Hi,

In Jan 2012 I underwent an ACDF C6-7 relating form an accident I was involved in May of 2011. I had been going to the chrio for 7 months and kept having sever to excruciating pain in my neck, arm and numbness with tingling in my hands, with headaches, along with pain in my sternum area. Chiro at first thought my sternum pain was caused by a misplaced rib or my acid reflex flaring up, only to run all kinds of tests all coming up neg. Finally he suggested my reg Dr order a hida-scan. My gallbladder was ballooned and needed to come out. I had it out in Sept. Thought we were finally on the right track. My neck however didn't agree.

My pain level was never below a 5 in my neck area. He would manipulate and it would relieve the pressure and within a few hrs back to pain. This went on with the visits 3-4 times a week. Finally in Dec he thought lets give it a rest to see what happens. My hand went numb and my funny bone took hold like someone whacked me with a hammer 24/7 in it. Sent me for MRI which showed what they thought to be a herniated C6-7 crushing my nerve, along with C5-6 showing a slight osteophyte into the nerve. It took 2 weeks for me to be seen by a neurosurgeon. Not something I want to wait for again. He said surgery ASAP. C6-7 was ruptured crushing my nerve causing havoc to say the least. After surgery my funny bone hold was gone. My numbness and tingling wasn't. My first 3 fingers never regained feeling, and 3 weeks ago my last 2 fingers went numb. When I turn my neck to the right I get excruciating almost like an electrical shock running down my neck and arms. When I tilt my neck backwards I get a more intense electrical shock with excruciating pain in neck and arms and it sounds and feels like bone hitting bone.

Dr sent me for an EMG to rule out carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve. All came back neg and it showed I had normal activity where C5-7 nerves are.

I had an MRI a week ago to see what was going on. The nerve in C6-7 shows it's still not healed, and C5-6 shows the osteophyte a little bigger pushing on the nerve with my spinal cord narrowing. He said he didn't want to do surgery, since he didn't think that was the cause of my problem, and in time it would get bigger. He wants to send me to PT, yet doesn't want me to lift anything and said if I move the wrong way, I could push that osteophyte into my spinal cord more. Although PT won't take the numbness away nor reduce that osteophyte, I asked then why send me. He didn't have an answer.

I asked when will I get the feeling back in my hand and when the tingling would go away, he said it might not ever or it could take years. Yet he said the EMG shows no sign of damage. I am confused here.

I got no explanation as to what is causing my symptoms or why he didn't want to take care of the osteophyte.

Has anyone else have issues like this?

I think you need to see another doctor. He didn't answer all your questions. Get a referral to another neurosurgeon. The one you saw evidently didn't have the answers to your questions, which isn't acceptable. He should have been able to answer them at least SOMEWHAT.

If you move and the osteophyte could damage the spinal cord, why doesn't he want to remove it? I don't get it, like you! And you also need to know why you're having all these symptoms! Hopefully another doctor can explain this.

And PLEASE -- don't go to a Chiropractor ever again! Spinal patients should NOT take that chance! We risk paralyzation, according to my Neuro.

Best of luck & let us know what a new Neuro has to say. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

[C5-6 shows the osteophyte a little bigger pushing on the nerve with my spinal cord narrowing. He said he didn't want to do surgery, since he didn't think that was the cause of my problem, and in time it would get bigger.]

It might be good to get a copy of your MRI & the report to show to a few other specialists for more opinions.
If they agree that the osteo is probably not the cause of the sx, then some very good PT might help.

[excruciating pain in my neck, arm and numbness with tingling in my hands, with headaches, along with pain in my sternum area.]

Those sx could overlap with the sx of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), it doesn't show up on most testing unless there is anatomical anomalies.

Do you or have you done repetitive work or hobbies, or any previous whiplash type injury? -Ah well the accident could be a factor since it was neck injury .

Maybe 2 things going on- the osteo + maybe some TOS things...

anyway we have a TOS forum if you want to read more about it.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

Hi Breezie, Welcome.

The chiro messed with your neck, KNOWING you had been in an accident, BEFORE getting an MRI and finding out what was going on in there?

This is no time for reproach; you did what you thought was the right thing to do. I agree with Leesa:
...and there is also the understated risk of stroke:
http://www.quackwatch.com/01Quackery...irostroke.html

Also Google: chiropractic cervical stroke

That's... actually not bad; some folks have to wait months for a first consult.

Anyway, I'm not sure why the surgeon didn't remove the osteo... bone spur while he was in there, unless it was because he couldn't see/get to it. Many surgeons don't remove bone spurs because they are a form of natural healing (protecting the spinal cord from injury) and they do grow back anyway, but if this one is/was impinging your nerves at the time.... I just don't know.

Yes. Unfortunately, too many.

Nerves can take a very long time to heal. Some dietary (and other) measures can be taken to reduce inflammation, which may help some.

Residual pain is not unusual either, and you should have been warned about that. Surgery can repair the mechanical - not necessarily the pain.

I agree with Leesa and Jo*mar in other respects as well...

PT does help some people, and it's a non-invasive conservative therapy, so IMO, it's always worth a try.

Your continued symptoms could be caused by damage already done, which may or may not heal in the future. They could also be from another cause.

Get copies of all your records, and see what other neurosurgeons have to say.

I think what's important at this point is getting an accurate evaluation of where you are - what's going on in there - and then figuring out where to go from here.

Please stay in touch,

Doc

Please do not automaticly rule out physical therapy. Remember that you are not just a patient. You are a consumer. It should not be difficult to ask around and find a local therapist with a big bag of tricks, so to speak. Remember that PT is not all boot camp style torture. There are warm/fuzzy treatments that really soothe and calm the angry spine. A good, experienced therapist knows which treatments to use and what order to use them in to acheive maximum benefit. Best wishes.