Cervical disk pain, facial numbness, arm pain, leg weakness, finger

[snapteach]

I am a 46 year old female and have had 2 cervical disk surgeries since November 2005 after a wreck in which I suffered a severe whiplash injury that caused bulging (herniated) disk. The first surgery was done through front of the neck using a cadiver bone for C5-C6 herniation. June 2006 was the 2nd surgery going through the front of the neck again. Doctor had to redo C5-C6, because the bone did not grow correctly, and also fuse C4-C5. After this second surgery, I had no pain until Dec. 2005 when I fell face forward after tripping. Since that time, I have had severe, debilitating neck pain, left leg weakness, facial numbness and drooping on the left side, left eye blurriness, left arm pain, and left hand shaking with index finger jerking. My GP did an MRI of the brain and cervical spine and the only notable issue was disk degeneration. I have since seen my surgeon (Ortho specializing in spine and neck surgery). In his office, he put 2 Trigger point injections around C6. This did not help at all. What is going on and how can I get rid of or lessen this TERRIBLE pain? Has anyone ever had these symptoms after surgery or after a fall? I am very depressed because I do not think I can handle this pain, the thought of another surgery, or having to live with this kind of neck pain for the rest of my life. I see the ortho doctor again on Friday. If you have any advice or have ever experienced anything like this, please share with me what was done and what diagnosis you were given. Thanks so much.
Snapteach

[chadry]

Have you been to the website www dot asap dot org yet? My daughter was finally diagnosed after a few years of having dizziness and balance problems. She also had inside tremors that we can't see. After an MRI we found out she has Chiair 1 Malformation. Do you also have the same diagnoses. Have you had any surgery. She is a canidate for the surgery but we have not had it done so far. Any comments from you about this would be helpful.

[Einie]

please look at Chiari Malformation and the websites supporting.  New breakthrough research in the past 3 to 5 years have people such as yourself (and me included) finding the source of all the weird problems.  The average Chiari patient goes undiagnosed (and progessive symptoms) 3 to 5 years. Also, each patient has some similiar symptoms, yet each patient is unique & has different symptoms too.  Also, The Chiari Institute has just discovered a link with Chiari patients AND Tethered Cord Symdrome (TCS  which effects the lower extremities).   I went through 8 neurologists (all saying I was "normal" and it must be stress) before I was diagnosed.  Good luck!

[mike1105]

you should keep your network marketing business out of this forum.

[bev62]

I know what you mean, I had a two level ACDF (C5-C7) in Nov of last year.  I am in more pain now than before the surgery.  The doctor says that all my test look great, but there has to be something causing all of this pain.  My neck and shoulder burn and ache all of the time.  I have a terrible headache everyday.  I don't know what else to do.  I've not been able to return to work yet, I'm 45 and hopefully have a long life ahead of me.  I just can't imagine having to live like this the rest of my life.  Have you tried seeing a neuro surgeon?

[ssandrra]

im sorry to hear of your pain, but glad to read it, presently im at my end my daughter who is 22 has the same situation, and is facing the same surgery within 72 hrs. i requested a 2nd opinion and got the same advice, have the surgery, and sooner is better. I guess my question is i cant seem to get heads or tails of (or the truth) as to how this happened, my daughter is in a residentical school, things seemed to be going very well, i went to pick her up for a weekend visit and she couldnt walk, balance herself, she was in a diaper, the school insisted that it was a behavioral responce. I refused to believe that, she had been in the school for almost 1 yr. anyhow i had her assesed at the local ER and after bout a week they said it was cord compression(c5-c6) she has all the same symptoms you decribed, the school wrote in the reports(that i finally got) that she apeared to be moving around by herself, and then she took another fall, and couldnt do anything right down to her bladder function, ireading your story has cleared, and opened my eyes..what do you think and what am i to expect after the surgery???........sSandrra

[Smileylins21]

Hi Snapteach, sorry you're going through all this pain. I search these message boards looking to hopefully help a person like you who has alot of pain. I recently had some medical problems that caused me alot of pain physically and emotionally. You caught my attention because my boyfriend (Gary) has been dealing with back pain for as long as I have known him. His skin was always red (because of the pain he was in),he had numbness in his hand, he's had 1 neck surgery (c-6, c-7 fusion). He also took handfuls of Advil a day, which in the long run would cause more harm than good. He's 49 years old. I'm not a nutritionist, but I am looking to become one (doing alot of research). Gary and I started on a wonderful nutritional product, that does wonders. If you're interested, we can send you some free samples, and I hope believe that will help you out alot. Gary is literally pain free now. Life is so wonderful if you don't have to live it in pain. Thanks for your time, Snapteach. I hope I could be some help to you. For some free samples, you can e-mail me/Gary at ***@****

Lindsay