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ACD without fusion C6/7
Hi never posted here before....but only found this site tonight:)
I am 36 Male..I had a disc prolapse/slip at c6/7 with nerve root compression LH side...pain with the injury was unbelievable..numb in LH thumb..next finger and of upper LH palm..numb over whole LH forearm..elbow..shoulder...severe pain radiating over shoulder..neck...head..very weak in LH arm..had CT scan followed by MRI which showed damaged area...i was layed up on heavy meds for around 6 weeks untill surgery was available...4 days post op was sent home..the reason for no fusion was because I was still young??
It is now Jan 2008 2 years post opp....pain is still a day to day thing but no where as bad....but still have numbness in LH forearm..weekness...muscle wastage 3cms above elbow and 3cms below..lost reflexes..elbow..thumb..next finger..palm..shoulder...neck with headaches..always tired but have trouble going off to sleep because of all the muscle spasms going on...but hey i am alive...
I am on ampitripaline...epilon...paracedamol with codene...sorry for spelling :)..
the nerve pain just will not go..I have beeen back to my Neuro...he says that it is permanent damage to spinal cord and nerve root...
over the past 6/7 weeks I have been suffering from cronic headaches to the extent you hold your head in pain..they come from the back of my head and come over and whack my whole head..it hurts to touch my face...but these headaches don't want to go away..the ones when you go to bed with one.you wake with one and you have it all day...currently been chewing 12 paracedomol tabs a day plus others...seen my GP today...CT scan Monday...scanning brain and cervical...
all other previous MRI after surgery 12 months...scar tissue building at damaged area...could this be the cause???? help please....am still young with alot to look forward to in life...
I am 36 Male..I had a disc prolapse/slip at c6/7 with nerve root compression LH side...pain with the injury was unbelievable..numb in LH thumb..next finger and of upper LH palm..numb over whole LH forearm..elbow..shoulder...severe pain radiating over shoulder..neck...head..very weak in LH arm..had CT scan followed by MRI which showed damaged area...i was layed up on heavy meds for around 6 weeks untill surgery was available...4 days post op was sent home..the reason for no fusion was because I was still young??
It is now Jan 2008 2 years post opp....pain is still a day to day thing but no where as bad....but still have numbness in LH forearm..weekness...muscle wastage 3cms above elbow and 3cms below..lost reflexes..elbow..thumb..next finger..palm..shoulder...neck with headaches..always tired but have trouble going off to sleep because of all the muscle spasms going on...but hey i am alive...
I am on ampitripaline...epilon...paracedamol with codene...sorry for spelling :)..
the nerve pain just will not go..I have beeen back to my Neuro...he says that it is permanent damage to spinal cord and nerve root...
over the past 6/7 weeks I have been suffering from cronic headaches to the extent you hold your head in pain..they come from the back of my head and come over and whack my whole head..it hurts to touch my face...but these headaches don't want to go away..the ones when you go to bed with one.you wake with one and you have it all day...currently been chewing 12 paracedomol tabs a day plus others...seen my GP today...CT scan Monday...scanning brain and cervical...
all other previous MRI after surgery 12 months...scar tissue building at damaged area...could this be the cause???? help please....am still young with alot to look forward to in life...
hi
I get drilled all the time about smoking and yes i am on the quit program with my GP as well as Pysc.pain management and the rest..i am hopefull that the CT will reveal something...I also work full time..the DR's ask me all the time how long can I continue to work as well as deal with this everyday..sent off work today unfit by my GP for the rest of the month maybe I should consider looking after number 1..thanks Jain advice is gr8 :)
I get drilled all the time about smoking and yes i am on the quit program with my GP as well as Pysc.pain management and the rest..i am hopefull that the CT will reveal something...I also work full time..the DR's ask me all the time how long can I continue to work as well as deal with this everyday..sent off work today unfit by my GP for the rest of the month maybe I should consider looking after number 1..thanks Jain advice is gr8 :)
Hi,
You mentioned that you smoke 20cigarettes/day. I think that could be reason for delayed healing after anterior cervical discectomy.
There are many reasons why vertebrae fail to heal. These include smoking, osteoporosis, obesity, and malnutrition.
Smoking is by far the greatest factor that can prevent a cervical healing. Nicotine is a toxin that inhibits bone-growing cells. If you continue to smoke after your operation, you could undermine the healing process.
I hope you understand how dangerous it is to smoke with context of your surgery.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
You mentioned that you smoke 20cigarettes/day. I think that could be reason for delayed healing after anterior cervical discectomy.
There are many reasons why vertebrae fail to heal. These include smoking, osteoporosis, obesity, and malnutrition.
Smoking is by far the greatest factor that can prevent a cervical healing. Nicotine is a toxin that inhibits bone-growing cells. If you continue to smoke after your operation, you could undermine the healing process.
I hope you understand how dangerous it is to smoke with context of your surgery.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
Hi my name is Craig...age 36..
20 a day smoker..
fusion was not performed as he believed my age was on my side..I was in good physical health and should recover well...had a decompression as well i think it was called..have been back about issues he said there was little he could do....maybe further surgery down the road if it persisted..he chose not to fuse me...all I wanted was not to be in pain...but the pain remains..right now numb and achy...
will keep you posted
thanks
20 a day smoker..
fusion was not performed as he believed my age was on my side..I was in good physical health and should recover well...had a decompression as well i think it was called..have been back about issues he said there was little he could do....maybe further surgery down the road if it persisted..he chose not to fuse me...all I wanted was not to be in pain...but the pain remains..right now numb and achy...
will keep you posted
thanks
Hi,
What is your name? How old are you?
You have undergone anterior cervical discectomy without fusion (ACD):
It is a procedure performed to treat a damaged disc in the neck area of your spine. It is used to treat bulging and herniated disc (corresponding to your case).
“Anterior” means that your doctor reaches the damaged disc from the front of your neck.
Are you a smoker?
Why was fusion surgery not performed?
I always believed that younger you are better is healing post-operatively.
Your MRI is been reported as having scar tissue at damaged area, which I think is the cause for your numbness, tingling and nerve compression at cervical level.
I think you should be going back to surgeon and discuss with him regarding this scar tissue and its management.
Keep me informed.
Bye.
What is your name? How old are you?
You have undergone anterior cervical discectomy without fusion (ACD):
It is a procedure performed to treat a damaged disc in the neck area of your spine. It is used to treat bulging and herniated disc (corresponding to your case).
“Anterior” means that your doctor reaches the damaged disc from the front of your neck.
Are you a smoker?
Why was fusion surgery not performed?
I always believed that younger you are better is healing post-operatively.
Your MRI is been reported as having scar tissue at damaged area, which I think is the cause for your numbness, tingling and nerve compression at cervical level.
I think you should be going back to surgeon and discuss with him regarding this scar tissue and its management.
Keep me informed.
Bye.
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