and fibro as well as type 2 diabetes, osteo-arthritis, and disk disease. Might say I'm a work in progress. On my way to being the bionic woman. Good luck on your surgery.