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Will I need Surgery MRI Reading Help Please

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Old 10-05-2012, 10:05 AM #41
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Wow Kim it sounds like you're doing really well, but you're right -- you've GOT to quit smoking or you may not fuse! It's really important that you quit. boy I know how hard it is to quit. I'm supposed to quit too due to COPD. It is SOOO hard! But i'm working on it.

Take good care of yourself Kim. Agaiin, sounds like you're doing well. Keep us informed as you go. Hugs, Lee
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recovering alcoholic, sober since 7-29-93;severe depression; 2 open spinal surgeries; severe sciatica since 1986; epidurals; trigger points; myelograms; Rhizotomy; Racz procedure; spinal cord stimulator implant (and later removal); morphine pump trial (didn't work);now inoperable; lumpectomy; radiation; breast cancer survivor; heart attack; fibromyalgia; on disability.



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Old 10-05-2012, 12:07 PM #42
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Default Smoking
I am having difficulties quitting smoking,but I have cut down.I was wondering if the
patch would be ok,just to get past a few day?or is the patch the same as smoking.I also have no nicotine cigs.to help...I want to fuse properly yet having hard time quitting cold turkey
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Old 10-05-2012, 12:38 PM #43
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I see my surgeon in 8 weeks.Should I be resting for my 8 weeks? When I take a Percocet
I feel already 5 days post op I can do pretty much anything but heavy lifting,or turning my neck.lol..i am one of those need to knock me out and cant stay down for long..thank you
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Old 10-05-2012, 03:06 PM #44
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Default Hi Kim
Smoking does delay healing. It starves areas of oxygen, and can make your throat sore. Try hard to dump them. I developed a throat condition, even though I quit many years ago. It is a lesson to pay attention to. I only wish you well, and know very well how hard it is. I went cold turkey out in Ma, and then had to drive to MO. over 1,300 miles with nothing. Humph. I was so crabby the cat wouldn't sit on my lap or come near me. I remember it well. Just believe in yourself, and know you are worth the effort to get rid of them. I usually don't go on so about smoking, its just now that I am 60 with some funky throat thing, I wonder what my own future will be. Take care, get well soon, and be good to yourself. ginnie
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Old 10-05-2012, 04:57 PM #45
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Default Hi checker
Yes, the patch can help. It is just as expensive however as smokes. You still have to wean off them. My friend did it this way, and it did work for her. I do wish you all the best with this. ginnie
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Old 10-05-2012, 05:31 PM #46
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So the patch is ok with the fusing processor better than smoking?I am going to get some tomorrow
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Old 10-05-2012, 06:42 PM #47
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Yes, of course, anything is better that smoking. GO FOR IT!!! It took my friend about 6 months on the patch. she started on a higher dose, and bought lower doses each month. I promise in just a few months, you will feel better even of you go cold turkey. I wish you all the best in healing, and giving up that devil of a habit. I remember stealing my fathers cigaretts, was I nuts? I hope you make it, it is a real commitment. Best wishes to you. ginnie
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Old 10-06-2012, 09:04 PM #48
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So the patch is ok with the fusing processor better than smoking?I am going to get some tomorrow
The patch and a lot of prayers worked for me. I had tried many times (2 + packs a day). Never thought I could give up this terrible habit. It has been 16 years since I had a cigarette. I actually carried a lower dose patch in my wallet for over a year after last cigarette. The main thing is to never even try one cigarette again. You will eventually be back smoking again.

Good luck !!!!
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Old 02-12-2013, 01:41 PM #49
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Default Please offer a few examople of conservative methods?.
Can you please offer a few examples of conservative methods? I appreciate it !

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Let me see if I can help in layman's language:

At C3-4 & C4-5 you have "drying out" of the discs (dessication) which means that the discs tend to flatten out and that makes them bulge and sometimes herniate. That also makes them push on nerves and that HURTS. Everyone has this, it's just some of us get it earlier than others.

At C3-4 you also have bone spurs which causes moderate narrowing of the neural foramen. The foramen is the hole which the nerves go thru to the spinal cord.

At C4-5 you have bone spurs which causes minimal neural narrowing of the neural foramen.

At C5-6 you have a herniation of the disc with compression of the thecal sac. The thecal sac is the membrane of dura matter that surrounds the spinal cord & the cauda equina. The thecal sac is filled with cerebral spiinal fluid. The disc also compresses the spinal cord resulting in spinal stenosis with the saggital diameter of the spinal canal being narrowed to approximately 5mm. The disc protrusion results in moderate to severe lateral recess and and foraminal stenosis (narrowing) which might result in right C6 radiculopathy (radiating pain).

What kind of symptoms are you having, i.e numbness, tingling, etc? From what I can tell (and I'M NO DOCTOR) I don't think you'd need surgery, but I would certainly get more than one opinion.

I think it's AWFUL that you have to wait that long just for an appointment! Our health system is screwed up for sure, but it's nothing like that! We can go to whomever we want, and all we have to do is call someone and get in within a matter of perhaps a 3-4 week period. But PLEASE if it's at ALL possible, make sure you get more than one opinion. And try ALL conservative methods before opting for surgery because surgery will NOT relieve all your pain. Surgery is ONLY for mechanical problems. The vast majority of times you will end up with the same pain or worse after surgery! I've had 3 spinal surgeries (one was a spinal cord stimulator implant) the other 2 were open spinal surgeries and I'm in worse shape now than before. In fact, I'm disabled now. So try every thing you can before undergoing surgery.

Best of luck and God bless. Please let us know what happens, ok? We really care here! Hugs, Lee
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Old 02-12-2013, 03:28 PM #50
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Quote:
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Can you please offer a few examples of conservative methods? I appreciate it !
Physical therapy – Exercise to strengthen the neck muscles
Hot or cold therapy – Heat pads to increase circulation or cold pads to reduce swelling
Pain medicine – Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as well as prescription pain killers
Anti-inflammatory injections – Cortisone or steroidal solutions to numb pain
Behavior modification – Avoiding activity that might exacerbate neck herniated disc symptoms
Chiropractic therapy – Including traction or non-surgical spinal decompression therapy
Acupuncture, massage, cervical pillows
cervical herniated disc pain deteriorates significantly after months of conservative treatment at that time you may want to consider surgery.
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