Spinal Fusion pain and leakage
 

Hey guys, first post, pretty new. I'm freakin myself out right now though.
Here's the life story. lol

So, 2 years ago I got into an MVA. I fractured C2-C3, and shattered C6. I had a spinal fusion on the c6 vertebrae, and pins in the other 2. I was placed in a halo for 3 months, got out and was in a collar for another month. For 6 months after that, I had tingling and numbness in my arms and shoulders whenever I moved my head. That went away, and since then I've had increasing chronic pain around the fusion, and spreading to the kidney area. About 3 weeks to a month ago, it started leaking a small amount of blood from the bottom of the scar, where the drain stitch was, that amount slowly increased, and now it is both blood and a clear fluid, enough to make my shirt have a spot on it the size of a dime after an hour. In the last week, it has gotten more painful to stand up after sitting for any duration of time, or to walk.

I'm worried about it getting worse, and I can't get in to see the doc till Wednesday. (small town, one doc). Nsaids do nothing, and the oxycodones that got prescribed to me for the fusion never did anything either. When I went to the Doc for pain was in june, took a bunch of xrays, and determined the the spinal cord itself was torn (can't think of the term he used, described it as pulling a cheese stick apart) and he never prescribed me any meds, and I had to quit my job because of it.

Pretty much what I am asking is, What do I need to be worried about, anything I can do to help myself? I am at a total loss. I work at subway, and I can barely do that right now. Which is depressing for me, I love doing stuff with my hands. Any help would be great.

Thanks, Nick Larivere

Hi Nick, Welcome to NT.

I have no idea what's going on, but that just doesn't sound good, especially after this length of time. Did they ever tell you to expect anything like this?
Did you tell them about this leaking when you called for the appt.? If not, I think I'd call them back asap.

If anything gets worse in the meantime, I think I'd get to an ER.

Doc

They said I might have some leakage after the stitches are removed, but that was almost 2 years ago. so no, I can't say they did. I did mention it to them, and they said keep an eye on it. Thanks for the quick reply. :) Makes me feel like some people out there actually do care.

Hi Nick,

Please go to an ER right away, expecially if there is fluid and blood leaking. I am post op from a cervical fusion also (C5-C7), and I was told if anything leaks from mt incision to immediately go to the ER, it could mean infection, maybe your body is having a hard time accepting the hardware, or the site has an infection, I'm not a doctor either, but I do know that you will most likely need some antibiotics and have the incision checked for infection.

You can get some help with pain while you are there, no need to suffer, I understand how frustrating it gets not using your hands, I'm in the same spot, can't use my right hand still and I'm a graphic designer and love to paint. Frustrates the hell out of me.

Please go get checked, the longer you wait the more serious it could get. Going early could make a big difference.

Keep us posted on how you are.
Take care,
Cathie

Update
 

My appointment got pushed back to later today. When I woke up, I had the worst headache I have ever had, so figuring a shower would help, i took one. While in the shower, my right foot, and entire left arm went numb. I got feeling back in my arm about an hour ago, but the foot is still mostly numb, and now I am experiencing severe dizziness and pins and needles. The random leaking however, has stopped. I don't know whats going on, and hopefully I will be able to find out at my appointment. :confused:

RE: ask you doctor
 

If the site of your fusion is leaking, after you already healed. That does not sound right. There is a small possibility one of the pins could have come loose. I have heard of this happening before, with hardware in the neck moving around. I would go see your neruo surgeon and be re-evaluated at the next possible opportunity. The level of pain you are experiencing increasing, instead of decreasing with time, should warrent a visit to the doctor too. The NP I have left over from my surgery, didn't get worse with time, but leveled out. I was fused C3-7, but have only one long plate. I wouldn't panic or anything, but I would go in to be evaluated as soon as you can. I hope that you can find a good resolution with your spinal fusion. It is hard to go through, even when you don't have problems afterwards. I wish you all the best. Others are also on this site, that may have more ideas about this other than what I mentioned. ginnie

Ok. Went to my appointment. The doctor isn't too worried about the leaking, he thinks I just cut myself somehow, the isn't any signs of infection. However, he is very concerned about compression of the cord. He wants me to have an MRI done asap, because of the numbness. I really need prayers right now, thanks you guys, you have helped me out alot already. :)

Updates.....
 

So... After getting 5 MRI's done, the doctors determined that I have a blockage of some kind in the left ventricle in my brain. It is dilated to over 5 times the size of the right one, and is causing me to lose my eyesight, hearing, and coordination. It also shifted the centerline of my brain a full inch to the right. :mfr_wha: I am going in for corrective surgery tomorrow morning. It still doesn't explain the severe back pain and numbness, but it needs to be corrected sooner rather than later. Wish me luck.

Sponge920, Many, many well wishes with procedure AND the outcome!

hello sponge
 

God guide your surgeons for the best possible outcome. You will be in my prayers tomorrow. ginnie

Thank you so much for the prayers. I came out of the surgery fine, and it fixed my severe headaches, but really did nothing for my back pain. I wish they would stop saying its in my head and give me something, I've gone to 4 separate doctors for it now, and they all seem to think I am lying just to sell the drugs. It's really starting to become too much to handle on my own. Sorry to blabber on, Its just nice talking to people who understand what I am going through.

hello sponge
 

I am sorry your back pain was not relieved. Please continue to seek a pain specialist. You are suffering and there is help out there. doctors can be very skittish about medications. Can you get a referal again from your neruo surgeon to a pain specialist? Nobody should have to suffer without any kind of relief. I have had two spinal fusions. I do have a pain specialist that is very compassionate. It took awhile to find him, but it was worth the effort. I also live in fla. where the bad rap with pain clinics is a problem. Yet I did find this person, who allows me some quality of life. I hope you can find that help too, and please don't give up looking. ginnie

Is this your suspicion or have they actually said something? Any idea why they think that?

Doc

hello sponge
 

I am so sorry you have had to go through so much. I sure hope that the leakage can be stopped, and that your doctors find out why you are in so much pain. Keep moving forward to get the resolution you need to have a good quality of life. I am thinking about you and praying for you. ginnie

My suspicion, I live in a very small town (1500 people, over 30 miles) and reputation gets people what they want more than need. I get the short end of the stick because I don't share the religious beliefs of the majority. (I'm Baptist, they are LDS/Mormon). It took some time, But I finally got on some that work. 15mg Endocets. I can function, and work on my cars again, so I am happy. Thanks a bunch guys, sorry if I kinda just used the thread to vent.

Venting is part of the package/deal. ;)
Glad to hear you got some relief & some life back.

Doc

Haha, good to know, because it makes me feel better as well :D

I (and I'm sure some others here) suggest you go easy with those (endocets) and the activities, and keep aggressively pursuing alternatives. Pills don't do anything curatively/healing-wise, and they only mask the pain. Because you feel so much better, there's a tendency to overdo, and you can wind up doing more damage, and not realize it because the pain is masked. There's also the slippery slope of tolerance & dependence. If you wind up being on them for a long time, there's a possibility of adrenal hormone suppression (from longterm opioid use) - just something to be aware of.
http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...-pain-patients

If I may suggest some reading....

http://www.foresttennant.com/pain_ma...self_help.html

Then Google: talk doctor pain and peruse a few articles there.

We're Open 24/7 - Never a Cover Charge! :D

Doc