Wow, Ginnie. I was scared silly- no scared stupid. I didn't know about driving. There were some things that didn't tell me. (gratefully as I might have conjured up symptoms)

Am still in pain, but my neck is not broken anymore.

I am glad you got some relief too. I agree that it doesn't cure the pain, but it makes it different. Going into it thinking you will be pain free after is wishful thinking. You will always have pain, but I thank God for my surgical team. They left a dimple near the top of my neck. I told the doc, if he had to do that, why couldn't he do it om one cute cheek? He'll surgically remove it. Too much (fighting) scar tissue made it happen.

Thank you for making me comfortable here.

Malinda

I am glad for this NT. We can all help each other. I don't think I would have done as well with all of it had I not found this site. Good people here! Have a good night Malinda. I was made comfortable too with so many I met here. I don't plan on leaving!!!! write anytime, I try to get on line some every day. ginnie

Hi Ginnie i went thru a tough 3 days. i ran out of pain meds and wanted to see how bad i was.. well i ended up in the er. there is no way i can do this without the meds. They are going to start doing the shots in my neck since the surgeon wants to wait till my neck gets worse.. I dont understand how it could get anyworse. He says he wants to wait till the tears that are in it increase and due to my age he doesnt want me to lose my mobility. But i did notice the rf is failing and i am dancing inmy seat again. I am going to request that he do the fusion on my l5 and l6. Ever since i had the milogram my back has been hurting quite a bit more and my lower back even more. I spoke with the pain managment doctor today and she told me to call him to get in asap due to the pain being back. Is it normal for it to just start up again after a nerve root burn(its been 2 and a half months since the burn)? it wasnt a gradual onset i woke up and boom it hurt all over again. Its funny you wrote about letting your doctor see you cry because today i was a basket case. i just unloaded on her and i dont think she knew what to do. I am sorry to hear that all you have left is your c2 but if they do the fusion on me thats all i will have left. could you explain what you mean by laminated to me please?

Is there a reason for not getting another doctor to give you an opinion? I would sure get one. They have to give you your reports.

I am so sorry you are in such a painful place in your life.

Sometimes they don't want to do *X* procedure because it is only going to last say, 5 years. My sister has a shredded arm because she had three rotator cuff surgeries and slipped at home and tore up everything so bad it couldn't be fixed. And right now, they don't want to attempt a shoulder replacement because the surgery is so new. It only lasts 5 years. She's 65. In terrible pain. But she copes.

I sure hope this gets resolved for you.

Malindak

Can't you get a second opinion? In your case I would think it is needed.

Surgeons sometimes refuse for age reasons because it can cause the need for surgery in the future.

I am trying to contact people around here that have had back and neck surgeries. What their doctors names are and how they treated them. The surgeon did state i would need surgery but due to my age he wont do it. i am not happy with this due to the fact i deal with burning in my arm daily and if i dont have my pain meds i can not function at all. it is a very scary feeling. He said he was going to put it into the report about the needed the surgery when the tears get worse. I dont understand how much worse they need to be. Even though i am afraid of never moving my neck again there has to be something they can do to relieve the pressure on the nerve. I feel i need to overcome my intimidation of these doctors to...You have stated that you are better with the surgery is the pain less for you.. Also "it can cause the need for surgery in the future" you mean that oncethey start it may weaken the rest of the disks andhave to do more work?

They didn't want to treat my husband for stage four prostate cancer because of his age either. But I kept firm and finally he told the doctor himself that he wanted good treatment. I kept reading about the problem on the internet and i knew they had treated men much older than him. Eventually they treated him.

They weren't happy with me, but did I care? The doctor told me that I made the staff uncomfortable with my questions but I just told him that it was their and his job to help us, not mine to urge them to treat.

Look up neurology or spinal surgery strategies for your particular type of injury. Look at the ages of people treated and how they were treated and go in with information.

Is this regular insurance or workers comp? If it is workers comp get your attorney to arrange a second opinion.

I have found that North American Spine Association and some major research hospitals (liker Mayo clinic) have very good research for me to read when trying to understand anything medical.

Be firm and if you are under 80 they should be able to do surgery if it is necessary. Ask what the ratio of pain they would release with surgery. My surgeon flat told me that he could only get rid of 40% of the pain. It was much better than that.

Good Luck

No you cannot do without the pain medications. refresh my memory, what levels did you have done again? I need pain meds for three weeks after my surgery. I started PT at four weeks, scared to death. My first fusion at C6-7 failed, never bounced back. After the C3-7 I did have some continuing pain. It never went all the way gone for me. However as a whole my pain in the neck in comparison to what I was before is WAY better!!!!
Your pain management doctor needs to give you more medication while you are healing, then gradually wean you down until you can be at least reasonably comfortable. Some pain may always be there. If it is off the charts, go right back to the ER and contact your pain specialitst. At this point your surgeon should be talking to your pain specialist. These doctors don't do such a good job of communicating with each other. You will have to be pro-active to get the right amount of care you need. Get more medications. You have a right to be at least at a tolerable level. This is only from my view point dear woman, I am so sorry this still hurts so bad. Insist that you get some more help, be pro-active. PM me and I can always give you my phone # and or private e-mail. I will try to help all I can. Have not been on NT too much as my home is up for sale. I will always try to get back to you. I am in your corner, as I have been where you are at. Did I answer you enough to what you were asking me????? I want to address all your issues to help you. ginnie

i have tears in c2 all the way down to c7 so they said the whole thing would have to be fused and i have a pinched nerve. going down my arm. also l4 and l5 with pinched nerve down leg. i have to wake up to meds and goto sleep with meds...i am 40 now and he said i am too young for that type of surgery but there has to be somethingelse to relieve the pressure on the nerves. also the rf is failing. my lower back is starting to really hurt again.

oh it is due to a car accident but i was working at the time of the accident.