Need Foraminotomy Info Please
 

Hi, new to this board. Here's my story-about five weeks ago I twisted my neck and had agonizing pain. I also had a lot of numbness in my left arm and thumb w/ muscle weakness. Had an mri done and then saw an orthopedic spine specialist here on Long Island. He said I had a bad hernitated disc -in a very tight spot (c5/c6) and suggested anterior cervical discectomy fusion. But first i had to take steroids for 6 days. They did alleviate a lot of the pain but my arm bu the numbness and weakness did not improve. He wanted me to get an epidural steroid injection but I never did. Went to the city for a second opinion and also b/c I decided if surgery was involved then it should be done by a neurosurgeon. Saw this doctor last week and he said he would not do ACDF -that i was too young for fusion (I'm 44). He said he would perform a posterior foraminotomy. He was concerned about fact that I have neurological deficit and wants to address it. We left it that I would call him next week and let him know if the muscle weakness improved or if it's the same. If the same then he wants to schedule me for the surgery (busy hopsital/nyu Presbyterian) b/c ''we can always cancel it'' and then wants me to call him the week after that and again, let him know if the muscle weakness has improved or not. At that point it would be 7/8 weeks since the onset and I guess surgery would be in the upcoming few weeks after that. AFter all the time spent with him discussing my symptoms and my mri, etc..i totally forgot to ask him why he's not suggesting I get the steroid injection. Of course I can call and ask him on monday..but now it's the weekend and I'm just wondering if anyone on here would have any insight.
*Anyone have a foraminotomy? How did it go and how was the post op?
* Anyone know of any reason this dr would not suggest the injection? Is it that they don't help when it comes to muscle weakness?
*is it really true that the longer the weakness goes untreated, the more likely it is to be gone forever?
Amazing ...two different doctors..two totally different surgeries recommended. Wonder what a third would say ..wow.
Thank you in advance for any comments or any help any of you can offer me,
Michele

Hi ~ Go to this web site - it gives info about this, although it might be hard to understand.

www.ncbi.nlm.gov.pubmed

In fact, you can just click on pubmed at the top and then search for foraminotomy. It will tell you what you need to know.

Hope this helps. Hugs, Lee

Thank you! I'm going to check out that website now..