Older guy / new injury
 

Hi everyone,

I am a 61 year old grandfather of 3 boys. In late August, while playing in the yard with the boys, I accidentally flipped over backwards off the tree hammock. I landed on my head and my legs went up and over my head resulting in a broken neck. C2, 3 & 4 were fractured in the back. I had an anterior spinal fusion at C3-4 and placed in a cervical halo. I wore the halo for 3 full months and it was removed last week and replaced with a Miami J collar.

Use of my arms and legs came back quickly although strength seems slow to come back. I have tingling from my toes to my midriff and also from my shoulders down to my hands. The C5 nerve down each arm causes great sensitivity type pain. I am currently taking gabapentin 600 MG 4 times daily along with Tylenol 500 MG 4 times daily.

The bladder just last month started to return to functionality. I am able to void during the day from 6 am to about 10 pm but have to self cath during the middle of the night.

With the removal of the halo last week, I have found the tingling sensation has increased slightly but is not unbearable. I have noticed some muscles in my neck and shoulders are sore, quite likely from atrophy during the 3 month halo period.

I am curious if others have experienced similar things with respect to the nerve pain and tingling sensations. Are there other drugs out there that may be helpful? I know everyone is different and time is a big factor in spinal cord healing but it is nice to hear what others have experienced as well. What other adjustments might I expect now that the halo is off?

I look forward to hearing from others.

Don

Welcome to the forum, Don! My symptoms are very similar to yours, but I have a progressive neuropathy from hereditary nerve-muscle deterioration, which is untreatable.
You have been through an awful lot, that is a lot of spinal cord trauma, but it sounds like you are recovering. Most of us here do not have neuropathy due to sudden injury, but I hope someone who does will help you out. Also some of our regulars have experience with all types over the years and may remember a case like yours.
I hope that you continue to improve. Nerves are notoriously slow and arbitrary in their regeneration, so it may take patience, but good luck!

Thanks Susanne. I appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from others as well.

Since I am only now days removed from the halo, I am taking things slowly. I have started going in my hot tub and found it to be absolutely fantastic! I have the water set at 100 F so no worries of overheating plus I limit myself to 15-20 minutes. The result is my nerve pain and tingling seems to simply melt away. I do modest stretching while I am in the tub as well. I find that even after I get out, the pain remains at bay for several hours. My hope of course is that it all eventually goes away and this simply is helping it along.

I wonder if anyone else has had this type of experience?

Happy thanksgiving to all!

Don

Hello & welcome,
I moved your thread here to our Spinal forum, I think you'll get more replies on the C2, 3 & 4 fractured -and anterior spinal fusion at C3-4.