opll neck pain

[bostonturn]

Is there any treatment for Opll of the neck ?

[ossification]

Hi, I saw an orthopedic surgeon today. He said the OPLL for me is different than it is for Asian people. OPLL is most common in older Asian men. I am a 48 non asian female. He said OPLL in Asians is much more wide spread throughout their spinal colomns usually. He said nonasians usually only have smaller areas of the OPLL. He also said he didn't think my OPLL would be as agressive in its progression in my spinal column because I'm not Asian. I don't know where he got this last notion, since he himself said there is very little info out there (internet) about nonasians with opll. My question to you is are you of Asian descent, since your OPLL is so widespread? Please write back and let me know. I'm curious as to whether this doctor knows what the heck he is talking about. Thanks.

[bostonturn]

The doctors say I have OPLL in my entire neck. C-1 -C-7. Movement of my hands are painful and I can't look up I'm also limited when turning my head, I'm always in pain day or night. Sometimes it is not as bad with laying in bed with a neck pillow. I was told by one doctor he could do a Laminoplast but another doctor told me not to have the surgery it was dangerous. I don't really know what to do.  

[ossification]

I so wish there was, but Neurologists and Nuerosurgeons I have spoke with so little is known about OPLL. I have it from c2-c4. I had surgery about 15 months ago because the OPLL was causing compression on my spinal cord. The surgery was called Laminoplasty. The surgery basically gave me a little more room in my spinal column so the spinal cord wasn't being compressed. The surgery was done on the back of my neck. Something called the lamina was cut in each vertebra and donor bone was inserted into each vertebra. Then tiny pieces of titanium were screwed into each of the vertebra, to stabalize the vertebra. Trouble is the OPLL is still growing, but don't know when I will need to have surgery again. Neurosurgeon recently told me that if OPLL would be very risky trying to do another surgery from the front of my neck, because the opll is up high and would be difficult to reach, he also said that opll can attach to the Dura and removing the opll could cause a spinal fluid leak that could be difficult to stop. Where is your opll located in your neck?