NeuroTalk Support Groups - One year post acdf of C5 C6

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- - One year post acdf of C5 C6 (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/145239-post-acdf-c5-c6.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by martina (Post 745861)

Hi,
Having this surgery was the worst mistake I have ever made in my entire life. It has been a year and ever since i woke up from the surgery I knew something was wrong. The pain went further down into my hands, which it didn't prior to the surgery. I now have numbness in the hands which i did not have prior. I am, by far, much worse that i was before the surgery. My neurosergeon assured me before this surgery that the disc levels of C4 & C7
were strong enough to withstand the weight of the titanium plates and screws, and he went on about how "lightweight" titanium is. Well i know have the domino effect going on and C4 is not withstanding the weight of the plate and is effected along with C3. C7, the vertebrae just below the fusion is horrific, there is compression deformity there and swelling within the vertebrae. My pain management doctor described as someone stepping on a cardboard box. When i went back to the neurosergeon, he said he was sorry. He sees on new images at where surgery could be indicated and C3 C4 and also C6 C7 due to severe DDD and osteophytes. He does not feel the surgery will give me relief of my symptoms however, and is going to discuss my case with his colleagues. I have foraminal narrowing on the left of all my c spine levels, some levels worse than others, and mild on the right. I have bilateral facet arthropathy, at multiple disc levels. EVEN the C5 C6 level that was fused, again has moderate to severe foraminal narrowing, and osteophyte formation is there again.. I will not get another surgery on the spine unless my spinal cord itself is being impinged. This operation did not help whatsoever and for me it was pointless. Since the operation about 1 month after it when i started to have numbness in fingers, I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel. I had exrtreme bicep, elbow, and forearm pain and i was diagnosed with tennis elbow, although i did not do any repetitive activities to bring this forth. I went to a hand (upper extremity) surgery and he and TOS specialist diagnosed me with neurogenic TOS. He believes the ulnar and median nerves are entrapped in the brachail plexus or near the collar bone area. The neurosergeon who did my ACDF does not agree with them on the neurogenic TOS diagnosis, because it does not show on EMG and i do not have a fifth cervical rib. I have been told by the hand surgeon that the carpal tunnel surgery will not help in my case because the entrapment of nerve is up higher. I am thinking of attempting the carpal tunnel release anyway to see what happens because i am desperate for relief of this, even if it only helps from my wrists down, it will be some relief. I think I may have been padded improperly during the surgery. Anyway, i am in pain management and will remain there. I would not recommend this surgery to anyone unless there spinal cord is being impinged. Most of the people i read about come out wose than before went in. Has anyone else had a similiar scenerio by chance? Martina:(

Hi Martina ---Hi had acdf in 7-2010 same as I did good intially but was short lived no Im In daily pain. Neck shoulder pain & hand still numb. Shoulder gives me the most pain. I was wondering how you are doing now ? Has any symptoms for better or any treatment help you? I too am struggling to find answers?? Thanks!!:winky:

I trust you will not have any sort of carpal, median or ulnar "release" unless you have had a nerve conduction study :eek: that demonstrates where the problem (s) is. Years back, I could have sworn that my neck had gone south again but Pain Man insisted on doing the study before sending me for a surgical consult. It turned out that I had a badly compressed ulnar nerve. I had him set me up with his surgeon of choice and had it repaired. It's been almost eight years ago and I can say it was a total success. To this day, I may have some occassional light tingling in my little finger if I push the envelope relative to my hand/arm. I would repeat that in a heartbeat. I can't say that about most of my spinal surgery. Best wishes.

Yes, I had some of the same experience as you. I was fused origionally at C6-7. Out of sugery I was not right. I also was not told that the ones above were damaged. That information was kept from me even though I complained. 5 years later in pain management had C3-7 done, the re-do of C6-7. It was hard to go through. So sorry you are enduring this too. As it is, My T 1-2-3- isn't so hot either. Was told this is indeed the domino effect. I too am in pain management, but did get off the heavy medications. Using a light pain killer for when it gets bad at night. I won't have anymore sugery if I can help it.

I was also told I had no choice with either surgery, as I was risking being paralized. Well I had to do it, as nerve inpingement was indeed occuring.

I wish there were better answers to all this. I do wonder how long my spine will last. I am post two years. Take care, and write to me anytime. ginnie

Hi Ginnie---Wow you been thru hell and back. My biggest problem is lack of information .I feel as if there just saying to me sorry your in pain but I did my job. I do understand the reason most of have this because we are spinal cord compressed and the risks involved . I have small herinations at almost every level of neck. I dont understand the area Im fused why wasnt the forminal canal opened larger for nerve. I been reading pathway of nerves at each level it makes sense on mine at c-5 (fused area) to still how a mild spinal cord compression ?? I thought the point of acdf was to remove the disc 100% off the spinal cord. Thats the part that I find confusing. Thanks so much Ginnie for taking the time to reply is means alot to me!! I been feeling very frustrated. I wish you the best as well and no more surgery and I hope your pain has improved?:hug:

If I understand you, at the place you were fused C5-6, with rods etc, this is now getting compressed to narrow your forminal canal, correct? Was there any mention of bone spurs?. Usually with that surgery, the forminal canal is opened so you don't get any more compression. Disk is romoved 100% and then replaced with doner bone, or a segment from your hip. All of mine were replaced with doner bone.
If you are not getting a good response to answer your issues with your current doctor, go get another opinion if you can. I did not stick with my origional surgeon as I wasn't happy with him leaving the rest for later and not telling me anything. sometimes these neuros don't want to admit when a proceedure didn't turn out exactly like they wanted. If you are in some pain, you need to get that doctor to talk to you. I would hate to think, that it is possible for compression to happen, to those verterbre, that are fused with rods and plates. That is scarry. No wonder you are worried. You don't want to have to do a re-do if you can help it. How are all the other verterbre above your fusion site? All mildly hernited? Does it say "severe" anywhere in the MRI records? This is an indicator. Using the word "mild" the surgeons usually don't do the surgery. If it is severe, and narrowing takes place, they recommend so you don't continue to get shocks up and down your arms.
All and all I do not regret having the second fusion, but I do wonder how long the ones below will last and I do have a concern about that. I hope both of us do OK. Please ask your doctor these very questions you have, he owes you a truthful answer. ginnie:hug:

Ginnie--Thanks again for helping and I agree on 2nd opinion. The surgeon I talked twice-- he said intially my herinations were so severe c-5 thru c7 that one of the disc crumbled during surgery and they had to fish it out from back of neck. He said everything looks ok not perfect-- but no bad enough to risk a revision. Yes c2,c3,c4 all have small herinations. He thinks the problem is c5 nerve is passing thru-- but is still being compressed which affects shoulder. I couldnt move before surgery I went paralyzed on right side. I woke up and was happy i could move arm and hand-- but I still have numbness and the right side is always cold. I will take your advice seek out another oppinion and inquire about pain mangement. I still work everyday so Im lucky on that aspect. It takes a toll end of the day wiped out and stuggle to sleep I wake up every 1hr---its taking a toll. Your a very sweet person Ginnie to take the time to help!!! I will keep u posted and please keep me updated on how your doing.

I don't mind responding at all. I came here for help and comfort the same way. Lots of people helped me out and settled me down.
If your sleep is that disturbed, it can make the pain worse. Ask your PCP for a little help maybe. If I don't sleep, my pain increases, and I am shot for the day.
I hope you don't have to have the revision done. None of it is fun, thats for sure. Take care, ginnie