cervical disc prolapse at C5-C6

[jeji]

i have cervical disc prolapse at C5-C6. I have undergone a artificial disc replacement surgery at C5-C6. I felt numbness on my right side of the body.After the surgery i felt some improvement.M 23 years old. By taking a MRI scan it is found that Posterior central disc protrusion and bilateral paracentral osteophyte disc complex at C5-C6 level causing central canal and bilateral exit foramen stenosis thus compressing the spinal cord and right exiting C6 nerve root.Spinal cord signal alteration also noted at the same level. My symptoms are difference of sence on my right side and numbness. After the surgery there is sllight improvement. My question is whether i will recover completely or not from the disorders i have at present. And whethere there will be any future problems because of this.

[jeji]

Thank you for kind response. I had undergone the erivical spine surgery at C5-C6 level.An artificial disc has been replaced. I want to know whether i will recover from the symptoms or not. My symptoms are numbness ,nack pain and difference in sense on my right side of my body.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Most likely possibility could be your cervical disc bulge that irritates nerve roots & causes numbness or swelling in the arm and pain at back portion of the head. This originates from the neck problems due to irritation in the cervical (neck) spine since the nerves that supply these areas start in the upper cervical spine. It will be best that you consult a neurologist who would like to prescribe Pain killers, steroid and muscle relaxants. Other treatments could be cervical orthosis such as a soft cervical collar or stiffer neck brace to restrict neck movement. In addition, cervical traction may also be suggested by the doctor, if condition is severe. Hope this helps.

[ggreg]

You probably will achieve recovery, but how much depends on a few things.  If you only had your disc prolapse for less than a year, for example, probably the nerves that were affected were not damaged too much.  Also, you didn't say how far out you were from your operation, but the swelling from the procedure takes a pretty long time to go down, like months, plus it takes a while for all your muscles and other tissues to get used to their "new" improved positions.  And you may always feel residual discomfort as a result of your original injury.  The main thing is they have removed the things that were pushing on various nerve locations, and they have put in a replacement disc to keep your spine in better working order, and that is something to be thankful for, whatever the extent of your recovery.  Talk to the doctor who is treating you for all this about these matters, though, I am only giving a layperson's reply as relates to my own experiences with a goofed-up back.