Hi,

In Jan 2012 I underwent an ACDF C6-7 relating form an accident I was involved in May of 2011. I had been going to the chrio for 7 months and kept having sever to excruciating pain in my neck, arm and numbness with tingling in my hands, with headaches, along with pain in my sternum area. Chiro at first thought my sternum pain was caused by a misplaced rib or my acid reflex flaring up, only to run all kinds of tests all coming up neg. Finally he suggested my reg Dr order a hida-scan. My gallbladder was ballooned and needed to come out. I had it out in Sept. Thought we were finally on the right track. My neck however didn't agree.

My pain level was never below a 5 in my neck area. He would manipulate and it would relieve the pressure and within a few hrs back to pain. This went on with the visits 3-4 times a week. Finally in Dec he thought lets give it a rest to see what happens. My hand went numb and my funny bone took hold like someone whacked me with a hammer 24/7 in it. Sent me for MRI which showed what they thought to be a herniated C6-7 crushing my nerve, along with C5-6 showing a slight osteophyte into the nerve. It took 2 weeks for me to be seen by a neurosurgeon. Not something I want to wait for again. He said surgery ASAP. C6-7 was ruptured crushing my nerve causing havoc to say the least. After surgery my funny bone hold was gone. My numbness and tingling wasn't. My first 3 fingers never regained feeling, and 3 weeks ago my last 2 fingers went numb. When I turn my neck to the right I get excruciating almost like an electrical shock running down my neck and arms. When I tilt my neck backwards I get a more intense electrical shock with excruciating pain in neck and arms and it sounds and feels like bone hitting bone.

Dr sent me for an EMG to rule out carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve. All came back neg and it showed I had normal activity where C5-7 nerves are.

I had an MRI a week ago to see what was going on. The nerve in C6-7 shows it's still not healed, and C5-6 shows the osteophyte a little bigger pushing on the nerve with my spinal cord narrowing. He said he didn't want to do surgery, since he didn't think that was the cause of my problem, and in time it would get bigger. He wants to send me to PT, yet doesn't want me to lift anything and said if I move the wrong way, I could push that osteophyte into my spinal cord more. Although PT won't take the numbness away nor reduce that osteophyte, I asked then why send me. He didn't have an answer.

I asked when will I get the feeling back in my hand and when the tingling would go away, he said it might not ever or it could take years. Yet he said the EMG shows no sign of damage. I am confused here.

I got no explanation as to what is causing my symptoms or why he didn't want to take care of the osteophyte.

Has anyone else have issues like this?

Breezie,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Here are a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Check into the following forum for some caring fellow members to assist you:

Spinal Disorders & Back Pain:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene