Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

nerve damage after cervical surgery

In Feb '08 I had a disectomy on c/5/6.  After leaving the hospital I had an occassion where my heart stoppeed and I went unconscious.  They put me back in the hospital where my heart stopped for 12.6 seconds causing unconsciousness. The next day (also in Feb '08) I had a double lead pacemaker put in.  I am now and have been suffering from major headaches  (that make me vomit) drop in blood pressure  dizziness and severe neck and shoulder pain.  My neuro has me on hydroco and is going to do a myelogram.  I am wondering if he damaged the vagus nerve during surgey
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I do have some dizziness, but I normaly have a low blood pressure all the time.  I still have neck and shoulder pain.  The fusion did get rid of the nerve pain that went down my arm and into my fingers.  
Before the surgery I had the headaches and vomiting also.  So the surgery did me some good but I am waiting to see if this neck pain stops.

As far as the myelogram. I was sent by my surgeon to another facility and the guy that did it was soemone who does diagnostic imaging.  Again not to scare you but I would never have one again, I have had low back surgery, cervical fusion, two kids, and I would do all those things again before I would spend one minute having the myelogram procedure done.  It was a pain that I wouldn't wish on anyone.  I seriously thought I had been hit by lightening my feet felt like they were blown off.  I had to leave in my hospital gown, because I could't stand for anyhting to touch my feet, not even a bed sheet for the first 5 days or so.  I wound up in the ER and then my neuro doctor the next day then the day after that I had the spinal fluid headache that lasted 3 days.  And still have numbness and pain in my R leg and foot.
Maybe your neurosurgeon will do yours, Just ask whoeverdoes it, what level they are putting the needle in at, and make sure it is at L3 or lower.

Good luck llet me know how it goes.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have not had a myelogram before. I assumed that the neuro surgeon did it.  That is how much I know. However I talked to my cardiologist today and he said that where I had to stop my plavix and asprirn in Feb/Mar 08  for over a month (cervical spine surgery and pacemaker implant) that it may be too soon to stop it again.

Have you had any similar problems like heart stopping, LBP, hearing loss or no taste PLUS PAIN.  And what do you find effective for the pain?
Thanks N
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't have any answers for you, but I was wandering if you had ever had a myelogram before?  If not then make sure to do a little background on the person doing it.  I had one about ten months ago, and still have pain and numbness down my leg foot and toes.  I don't want to scare you, but just do a little background check and see how often this person does myelograms.  The problem for me was that the needle was placed to high on my spine in the T12 area and the doctor hit my spinal cord.  He should have been down in the L2-L3 area.

I feel for you I just had a c5 c6 fusion a couple months ago.
Good Luck,  I wish you quick recovery!!!  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease