Need help soon

[needhelpsoon1]

I've already had a corpectomy with fusion C6/7, now have disc bulge at C5/6 and also an osteophyte into the spinal canal.  I also have permanent nerve damage in my left arm.  I am in chronic neck, shoulder/between shoulder blades and in both arms pain, burning.  I've been told another fusion is my only option.  I've already tried epidural injections (3) and trigger point injections.  I am not having severe right arm pain with severe ELBOW pain.  I have to wait until November to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic.  HELP!!!  I am on Lyrica, Vicodin, sleeping pills...I can not funciton properly and now can not pick up anything with my right hand.  Today they said I have tennis elbow and injected my elbow with cortisone.  My elbow is now extremely swollen as well as my right hand.  Do you think this is tennis elbow or coming from the pinched nerves in my neck?  Do you think I should go through another fusion?  How many levels can I have fused before I can't turn my neck any longer?  Could this be gout in my elbow?  Could this be carpal tunnel?  I can't image going through another corpectomy, I was allergic to the stitches, anesthesia, was in PT forever trying to get my range of motion back, couldn't swollow.  Now another incision through the neck!  The elbow pain is almost as bad as the neck pain.  What should I do??  Can I wait safely until November to be seen and not risk more permanent nerve damage?  At what point does the damage become permenent.  I know this is lengthy, but I am falling fast, gained about 20 pounds due to inactivity and pain!  Please help me!

[needhelpsoon1]

Well the Dr. forum (finally figured it out) is temporarily disabled by medhelp, come to think of it, that is what it said the first time when I got through to this forum.  I wonder how long they are disabled?

[needhelpsoon1]

Thank you for your responses.  I'm confused on how to "ask a Dr.", I went under the ask a Dr. forum and do not see any other way to post?  They did infect my elbow on Monday and it may  have helped a litle, so maybe this is tennis elbow?  Time will tell with that one, now if I just knew if I should have further surgery on the cervical.  I know I will lost more range of motion and hardly got through the first surgery 3 years ago.  I can't go through this every 3 years.  Good luck to each of you as well, this is definately frustrating.

[coffee12]

My Hubby had the same surgery you had 1 and a half years ago and he still is suffering ervere neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow, and No its not tennis elbow they feed him that garbage, It was from the pinched nerves! You should not wait to be seen, go to the ER there and they will call that Dr. in if you already have app. with them and in that bad shape. My hubby loss all use of left arm and hand, and he never got any use of it back. Good luck With Lots Of Prayers!!!

[LLWB]

Did you get full range of motion back from the first fusion? Another fusion next to it will limit your range of motion to some degree. I'm not sure how much. I had C5-6 fused past June with complete disc removal. I too am still suffering severe neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow, etc. In fact I could have written your post. Normal I don't think carpal tunnel causes swelling. I would guess more from pinched nerves. Before my fusion I had 6 months of conservative therapy, with no improvement so had the surgery. Permanent damage is a very slow process, so I think waiting for the Cleveland Clinic would be all right. But I am not a dr.If you want a Dr.'s opinion, click up above on forums, and post on the dr forum as this is pt to pt forum. But there a lot of really knowledgable individuals who post on this site.  I still have bulging disc at T-8, and bulging disc at L4-5, with stenosis, etc. so am in a lot of pain too. Cradleing a towel warmed in the dryer and laying down seems to help relax the nerves and muscles for me. I too have gain weight, not being able to exercise. I know it's very frustrating. Good luck and God bless.

[needhelpsoon1]

I am new to this forum, any idea on the time frame for a response?  Thanks, I'm in agony.