Time to be nervous again. Went to the OSS office and saw the PA so I didn't have to wait too long. Did a few tests with my fingers, hands and arms and listened to my concerns and symptoms. Having pain in my neck, tightness in my neck and shoulders. Knots in my shoulder blade area. Muscle spasms in my entire back and neck. Most significant symptoms are heaviness in upper arm, odd feeling in wrist, hand getting ice cold then red then first 2 joints on fingers turn bluish only on left hand. He felt is was a bit early for adjacent disk syndrome but you never know. (Was hoping for positive words of wisdom) They didn't take x rays but decided to go right for an MRI with contrast. Have an appointment for Monday at 8AM for MRI and appointment on Tuesday at 4PM with either the PA or OSS. I HATE the WAITING GAME
************************************** **********
12/9/2010 ACDF C5-6 C6-7 with plate, screws,
BMP & bone fragment filled cages
2/14/2011 trying to go back to work as a teacher
2/17/2011 starting PT
wearing bone stimulator 4 hours a day
DDD, arthritis, herniated disks, pinched nerves
3 months saw a little bit of bone growth (YEAH)
4/15/2011 Home Tens Unit

Dealt with the pain and issues for more than 5 years
tried PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, cervical epidural shots and selective nerve root blocks prior to surgery

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear that, you've come so far!! Did you over do it? Hopefully it's just a little set back and you heal quick.

I will pray for good results, try to take it easy for a while.

Keep us posted how your MRI goes.

TOU.... Cathie

Cathie Thanks for your reply. trying not to let my mind wander to much. But it is difficult. How are you feeling? Are you out of the hard collar? If so how do you feel and are you using a soft one? If you are a mom, Have a wonderful Mother's Day

If the MRI doesn't "show" anything that might be causing those symptoms , then I would look into thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) to see if it is the cause.
The symptoms just sound very TOS like to me.

What is thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)? haven't researched it yet. But I would appreciate any information you have. Thanks

hi,

Yes, I'm out of my hard collar, still wear ita bit when my neck gets tired and sore, and I also use a soft one when I need to. Just finally starting to drive again, just short distances ( I live in small town, and haven't ventured to the city yet). Feel pretty good, I still have pain n numbness in my 2 fingers and right shoulder blade but mostly when I've done too much. Off all the narcs now except for a couple of percacet a day and a muscle relaxer in the late afternoon. ROM isn't very good still but I'm practicing everyday.

I hope everything goes well on Monday are you feeling any better or are your symptoms still there? How frustrating to have a set back when you were just getting to feel like normal again. hang in there.

Yes, I'm a Mom of 3 teenagers, plan on doing absolutely nothing tomorrow! Lol
Happy Mothers Day to you too!!

Let us know how everything goes when you get your results. TOU.
Cathie

We have aforum for it too- check the sticky threads on it for symptoms & info.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

Okay, I went back to the OSS. Generally speaking the MRI was fine.
Straightening of the cervical lordosis and cervical dexroscoliosis
C2-3 buldging without central or foraminal compromise
C3-4 buldging without central or forminal stenosis
c4-5 diffuse buldging with effacement of the ventral thecal sac no forminal stenosis
C5-6 no central or forminal stenosis
C6-7 no central or foraminal compromise
C7 - T1 unremarkable
T1-2 buldging

So they want me to go to a vascular surgeon and have some other things checked out. Made an appointment for May 16th. I didn't want to take any more time off of work.
Hoep all is well with everyone. I have my regular 6 month post op in mid June.

I was thinking about you today, wondering how your appt. went.

So, I'm not sure what all that means? Did they actually give you any sort of diagnosis for your symptoms or are they just passing you off to the next specialist? Does all the bulging discs mean the ACDF was not successful, or is it all normal?

Sorry to hear you're still not feeling well.... hope you get some answers and relief soon.

I think that the bulging was probably there prior to surgery. When I looked at the MRI nothing seemed to protrude out too much that I thought it might be a problem. Most people have some bulging so that does not concern me. I trust my OSS and if he feels that the symptoms do not involve the cervical spine directly and he doesn't need to do anything then I am fine with that. The MRI showed that the area that was fused looks great. I see him mid June for my 6 month check and for x rays to check on the bone growth. Hoping I can stop wearing the stimulator and start taking the anti inflammatory for arthritis. The MRI only shows soft tissue and not the bone growth. I thought that I would need to go to another specialist but wasn't sure who. I had and still have an appointment with my rheumatoid arthritis doctor for the end of the month but didn't want to wait because I didn't think he was the right specialist either. There is a problem with the circulation and not sure why. Some family members think it is Raynauds since it does run in the family. I hope not. Thank you for thinking about me. The Saga continues. No more PT as insurance had denied yet agin.