Disectomy and rods

[Tursiops]

I have degenerative neck  had C3-C6 connected with 2 rods posterior.  almost been a year (april)  the slightest tap on the back of my neck shoots down the arm/chest and sometimes all the way to the feet.  Additionally still have alot of pain at base of neck that radiates down back as day goes on and meds wear off.  Have been on 12 different meds (neurontin/relaxers/opiates/antidepressants, all to no avail.  had steroid injections/ facet joint injections and rhiziotomy (sp?)  took care of a couple sharp pains, but the major problem is persistent.  after my last visit i requested all xrays and med file. Looked at xrays from after surgery and a week later and there is what appears to be a metal object (disc spacer?) that appeared mi-dline of spine on day 1 and moved by end of first week?  it is not part of the 2 rods and 8 screws and dont know what im looking at and if its moved somewhere else?  Have sought out a new Dr but cant see him until end of april.  Presently on  hydrocodone, which is the only thing that works but now with no pain dr or neuro at present i dont know what i am going to do until end of april.  any professional suggestions?, .  . I have photos of my xrays but for some reason this forum doesnt give me the option of upload as in the public forum.

[Tursiops]

Nickname on this site is   Tursiops  will bring you to my profile with pics

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Can't find.
Send me a friend request from that id, so that i can see it.

[Tursiops]

I posted the xrays in my profile on this site for you

[Tursiops]

i posted pics on my facebook but it wont let me add you as friend so these pics should be viewable to anyone.  look up Tim Hoffland on facebook  Im the one NOT in pheonix az.  let me know what you think.

thanks

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
Via this forum, there i no provision to see the X-Ray.
Maybe you can upload the same on facebook and then i can have a look on it.
Regards..

[Tursiops]

  Thank you for your reply,  how would i be able to get pics of xrays to you.  I understand the  xray deceiving at certain angles, but i feel what i am seeing is in addition to the 8screws and 2 rods.   The experience i am getting when my neck is tapped is not pain but shooting electrical impulse that shoots to my feet.  If it was due to extra load on c6-c7, i would expect this shooting to come when i bend my neck, but this doesnt happen, but when neck is straight and will occur if i burp,couch, or tap it.  If it were just a nerve root i would also expect the shooting impulse to occur in one area (down arm) but not to run full length of body?  this is very disturbing.  i was at neurologist 2 weeks ago and he pretty much says, "i dont know why you are in pain or are getting the shooting impulses", but if you want further surgery (down to T1) to come back and see him.  this is just not an acceptable answer and i have made appnt to seek another dr but not for another month.  Just want someone to look at these xrays and tell me in their professional opinion what it is i am looking at.
  thank you

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
Many thanks for posting the question via my forum.
I apologize for the slight delay in answering you.

We have 7 cervical vertebrae and they are interconnected to each other via various ligaments and we have got discs , which acts as spacers(via filling the space in-between the 2 discs).
These discs are under constant load (due to the weight of the head) and hence any unwanted movement can decrease the power of the disc(ie elasticity).

Whenever we do a joint fusion, there is a double pressure created on the joint above and below the fusion.
In your case, the doctor has fused C-3 to C6 ( ie 3 levels of joints are fused). So there has been an enormous pressure over the C2 - C3 and C6-C7 interface, which may be causing pressure/weakness over the joint.
It is due to the same reason, you feel pain on the slightest tap over the neck.

Now as far as your doubts are concerned, i would just tell you that the metal objects which you are viewing are nothing but the "Rods" and "Screws" and due to different angle of the X-Ray, you are seeing it as a change on direction, of these instruments.

I would be able to view your X-Ray, but am dead sure about my comment on it.
If still you want to have a re-look, then i would prefer you to go for an MRI (provided the implants used were titanium).
If the implants used were "Stainless Steel" then MRI can be done and you need to go or a MD-CT scan.
And i think, over pressure is the root cause of all the problem, so till you are able to meet your doctor, try wearing a "Hard Cervical Collar", so that your neck gets and additional support.

Please feel free to discuss more, if you have slightest of doubts.
Regards..

[Tursiops]

That was a well spent $5

[Tursiops]

That was a well spent $5