[hasmag]

Hello to all of you! And many thanks for all the information regarding posting and all the how's and why's - which I am sure you have had to answer many times - and still manage to make one feel just fine about asking!
My username is hasmag and I am a Canadian with cervical disc/spine issues, which were previously misdiagnosed, ignored, and, I am having a lot of difficulty getting good information regarding artificial disc replacement from my NS's - it seems the only option is a fusion according to them, ard is going out of use, the gold standard being fusion. My disc has sequestrated, and I have been dealing with tremendous pain, and a host of weird symptoms which one NS says cannot possibly be related to this c6-7 sequestrated disc. I have had MRI's that confirm the disc disintegration and the particles that are there have migrated into the nerve outlet and so I have a lot of arm pain, pins etc, and numbness. Miagraines. Balance issues. And more. The other big problem I am dealing with is that the NS doesn't believe these things happen. While waiting for another MRI, I tested myself to see what might be triggering these things that he can't understand, but though I discovered things like when I try to run and skip, or jump not only does the pain increase, but my whole of both arms go completely numb/pin-needle, and have pain when breathing going down stairs, etc. When I lift bales of hay, I tend to loose the ability to pee properly(blush) and of course, the pain increases. There are so many other things that I discovered, but the NS just did not want to hear about it, and just said that the gold standard is fusion, but that he was not convinced it would help. But, what happens if a person continues trying to function with no disc there, and those bits floating about? And, is artificial disc use really going out? Are all the positive things that I read in many studies really just there because the disc makers are funding the studies (the NS said that), are there no independent studies? Are people wired a little differently ie the radiculopathy I displayed in shoulders, arms, underarms, and fingers - well the finger part did not match up with the c6-7 so thus was dismissed - but are all these weird things possible depending on what a person does during the day? Or the position one sleeps in (I can no longer sleep on the right side - and sleeping on my back means a burning in the right heel and mega pain in the neck, shoulders, foot.. upon waking) I have a great many questions, and I am hoping, really hoping that through the process of sharing information, I can find answers. I have never, ever, had any other major health issues, I farm organically (so lots of handraulic vs hydraulic work) and, I am a writer - computer time now incredibly limited unless using lots of pain meds. Like all of you, this is only the outline - there are so many details that I haven't included - and so much desperation. Thanks for the welcome to your community, I'm hoping I can help some of you too. Sincerely, hasmag.

[Darlene]

hasmag,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.