good day

today is a poopy one
had an extra dig my lower back chimed in over 6 months
and the morning is sunny dry and crisp (don't get it good and bad weather
guess dosn't matter)
took my meds waiting for them to kick in
i find things simple things becoming more and more difficult
last night asked my angle 2 make us some soup for dinner
went in the kitchen 2 help if i could
some help i was
dropped the can couldn't feel it
and even though there is a array of ailments
couldn't tell u what caused it

7/25/08
it began taking me from my job 2 hospital (thought i woke up with a stiff neck) admitted
impression:MRI OF CERVICAL SPINE
no evidence of acute fracture. multilevel degenerative spondylosis most signifcantly affecting the C6-C7 and C5-C6 levels as described. incidental note made of a thyroglossal duct cyst 2.1 cms CC X 1.1 cm AP

impression:CT SCAN OF CERVICAL SPINE
findings are consistent with degenerative changes of the cervical spine along with disc degenerative changes of C5-6
there is a circumferential disc bulge at C5-6, suggestive of degenerative process

impression:CERVICAL SPINE 3 VIEWS ROUTINE
no fracture or dislocation

12/09 NEUROLOGY 1ST VISIT AS PER PCP
impression: EMG/NCV FINDINGS
bilateral C6 radiculopathies
mild sensory demyelinating and axonal median nerve neuropathy at wrist this is consistent with clinical of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
bilateral sensory ulnar nerve neuropathy

12/09 MRI SPINE, LUMBAR
impressions: mild L3-4 and moderate to severe L4-5 disc space narrowing
L4-5 annular tear
L4-5 broad based bulge, narrows right/left lateral recesses contacting both the right/left traversing L5 nerve roots
mild right and moderate left L4-5 neural foraminal stenosis
correlation with left L4 and bilateral L5 specific radicular symptoms is recommended

1/10 CT SCAN OF CERVICAL SPINE
impression: herniated disc at C4-5 and C5-6
left foraminal narrowing C3-4
fullness in the right neck with evidence of extraluminal air in right neck CT scan or MRI of the soft tissues of the neck can be considered for futher evaluation

1/10 PRE/POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS:
cervical degenerative disc and joint disease with radiculopathy
OPERATION PERFORMED:
Provocation discography @ C2-C3,C3-C4,C4-C5,C5-C6 under fluroscopic guidance
patient had immediate reproduction of her pain in her neck area
the area was reinjected for reproduction of the pain, which did occur, which proved that she did have neck pain at that level C5-C6,C6-C7

2/10 ENT FOR CLEARANCE (went 2 3ent doctors 3 conflicting outcome)
impression:CT SCAN
thyroglossal duct cyst, appears slightly more pronounced than prior exam
no evidence of additional mass within the aerodigestive tract
mild generlized prominence of the lingual tonsils
no evidence of cervical lymphadenopathy
cervical spondylosis

3/11/10 THE DAY OF OPERATION
ACDF C5-6, C6-7
DONOR BONE
PATE/6 SCREWS
5 HOUR SURGERY

9/10 NY-PRESBYTERIAN WEILL-CORNELL MEDICAL CENTER
impression:Costochoncritis, Fibromyalgia

10/10 LUMBAR MRI
2 disc hardening w/spurs

11/10
2 cortizone injections
did not have 3rd

12/10 er hospital
findings:
diverticulitis
small hyperdence lesion lower pole of right kidney

AT THIS POINT DID NOT FUSE TAKL OF 2ND SURGERY

4/13/11 PRE-OP, HTN, HERNIATED CERVICAL DISC
GATED LEXISCAN STRESS TEST
impression: normal myocardial perfusion Lexiscan stress test. there is a fixed apical defect with normal wall motion which is a normal variant

4/15/11 DAY OF 2ND SURGERY
enter posterior
donor bone/cage
8 hour operation

FOLLOW-UP SURGEON UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY IS SITUATION 100% WORSE
NOTHING CHANGED, AND NOW BOTH ARMS ARE USELESS IN ADDITION WITH
ORIGINAL CHIEF COMPLAINT JUST PLEASE TAKE MY HEAD OFF IT'S TO HEAVY ON MY NECK AND SHOULDERS ALL REMAINS THE SAME
COULD NOT LOOK ME IN THE EYES AND SAID SENDING YOU BACK FOR YET
ANOTHER PAINFUL TEST


8/23/11 NEUROLOGY: FOR EMG/NCV TEST
SENSORIMOTOR DEMYELINATING PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AFFECTING UPPER EXTREMITIES
BILATERAL C6 RADICULOPATHIES
POST LAMINECTOMY PAIN SYNDROME

also for a neck x-ray that shows to date haven't fused yet

finding this forum was and is a God send i am so depressed only to have found a lump in my right breast appointment already made i don't know how the computer world works i'm doing my best all i can say is today is a very painful hard and certainly scary one i don't want to wake up anymore its the pain talking i have a therapist i speak with and most of this info is out there in bits and pieces my angel will be coming home soon from school i've been in bed on my side propped so i could type with a pencil eraser my sister will have her 3rd back surgery in a few weeks she is mentally where i am we can hardly keep each other up there are things the computer asks if i want to tag no one here to help but i'm sure all will get a better understanding
so may places apply i stay on this forum as it is my chief complaint i have taken breaks through out the day

gonna go now
hope all a productive and happy thoughts

sorry did not check spelling errors run on sentences

Hi Eva -- I'm so sorry you're having so much pain. I know we can all symptathize.

It's certainly disheartening when surgery does NOT take care of the pain. I've had 2 open surgeries, and neither one helped relieve the pain at all. That happens VERY often -- surgery just doesn't take care of pain. It only corrects mechanical problems.

I hope your doc is aggressively treating your pain. Ask your doc for a referral to a pain management specialist if you haven't already. they can give you more options for pain relief.

I hope you find some answers to ease your pain soon. Take care & God bless! Hugs, Lee

thank u lee

u certainly understand, your kind message is something i am fully aware of, that is the mechanics of the body and fixing it. maybe it's that i am not expressing my confusion.
there was not a thing wrong as far as the pain i experience in my left arm. i am right handed and my pain was in and on the right side before anything was ever addressed, i taught myself to do most everything with my left arm and that is leaving out my neck problems, that simply swallowing will never be without pain, new after surgery. i knew about limited motion the pain i suffer in my upper back, new, that's not even near the lower back. my own dr is stumped i have an appointment with him soon. also he's the one who made the remark, after last emg, as per his request because stumped, then meeting with him, only to tell me, "u have a multitude of problems" i know i wasn't pleasant speaking of him but i am still just as upset if not more now because i could have told him that. it was him trying 2 brush it somewhat off, and i know about dr ego. hell i wouldn't be pleased, but I, eva not him, is left with both arms along with all the other crap, not 2 mention my life completely screwed upside down, i can't even sleep in peace, and do i have my talks with my God, never blaming, only trying my best 2 understand what is it that i am needed for if i am bed ridden at times. this is not the way one might think just relax, i wish i could active like i used 2 be. i have already accepted many things that wont be the same. as it is now, i hurt taking the elevator, and going 2 the ladies room, if u know what i mean, takes forever. i am under the care of my pain management specialist after the situation getting my meds from my surgeon. i won't be going thru that hopefully never again. but i learned never say never. anyhow life goes on, i know. some days better than others. one day at a time. this i do know. love and hugs. thank you for being understanding. may your day be filled with happiness!