Cervical Spine Fusion

[dionenicole]

32 YO FE, car accident in 9/04. my drivers door was hit going 45-50 MPH. ER said my hip or pelvis not broken, just had contusions and was released. Saw my primary doc on day 3. He said my L SI was off so I needed ajustments go to the chiropractor and to rest, MY whole body hurt at that point, I was really out of it. and had a terrible headache that lasted several days. followed-up in 2 weeks w/ prim doc, by that time felt much worse,left side. Had an MRI which revealed "C3/4 and C4/5 posterior disk margin mildly bulging w/out focal protrusion. Large C5/6 disk protrusion. max of 5mm AP diameter on left, moderate degree of central canal stenosis w/ posterior cord displacement, AP cord flattening &flattening of left anterior cervical cord. Slight disk bulging at L5-S1". Please interpete to me! I had neck pain, shoulder pain and radiating pain down my arm. I felt like I hit my funny bone constantly  now gone. stiff neck, painful between shoulder blades, still my L buttock hurts down my L leg. Left knee feels torn. underwent Anterior Cervical Distecomy w/ spinal fusion on C5/6. in mid Oct 04. Still having Shoulder pain, & Limited ROM, had MRI on Shoulder showed inflamation (inflammation). Still has weakness, heaviness, numbness in Left arm/hand. on oral meds, PT and Chiropractor adjustments 3-4 times a week since accident. I've had the 3rd Epidural Steroid in lumbar spine, Low back feels alittle better but mid back, butt and L leg still hurts. Not sure if L leg/knee could be injured or if this is "sciatica" which is what I'm told. Any opinion on this would help, & an interpetation of MRI resul

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

I can only give you an interpretation of the report, and I cannot determine the quality of the scan or accuracy of the report myself.
It seems that between the 5th and 6th cervical vertbrae, the disc had been sqeezed out from between the vertebrae and was causing some pressure on the left side of the spinal cord. This can cause pain in the shoulder and neck, and upper arm along with some possible weakness or clumsiness of the left side. There did not seem to be any significant disc or spinal cord problem in the lower spine

Even after surgery, it is possible to have recurrent disc herniation or scarring which may be a cause of persistent pain - have you had another MRI?

Remember that following trauma, the spinal cord and discs may not be the only structure to cause persistent pain/discomfort, there are also soft tissues, ligaments, tendons etc that can cause persistent pain. Also, Surgery to repair a disc that does cause cord compression will prevent any worsening of the problem but may not necessarily cure the symptoms up to that point.
Good luck

[dionenicole]

Thanks for interpeting the MRI results, etc... It is now 7 months since the MVA/injuries. I have recently returned back to work and am having a hard time, recently pain in the back side of my neck which scares me, I don't want those syptoms (symptoms) to reoccur like pre op, I think looking down, etc. at work all day makes this bothersome. Overall it is very hard to work due to the pain, but I really want to try... "to get my life back" and catch up on Bills. I was off for 6+ months.
I am still in pain daily...Left shoulder: front, back, center, side area is very painful still and limited ROM, down arm to hand weakness, numbness & heaviness. for awhile doc's thought I may have frozen shoulder... but now some think I have RSD. My L hand is cooler 2-3 degrees and has slight change in color and swelling. Sometimes fingernails have bluish cast in left hand. (ring and pinky fingers) I wear an Ulnar pad  which doesn't seem to help. but the surgeon said to try it.
All syptoms (symptoms) seem worse at night.
Mid back & shoulder blade area pain. still on Meds, PT & Chiro.
Left buttock still hurts, very tender to touch or sitting for long periods of time or on hard surface. Left knee still feels torn and very bother some when I walk on treadmill (just started walking on t/m recently) at the end of the day... it hurts alot, After 3rd Epidural Streoid Injection in Lumbar spine, Lower back pain and Sciatica has degreased to minimal.
I am now going to the Pain Center that my primary doctor sent me to. They say I have the symptoms related to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and I have an EMG test scheduled.  Will the EMG test confirm RSD? Is RSD related to nerve damage which is what my surgeon thinks is a possibility? And is it possible to have RSD on the whole Left side? Any info re. this will be greatly appreciated! I have been so overwhelmed with all of this, It has been really hard!