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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Is this the healing process?
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Is this the healing process?
by firstwildflower, Jun 27, 2001 12:00AM
History:Female, 60 yrs. of age. Had anterior cervical discetomy at C7-T1 level with a hip graft and Codman plating 8/16/00. I have profound Brown Siquard syndrome hemiparesis. I was still left with dysesthesias and paresthesias along the root distribution on the left side greater than the right.
5/10/01, had a myelogram which showed I had spinal cord compression again from two vert. pinching together. Had another anterior cervical discetomy on 5/16/01. This time they went farther down and took two peices of bone from the thoracic area, used these plus a metal cage to stabilize the area. Filled the metal cage w/scrapings of arthritis build-up. Had OT and PT home care since coming home from surgery. The little & ring fingers of left hand have not recovered since first surgery. I get sharp, and sometimes throbbing pains whenever I use them or try to do resistive exercises. I do take 1800 MG of neurontin daily, which helps greatly. As long as I do not use the fingers there is no pain usually. Would a TENS and a FES unit help my situation? I do have wasting of the muscles on the left side worse than the left.
I am unable to walk w/o a walker to date. I get severe leg jerks (don't know medical term).I do have very sensitive reflexes from my thigh down.
My feet burn & are very sensitive also. My left foot and leg seem to retain water since surgery. I also seem to get throbbing, stabbing pains inside my big toes.
Are all these symptoms the healing process? Like the nerves that were damaged are awakening and healing?
Have many more symptoms, but this is already too long. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
5/10/01, had a myelogram which showed I had spinal cord compression again from two vert. pinching together. Had another anterior cervical discetomy on 5/16/01. This time they went farther down and took two peices of bone from the thoracic area, used these plus a metal cage to stabilize the area. Filled the metal cage w/scrapings of arthritis build-up. Had OT and PT home care since coming home from surgery. The little & ring fingers of left hand have not recovered since first surgery. I get sharp, and sometimes throbbing pains whenever I use them or try to do resistive exercises. I do take 1800 MG of neurontin daily, which helps greatly. As long as I do not use the fingers there is no pain usually. Would a TENS and a FES unit help my situation? I do have wasting of the muscles on the left side worse than the left.
I am unable to walk w/o a walker to date. I get severe leg jerks (don't know medical term).I do have very sensitive reflexes from my thigh down.
My feet burn & are very sensitive also. My left foot and leg seem to retain water since surgery. I also seem to get throbbing, stabbing pains inside my big toes.
Are all these symptoms the healing process? Like the nerves that were damaged are awakening and healing?
Have many more symptoms, but this is already too long. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-RPS, Jun 27, 2001 12:00AM
Dear FirstWildFlower:
Sorry that your having problems. I do not think all of your symptoms are from the healing process. It sounds like most are from your spinal column and the surgeries you have undergone. TENS might be a help as well as going up on the neurontin. However, these will probably only help the pain and not much of the loss of function. What you need is to prevent further damamge. Continued PT and OT will help. I am sorry that your problems have given you such terrible symptoms.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry that your having problems. I do not think all of your symptoms are from the healing process. It sounds like most are from your spinal column and the surgeries you have undergone. TENS might be a help as well as going up on the neurontin. However, these will probably only help the pain and not much of the loss of function. What you need is to prevent further damamge. Continued PT and OT will help. I am sorry that your problems have given you such terrible symptoms.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
