Aa
patient but losing it
Dear Doc.,
I had a C5 diskectomy,it's been downward spiral into pain and misery. After my surgery,Feb.;06, my rt.arm began to burn and ache.
(T3-T4 compressed fractured vertebrea).I had a series of 3 ESI's. The first two were successful and the third was bad. While I was on the table I felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me or something. I rose my head and asked,"what was that?" I hadn't even told him what happened and he said,"friction". He told me to immediately sit up and asked me questions, "Are your ears ringing,do you have heavy breathing?" I told him that my hands and feet felt numb.truely feel they done something to me because my hands and feet feel the same to this day and that last ESI was on Dec.26,06.My symptoms have increased as well but I don't know if they are from my surgery or the ESI's. Can you shed any light on this for me? Theycan't seebehind my plates when a MRI is done.One doc sees the problem. He said that there is a screw placed directly on top of a nerve.He said, I will lose the use of my arms and hands completely if I don't get these plates out. I don't know what to do. I have an appt. with Neuro. and hopfully he'll find out if the nerve is being pressed. I can't walk well,my feet are like risons and right now my rt. arm is cramping for typing. Hands are numb, my knees hurt and sometimes give way. My tremors, just started(past mos.) that seem to start in the middle of my back and through my chest,up through my neck. I also started getting sore at the base of my skull w/sharp pains,achiness, stiffness, panic attacks and depression. I just want to live again. I firmly believe that this can be corrected. I pray and have faith that this can be corrected.Help me if you can.
Thank You So Much,give me some kind of idea where to go from here.
Desperate Mom of two.....K ***@****
I had a C5 diskectomy,it's been downward spiral into pain and misery. After my surgery,Feb.;06, my rt.arm began to burn and ache.
(T3-T4 compressed fractured vertebrea).I had a series of 3 ESI's. The first two were successful and the third was bad. While I was on the table I felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me or something. I rose my head and asked,"what was that?" I hadn't even told him what happened and he said,"friction". He told me to immediately sit up and asked me questions, "Are your ears ringing,do you have heavy breathing?" I told him that my hands and feet felt numb.truely feel they done something to me because my hands and feet feel the same to this day and that last ESI was on Dec.26,06.My symptoms have increased as well but I don't know if they are from my surgery or the ESI's. Can you shed any light on this for me? Theycan't seebehind my plates when a MRI is done.One doc sees the problem. He said that there is a screw placed directly on top of a nerve.He said, I will lose the use of my arms and hands completely if I don't get these plates out. I don't know what to do. I have an appt. with Neuro. and hopfully he'll find out if the nerve is being pressed. I can't walk well,my feet are like risons and right now my rt. arm is cramping for typing. Hands are numb, my knees hurt and sometimes give way. My tremors, just started(past mos.) that seem to start in the middle of my back and through my chest,up through my neck. I also started getting sore at the base of my skull w/sharp pains,achiness, stiffness, panic attacks and depression. I just want to live again. I firmly believe that this can be corrected. I pray and have faith that this can be corrected.Help me if you can.
Thank You So Much,give me some kind of idea where to go from here.
Desperate Mom of two.....K ***@****
Karen
you can do a kyphoplasty 2 months later if cimbalta will not help you. to mention that this medication could rarely given in a double dose.
take care and please start your life you do not have a thoracic disc herniation
Dr Nassim
you can do a kyphoplasty 2 months later if cimbalta will not help you. to mention that this medication could rarely given in a double dose.
take care and please start your life you do not have a thoracic disc herniation
Dr Nassim
Dear Nassim,
You are so sweet to consider getting back to me and I appreciate it very much.I was told by the last Neuro and I saw him a couple of wks. ago.He recommended the same thing @ the Cymbalta and I guess I am going to have to give it a try.I am just scared of med.,it seems like I take so much already. I have to take a 50mcg.Fentanyl Patch(every 72hrs.), Norco 10/325 2-3 times a day,Lyrica 150mg.2xday(somedays my nerve pain is so high that I have to take 3 a day),Zanax 1mg. 1/2-1 a day(for tremors and to get sleep,cause I don't much),Nexium 40mg. 1xday,Zyrtec 10mg. 1xday.Now, I would be adding another. Do you think that I'm taking too much med. and it only takes away 1/2 of the pain? I usually am in bed wreathing around in agony. I have one day out of three that is good. I wish I knew what exactly I should be taking. They did recommend a morphine pump at one time, but I never went there. What do u think? Get rid of some for one, if that is possible.Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter. I just want to be able to do w/my kids and they need me so much. What @ Kyphoplasty, if I have a compressed fracture(T3-T4) for that is where most of my pain is.
You're so kind..a good doc...Karen
You are so sweet to consider getting back to me and I appreciate it very much.I was told by the last Neuro and I saw him a couple of wks. ago.He recommended the same thing @ the Cymbalta and I guess I am going to have to give it a try.I am just scared of med.,it seems like I take so much already. I have to take a 50mcg.Fentanyl Patch(every 72hrs.), Norco 10/325 2-3 times a day,Lyrica 150mg.2xday(somedays my nerve pain is so high that I have to take 3 a day),Zanax 1mg. 1/2-1 a day(for tremors and to get sleep,cause I don't much),Nexium 40mg. 1xday,Zyrtec 10mg. 1xday.Now, I would be adding another. Do you think that I'm taking too much med. and it only takes away 1/2 of the pain? I usually am in bed wreathing around in agony. I have one day out of three that is good. I wish I knew what exactly I should be taking. They did recommend a morphine pump at one time, but I never went there. What do u think? Get rid of some for one, if that is possible.Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter. I just want to be able to do w/my kids and they need me so much. What @ Kyphoplasty, if I have a compressed fracture(T3-T4) for that is where most of my pain is.
You're so kind..a good doc...Karen
Ok Karen
I read your message, please you should hear me very well: it s Fri I know you visited your Neuro;
I want you put a cervical collar a soft one each night yes during sleep only and sometimes during difficult travels, AND take Duloxetine 30 mg 1 tab evening for 10 days then switch to Duloxetine 60 mg for 1 week evening then take the same dose only morning, you will be fine during the next weeks.
Thank you for giving this trust to Medhelp
I read your message, please you should hear me very well: it s Fri I know you visited your Neuro;
I want you put a cervical collar a soft one each night yes during sleep only and sometimes during difficult travels, AND take Duloxetine 30 mg 1 tab evening for 10 days then switch to Duloxetine 60 mg for 1 week evening then take the same dose only morning, you will be fine during the next weeks.
Thank you for giving this trust to Medhelp
Dear Dr.Nassim,
I am sorry,I told you wrong. My MRI's are on CD, that is whats making this so difficult to get them to you. I wonder if you know or if anyone else knows how to do it right. I tried to save it in my files, but not enough capacity. I do how ever have the written report and I would like to write it out for you:
Exam: MRI of Cervical Spine
Hisory:provided history of neck pain and numbness and tingling. Surgery 2/01/06.
Technique:Cervical MRI performed prior to and following contrast administration.
Findings:
As positioned in the scanner, there is straightening of the upper cervical lordosis. There are mild anterior wedge shaped compression deformities at T3 and T4, as a result of superior endplating compression. No gross abnormal.
cord signal intensity is apparant.
Postsurgical changes at C5-C6 are observed with anterior plate and screw fixation. No spinal canal or foraminal compromise is observed.
No disc herniation, significant dural sac compression, or spinal stenosis is observed elsewhere in the cervical spine.The foramina are not optimally visualized, but not foraminal stenosis is appreciated.
The cerebeller tonsils extend stlightly through the foramen magnum, more sor on the left than on the right. On the left, the tonsillar tissue extends approxiamately 6.5 mm into the canal into the upper cervical canal, but remains above the C1 level. No syrinx is observed.
IMPRESSION:
1.No Spina Canal or Foraminal Compromise is Identified.
2.Mild Compression Deformities of T3 and T4.
3.Mild Chiari Malformation
Dr. Nassim,
I have read a lot of my records and did find this on one of my visits my Dr. states in his report that the T3 and T4(unexplained),alleged, to some degree and she is having some pain in that area now and she may have some slight Arnold Chiari condition.That was on one of his reports and he also stated he wanted to do a bone scan,CT and MRI in her upper Thoracic area and consider whether to proceed w/the cervical Myleogram(in which I had at my Neurologist and It almost killed me w/spinal tap headache for a wk. and vomiting for 10+ hrs.)I will not have another one of those.I will do whatever else. Anyway,the end stated if things didn't change and everything else fails that I would be a candidate for Morphine pump implant.
I don't know what all this means, but I am desperate and scared. I have noticed a new symptom. I thought I had a hair in my mouth and kept trying to get it out. It turned out to be the right side of my tongue. Is that something to be worried @. Could I have had a stroke? I did feel a sharp pain in my left arm(in the muscle to the inside elbow) around the same time I noticed my tongue go numb.
I also wanted to put what they said I had at the clinic where I got my ESI's.It is strange that one place said I have spinal stenosis and the othe no.I was so desperate,I sent my records to the Mayo Clinic and they said that I was to chronic. To chronic? Anyway, here's the list of things that I supposedly suffer from:
1.Right C7,C8 Radiculitis w/mult-level sensory radiculapathy
2.Cervical degenerative disc disease
3.Cervical spondylosis
4.Mononeuritis,right upper extremity
5.Myofascial syndrome
6.Cervicalgia
7.Status-post right C5-C7 ACDF
8.Anziety disorder
9.Depression
10.Sleep disorder
That's an awful lot to hit someone who was already down, but I am strong willed and determined to get some kind of relief. I am not a dr., but I feel that my problem is where the T3 and T4 compression fractures are. Can you tell me why they didn't fix this while they were in there fixing the other part of it.
I want to truely thank you for giving me you time. I will be okay.I go to my Neurologist Fri. and I haven't got to see him in a yr. and a half. Maybe he'll get to the bottom of things so I can get fixed. I will appreciate anything you can see that only a good doc can find. Thanks again...Karen
I am sorry,I told you wrong. My MRI's are on CD, that is whats making this so difficult to get them to you. I wonder if you know or if anyone else knows how to do it right. I tried to save it in my files, but not enough capacity. I do how ever have the written report and I would like to write it out for you:
Exam: MRI of Cervical Spine
Hisory:provided history of neck pain and numbness and tingling. Surgery 2/01/06.
Technique:Cervical MRI performed prior to and following contrast administration.
Findings:
As positioned in the scanner, there is straightening of the upper cervical lordosis. There are mild anterior wedge shaped compression deformities at T3 and T4, as a result of superior endplating compression. No gross abnormal.
cord signal intensity is apparant.
Postsurgical changes at C5-C6 are observed with anterior plate and screw fixation. No spinal canal or foraminal compromise is observed.
No disc herniation, significant dural sac compression, or spinal stenosis is observed elsewhere in the cervical spine.The foramina are not optimally visualized, but not foraminal stenosis is appreciated.
The cerebeller tonsils extend stlightly through the foramen magnum, more sor on the left than on the right. On the left, the tonsillar tissue extends approxiamately 6.5 mm into the canal into the upper cervical canal, but remains above the C1 level. No syrinx is observed.
IMPRESSION:
1.No Spina Canal or Foraminal Compromise is Identified.
2.Mild Compression Deformities of T3 and T4.
3.Mild Chiari Malformation
Dr. Nassim,
I have read a lot of my records and did find this on one of my visits my Dr. states in his report that the T3 and T4(unexplained),alleged, to some degree and she is having some pain in that area now and she may have some slight Arnold Chiari condition.That was on one of his reports and he also stated he wanted to do a bone scan,CT and MRI in her upper Thoracic area and consider whether to proceed w/the cervical Myleogram(in which I had at my Neurologist and It almost killed me w/spinal tap headache for a wk. and vomiting for 10+ hrs.)I will not have another one of those.I will do whatever else. Anyway,the end stated if things didn't change and everything else fails that I would be a candidate for Morphine pump implant.
I don't know what all this means, but I am desperate and scared. I have noticed a new symptom. I thought I had a hair in my mouth and kept trying to get it out. It turned out to be the right side of my tongue. Is that something to be worried @. Could I have had a stroke? I did feel a sharp pain in my left arm(in the muscle to the inside elbow) around the same time I noticed my tongue go numb.
I also wanted to put what they said I had at the clinic where I got my ESI's.It is strange that one place said I have spinal stenosis and the othe no.I was so desperate,I sent my records to the Mayo Clinic and they said that I was to chronic. To chronic? Anyway, here's the list of things that I supposedly suffer from:
1.Right C7,C8 Radiculitis w/mult-level sensory radiculapathy
2.Cervical degenerative disc disease
3.Cervical spondylosis
4.Mononeuritis,right upper extremity
5.Myofascial syndrome
6.Cervicalgia
7.Status-post right C5-C7 ACDF
8.Anziety disorder
9.Depression
10.Sleep disorder
That's an awful lot to hit someone who was already down, but I am strong willed and determined to get some kind of relief. I am not a dr., but I feel that my problem is where the T3 and T4 compression fractures are. Can you tell me why they didn't fix this while they were in there fixing the other part of it.
I want to truely thank you for giving me you time. I will be okay.I go to my Neurologist Fri. and I haven't got to see him in a yr. and a half. Maybe he'll get to the bottom of things so I can get fixed. I will appreciate anything you can see that only a good doc can find. Thanks again...Karen
Dear Dr.Nassim,
I am so greatful that you will look and see if you see anything out of the ordinary.I have my MRI's on disk.I am trying to figure out just how to do this. I will send them to you.I know you have a lot of people you help and I know you are busy. As soon as I get those ready I will send them to you and my email so you can get back to me or you can send reply here. I will be getting back to you real soon.
Thanks again,Karen
I am so greatful that you will look and see if you see anything out of the ordinary.I have my MRI's on disk.I am trying to figure out just how to do this. I will send them to you.I know you have a lot of people you help and I know you are busy. As soon as I get those ready I will send them to you and my email so you can get back to me or you can send reply here. I will be getting back to you real soon.
Thanks again,Karen
please google me and my private e-mail and try to download your cervical MRI on my personal e mail, it has a large capacity , I would like to see the disc of the cervical spine; maybe i can help you
Dear Dr.Nassim,
I have been prescribed Cymbalta,but haven't taken it yet and it's been in my drawer @ a yr. I did the same thing w/I was prescribed Lyric.I was scared of it,w/a lot of reason to be. I did really well w/it when I first started (75mg-2xday).When I did get around to taking it,I thought why haven't I been taking this because it helped me, seemed like so much.I actually was doing things I hadn't done before.I just talking @simple things,but that can mean a lot to someone that can't seem to do anything w/out so much consequence.I hate it that I can't do, since I've always been independent and driven.I think if you've been lazy all your life this is the perfect cop out,but if you want to work and you feel alive when you do,it's a very sad thing that you can't.They increased my dosage to 150mg2xday to 3xday.My face now has boils or blisters that stay there.They won't go away.I read where Lyrica causes boils and I believe now I have a problem w/that.I wanted to switch to Neurontin to see if it'd help, but tried twice and couldn't.I would get down to (1) 75mg.a day and have to start back because I was suffering and couldn't take the misery.
I just want to live. Right now laying in bed w/two kids is not what I call living.I have to make myself get up and do and it is so hard,but when your kids are hungry,I don't care if I have to crawl my kids are first.
I have been going through this for 3+ yrs. and it's getting old and not just to me,to my family and husband.I know there has got to be something done.I feel, since I lost my ins.for a yr.,it hurt me. I wasn't able to get a dr.and wound up in ER's w/so much pain.I've been to 15+ dr.'s and seemed to me they were scared and now I understand why,they were afraid to touch somebody elses work or was it because they thought I would sue for malpractic suit.I am not that kind of person,but now feel I was wronged and should have,I guess.I am thinking long term to what this is going to do to me in 10 yrs.I am a christian,in which was the main reason I didn't sue.
I have been told by two dr.'s that I had a screw placed on top of a nerve.Also, I went back to the place where I had the surgery 9 times the rest of that yr.and my surgery was in Feb....9 out of 10 mos.I was there compaining @ the pain,burning,stabbing,aching,numbness,the unability to do anything,but to no avail did they research farther to get to the bottom of it. They sent me to their pain dr. and he said that I was incurable.I will not take that.I don't believe.They will have to show and explain it to me,like they haven't done yet.My neck even looks deformed,like it's crooked.You can even put you finger on a screw.It feels like it and my throat stays sore and irritated.
I did have a series of 3 ESI's that the first two helped,but when I went through the third one,it made me jump on the table like a bolt of lightning hit me. Do you think?... THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, was it the surgery, w/the nerve being pressed causing pain and agony in my whole body or the nerve block that hit something? Please give me some sort of idea,I'm going back to Neuro.the 13th so I want to be prepared.I am already going to bring in the brigade at my appt.,so they can testify to the pain and all the agony I've been going through.If you can shed any light on this, I would thoroughly appreciate so much.I just need to know if it was the surgery or the nerve blocks(which were done at a different facility,not connected w/first place)? That's so important to me and to weather or not they can locate where the problem is. Is there a test that they can do or something?I have had my share of them,but I'm willing to even do exploritory surgery.I'm desperate for answers.HELP!!!
MRI's-8..4cerv.,2shoulder(rt.),1thor.,1lumbar
Myleogram
EMG's-2-arm/hands,but not done on back yet
I haven't had a spinal tap either
Diagnosed w/DDD,Spinal Stenosis,Myofascial,Cervicalgia,C5 diskectomy w/radiculapathy
Please tell me that this is what's causing everything...I just done believe it...there has to be something's wrong...it feels terribly wrong
MOM IN AGONY........Karen
I have been prescribed Cymbalta,but haven't taken it yet and it's been in my drawer @ a yr. I did the same thing w/I was prescribed Lyric.I was scared of it,w/a lot of reason to be. I did really well w/it when I first started (75mg-2xday).When I did get around to taking it,I thought why haven't I been taking this because it helped me, seemed like so much.I actually was doing things I hadn't done before.I just talking @simple things,but that can mean a lot to someone that can't seem to do anything w/out so much consequence.I hate it that I can't do, since I've always been independent and driven.I think if you've been lazy all your life this is the perfect cop out,but if you want to work and you feel alive when you do,it's a very sad thing that you can't.They increased my dosage to 150mg2xday to 3xday.My face now has boils or blisters that stay there.They won't go away.I read where Lyrica causes boils and I believe now I have a problem w/that.I wanted to switch to Neurontin to see if it'd help, but tried twice and couldn't.I would get down to (1) 75mg.a day and have to start back because I was suffering and couldn't take the misery.
I just want to live. Right now laying in bed w/two kids is not what I call living.I have to make myself get up and do and it is so hard,but when your kids are hungry,I don't care if I have to crawl my kids are first.
I have been going through this for 3+ yrs. and it's getting old and not just to me,to my family and husband.I know there has got to be something done.I feel, since I lost my ins.for a yr.,it hurt me. I wasn't able to get a dr.and wound up in ER's w/so much pain.I've been to 15+ dr.'s and seemed to me they were scared and now I understand why,they were afraid to touch somebody elses work or was it because they thought I would sue for malpractic suit.I am not that kind of person,but now feel I was wronged and should have,I guess.I am thinking long term to what this is going to do to me in 10 yrs.I am a christian,in which was the main reason I didn't sue.
I have been told by two dr.'s that I had a screw placed on top of a nerve.Also, I went back to the place where I had the surgery 9 times the rest of that yr.and my surgery was in Feb....9 out of 10 mos.I was there compaining @ the pain,burning,stabbing,aching,numbness,the unability to do anything,but to no avail did they research farther to get to the bottom of it. They sent me to their pain dr. and he said that I was incurable.I will not take that.I don't believe.They will have to show and explain it to me,like they haven't done yet.My neck even looks deformed,like it's crooked.You can even put you finger on a screw.It feels like it and my throat stays sore and irritated.
I did have a series of 3 ESI's that the first two helped,but when I went through the third one,it made me jump on the table like a bolt of lightning hit me. Do you think?... THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, was it the surgery, w/the nerve being pressed causing pain and agony in my whole body or the nerve block that hit something? Please give me some sort of idea,I'm going back to Neuro.the 13th so I want to be prepared.I am already going to bring in the brigade at my appt.,so they can testify to the pain and all the agony I've been going through.If you can shed any light on this, I would thoroughly appreciate so much.I just need to know if it was the surgery or the nerve blocks(which were done at a different facility,not connected w/first place)? That's so important to me and to weather or not they can locate where the problem is. Is there a test that they can do or something?I have had my share of them,but I'm willing to even do exploritory surgery.I'm desperate for answers.HELP!!!
MRI's-8..4cerv.,2shoulder(rt.),1thor.,1lumbar
Myleogram
EMG's-2-arm/hands,but not done on back yet
I haven't had a spinal tap either
Diagnosed w/DDD,Spinal Stenosis,Myofascial,Cervicalgia,C5 diskectomy w/radiculapathy
Please tell me that this is what's causing everything...I just done believe it...there has to be something's wrong...it feels terribly wrong
MOM IN AGONY........Karen
Duloxetine treatment will be excellent for your pain and partial depression caused by the failure of previous treatment
Dr Nassim
Dr Nassim
You are reading content posted in the Neurosurgery Forum
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
