First Post Here, multiple symptoms
 

am so glad I found you all!


My name is Carolyn. I am 49 years young...yeah right.... lol.
When we are dealing with painful and confusing health problems I think it helps to have and be able to give support to one another.

I had C-5 - C7 disc fusion in my late 30's and serious foot surgery done at 40 because of bone spurs and degeneration of the joints, I have just come from my neurosurgeon and am being scheduled for a L5-S1 fusion for disc collapse and bone spur into the spinal nerve. I have pretty significant pain in most joints and sometimes feel pretty depressed because I really want to be much more active and feel like I am missing a lot. I am a social worker and love my job. I have only been working at this particular job since 8/31/07 so I will not technically be eligible for FMLA leave for three and a half more months and I don't know if I can hold out that long.
One question I have for those of you who might be able to relate, is about muscle spasms throughout my entire body. I have had them in my hands neck, sides, back, feet, legs even my face. One time I was driving home from work and turned my head to merge on the expressway and my entire chest went into a spasm and it felt like a heart attack at first...really scary.
Anyway primarily, i have weakness and some pain in my right leg and my back associated with my disc problem. I was originally being screened for MS since I have had optic neuritis and lost sight for a few weeks and other weird neuro stuff over time but the brain MRI came back fine. The muscle spams seem to be aggravated by movement, even slight movement and I have a difficult time resting and sleeping. My right leg pretty much stays in a spasm but it is numb and weak and I usually do not know it is tightened till I stand up and feel the tightness. My right calf muscle seems smaller and atrophied and the nerve conduction test showed significant nerve damage. I wonder if that will be better after surgery. I have always tolerated pain pretty well...when my neurosurgeon saw my first spine MRI he said.."well I know you are not a crybaby"..not sure what to think of that! I feel like one alot of the time but try to stay positive. I feel like my cervical fusion was the easiest best surgery ever and would be happy to discuss that with others. I had a great surgeon and have had no problem even ten plus years later. Thanks everyone for listening and again I am so glad I found you all!!!

Ceegee...I don't have problems with my cervical area, mine are lumbar...I'm sure there are plently of folks here that help...by the way welcome to NT!!
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Hi
 

Thanks for the response. Hope things are going ok for you and your DH. ;)

I'm sorry for all the pain you're feeling, and have experienced.

I replied to another of your posts, and I do hope that you not think I was being too harsh; it was that I was being honest. I learned the hard way about spurs/osteophytes from others, too. The darn things can be surgically removed, but, once someone has had the things, they are more likely than not to recur.

I still go by what I initially posted; I'd only opt for a minimally invasive procedure for the removal of spurs (and I'm speaking strictly of those). I've not encountered a single doc (specialist or surgeon) who offers a guarantee that spurs will not re-surface if removed.

I don't know whether you may have also seen a neurologist and have had an EMG/NCV. If not, I'd have the testing in tandem... and done by a neurologist.

Hi Bobbi
 

I don't think you are being harsh at all. :) I appreciate your honesty. I have been doing research (some) and yeah, bone spurs are in a sense like a form of degenerative disc disorder, This particular disc has been massively herniated for some time and then it collapsed (fun), and now the spur .. I have had 4 MRIs related to just this one disc because the Dr.'s keep suspecting the cauda equina thing??? I sometimes have trouble with bodily functions since this started. (even more fun)
I have had the EMG, discography, 2 CAT scans...sigh. I had horrible bone spurs removed from my neck 10 years ago c4-7 and am still operational...lol. My arms are not weak again at least, although I must admit lately I have had that familiar aching pain in the shoulder blade area...who knows ..but even if the neck spurs cane back today I did get ten years of good time with the operation. My right leg however is a different matter, my NS and the pain specialist both think a minimally invasive fusion with a spacer and just a few screws will help me. I am afraid the pain is making me inclined to go along with them and I don't want permanent nerve damage..the amount of nerve damage right now is what they call significant..I can't drive anymore and walking is hard. I know things can be worse but even if I get just a few years of feeling better with this surgery, even if a spur grows back, i think it might be worth it all. My foot surgery removed a giant one from the top of my foot. If I had not done that I would not have been able to wear a shoe and my mobility was being challenged. It was a painful surgery because they had to carve out a lot of bone tissue and pin my foot but I still don't regret it. Orthopedic shoes were not my idea of fashion at the time. I am 49 now..and much older and expect age related things. I guess it is a matter of weighing the benefits to the costs.
Thank you Bobbi for your very helpful and intelligent suggestions. I appreciate you taking the time to post to me. This is a great forum full of really great people. Thanks!!!!

I must admit: I'd go with what I know about my body (how it has been - past v. present) in conjunction with what films, symptoms and exams indicate.

If C.E. is "on the table" (so-to-speak), I'd definitely want to know that and also from more than one specialist. I know that you know that, too; I detect it from reading your post.

As long as "things" are already exposed, I'd also get the spur(s) removed. No sense leaving 'em inside.

I only wish you the best, as I'm sure others do/will as well.

Confidence not only in the procedure but the surgeon operating: Essential.

Even if at the last moment before any surgery that you may want to delay, just please listen to your inner-voice; it's there for a good reason :wink:.

Hi there Ceegee,

It's great to see you posting.

Welcome to the site.