C6-C7 disc rupture with moderate stenosis and disc degeneration--surgery ??

[PrintGal]

I have been having neck/shoulder blade, left arm pain and tingling in my left hand since Jan. The tingling has gotten a little better but everything else is the same, and over the past 2 weeks my pain level has been at the higher end of my range more often than before. I have already tried anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, Prednisone, and 3 months of PT with no change.

I had an MRI and my family practitioner called me with the results: c6-c7 disc rupture with moderate stenosis and disc degeneration. I saw a neurosurgeon this morning and have to go back because the MRI center didn't send my cd like they were supposed to. From just talking to her, she said that surgery may only help the pain in my arm not the pain in my neck or shoulder blade. Also, since she didn't have the scans to go by, she wasn't sure if I'd be an option for artificial disc replacement (she thinks so). I have to go back once she gets the disc (hopefully Monday).

Has anyone had similiar symptoms and had them all go away after either a fusion or disc replacement? Has anyone had similiar symptoms and didn't have surgery?

[caregiver222]

Before surgery, mild axial traction several times a day should have been prescribed.

If this has not been prescribed I would find another physician.

This is often done together with "range of motion" exercises, moving the head 360 degrees through the limits of pain.

"Common sense" tells you that pain means you will damage something if you do something that causes the pain. In the case of disc degeneration this is not necessarily the case. This is counter-intuitive.

Good hydration is also necessary.

[PrintGal]

Thanks so much for the response. I will post this on the Back and Neck forum as well and see what they have to say! I really appreciate it. :)

[Kalvin]

I am really impressed by the fact that your Surgeon had the decency to tell that the surgery might not help you neck or scapular pain. Most don't, mine didn't. Had I known, I wouldn't have had such high expectations.

I had a anterior cervical discectomy and fusion @ C6/7 five years ago, because of the horrible pain I was experiencing. It's difficult for me to answer your question per verbatim, because I have multiple levels of degeneration. After  surgery,when my recovery basically stalled, I found out from another surgeon that my C4-5 should have been done as well. At that time, there was no way I could handle another surgery. So I've been pretty much living with it, trying to get my nerve back up to have another surgery. I can function, but the pain is constant, severe upper back, shoulder and neck pain.

One thing I can tell you is that your Doctor's right, my arm and hand pain was gone right after surgery. My fingers are still numb, but I can live with that. Neck and scapular pain are very common in people that have had cervical surgeries. I don't know anything about ADR's, they weren't an option when I had surgery, but I would advise you to do some serious research on it before you commit.

Come over and post in the Back and Neck forum, we have lots of members that have had ADR's and fusions.