Help!! Do I get a second opinion?
 

I have posted on here before about pain after my ACDF that I had done in March of this year. My problem, I am getting the pain back in my shoulders, my arm still stiffens up and my hand and 2 fingers are still numb. It seems that after the surgery now almost 6 months later I am starting to get some of the old symptoms back along with the ones that didn't go away. Due to this I looked at my MRI results and the notes from the doctor that did my surgery. I knew that further surgery might be possible but it seems like it may be sooner than later.

MRI was done 3/2/10:

C2-3: slightly diminished in height (ok not so bad here, wasn't told about this one)
C3-4: small central disc protrusion causing some indentation upon the subarachnoid compartment (wasn't told about this one)
C4-5: same as above (was told about this one)
C5-6: herniated disc with the nucleus pulpous compressing the spinal cord (this is the one I knew about)
C6-7: rightward bulge results in some effacement of the ventral subarachnoid campartment (knew about this one)

The doctor only told me about C4-5, 5-6 and 6-7 not the other ones. Then had to have a test done (EMG) and they results on them showed possible problems with C7-8 along with the C6-7 as above.

This is a workers compensation case. My lawyer, when I asked to get a second opinion because of the ongoing pain, etc. told me that wc doesn't like when you do that and that I should try to stick it out. That was before I looked at the MRI results. I am not saying it's really bad but holy crap how much can someone take! Please help I am scared to death and have tried finding a good spine doctor in my area (CT) which is not working. :(

If you're getting the same symptoms back, and if some of the symptoms never left, you DEFINITELY need to see another doctor!!! Something isn't right here, and you need to find out what it is. Just get an appointment with a neurosurgeon and take your results with you. Why has it been so hard to get an appointment with one? Is it because someone else did the surgery? Ask, beg, do whatever you need to do, cause if your spinal cord is still being compressed, this is NOT good!!!

Best of luck and keep us posted, please! God bless. Hugs, Lee

Yes!!!
 

Please get at least TWO or more opinions to find out what is going one before you let anyone operate again. CAUTION is necessary for your health. Keep looking until you find the right answer for your body!

I have had major lumbar issues since 1998 that are documented; many other things happened even from as far back as eleven years old. Long story that I could share later if you would like to hear it. Bye for now and take care.

Taking to long because....
 

The reason why it's taking so long for a second opinion is because it is workers comp and my lawyer told me that workers comp don't like a person to go to a different doctor than the one that did the surgery. He wouldn't even try to talk to workers comp about it. So now not only am I trying to get that second opinion on my own, I am also trying to get a new lawyer. Mine just passed the bar not long ago and doesn't seem to understand anything I am telling him. It even took me 4 weeks to get a test done because the only way he followed up with workers comp is when I called or emailed him. He isn't on top of things at all. So it's back to square one!