cervical disc replacement

[pam1962]

I had disc replacement at c6/c7 in December last year. A couple of months ago I starting getting dizziness and headaches. It has got so bad I have difficulty going out on my own.
I have seen aa trauma specialist who said it isn't your neck, and a  E.N.T. specialist who said it's your neck . I'm going round in circles and feeling very distressed. It doesn't seem to be accepted in the uk like it is in the States.
Can you give me any advise?. Or maybe something I can mention to my Surgeon when I see him next.

[Dr_Nassim]

Hello, please give me some more information about your symptoms, I mean can you explain me more what are you feeling?
Dizziness; may be the ear or the brain (medulla oblongata or cerebellum). If the ear possibility was ruled out go toward confirming a brain explanation by a brain MRI with Diffusion Sequence !
an important question to which I will wait for an answer; do you had any voice change?

Try to take dramamine 50 mg 3 times daily
waiting for further steps
Dr Nassim

[pam1962]

A related discussion, problems with neck and hands was started.

[Dr_Nassim]

Ok start using a soft cervical collar during your sleep time and during car travel and hard movements. Ok for a neck ultrasoung echography.
Till now I suspect a Bilateral Uncarthrosis (calcifications) of the intervertebral probably C6-C7

[pam1962]

Dear Doctor
Thank you for your continued advice it is very welcome.
I have visited my Neurologist and he has said the same as you that a M.R.I. is not really the right thing as I have already had a disc replacement. He has suggested I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand, but not in my right. I find this strange as I am getting the same symptoms in both hands.
He has also suggested I have phyiso therapy as he has suggested that my nerves are probably not behaving right and need to be retrained.
Do you think prehaps this will help?
He did not suggest the test you have suggested. I have a friend who has a brother who is a orthopedic surgeon and he has suggested similar tests to you and also a Carotid Angiogram to check blood supply to the head. Is it possible that this type of surgery could cause this type of thing?
Many thanks for your time.

[Dr_Nassim]

You know a cervical myelogram is the last diagnostic tool in your case because doing a cervical MRI again could be not accyrate  (you already have an implanted disc there this is why).
First of all wear a cervical collar again fir some days and lets exclude the possibility of the muscular spasms which could persist after such type of surgeries.
Then we willbe in contact
Anyways an MRI is not a bad idea

[pam1962]

Sorry just a foot note I do get some numbness going into my jaw, tingling in the lips.

[pam1962]

Dear Doctor,
Thank you so much for looking at my post and answering me.
My Symptoms are getting worse and there are other symptoms with the dizziness.
The worse movement for my head is to look up and then look down again, it gives me a very strange sensation of unsteadiness. I have also numbness and pain in both hands on and off, worse in the morning when I wake up. On my left side this pain goes up to my elbow and affects my little finger in particular.
I have found that the numbness in my right hand is worse if I have been sleeping on my left side and this is symptom goes as soon as I move.
The unsteadiness comes in waves one minute I am fine the next I get this sensation and I feel unsteady.
I also get headaches and general neck pain.
There is no voice change.
Thank you so much for your help it means a lot to me I really appreciate it.