Spinal Disorders & Back Pain For discussion of all spinal cord injuries, spinal issues, back-related pain or problems.


advertisement
 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
Old 10-08-2014, 06:43 AM #1
Rfcomm Rfcomm is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 17
10 yr Member
Rfcomm Rfcomm is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 17
10 yr Member
Frown Dangling arm post C5-C7 ACDF

Hello All,
My name is Curt and Just joined this site in hopes to find someone that can relate to my emotional & physical pain after a botched(My Opinion) level 2 ACDF surgery back in Jan 2014. Surgeon replaced my herniated disk in C6/C7 & a bulging disk in C5/C6. That portion went fine for the most part until I awoke from surgery. I had no use of my right shoulder and my entire arm was numb. Mentioned this to the PACU nurse (twice) as my arm fell off the arm of the chair and dangled straight down. I had tried to find it using my left arm by feeling around. I had a collar on so looking down was not an option. Both times the nurse just put my arm back on the arm of the chair and said "Sometimes this happens after surgery and it should get better. Shortly thereafter they discharged me about 4 hours after the surgery with a drain tube in my neck. (had a lot of bleeding during surgery according to notes). There was a pending snow event happening later that day and they were in a rush to get me/them out of the office before so. The next day at home my right shoulder was still useless but I could move my fingers and bend at the elbow a bit. My right bicep/tricep area was all blue like a lot of blood had pooled under the skin. Went back to Dr. next day to remove drain tube and showed him my arm bruise. He seemed shocked and had no idea what it was. No further talking about that. Fast forward, after 9 months of twice a week therapy to strengthen the atrophy in my arm/shoulder muscles, I still can't lift my arm to the side very much or towards the back at all. According to two (time spaced) Nerve conduction study & EMG tests, My C5 and C6 nerves are showing Severe Acute Denervation, caused by either a hematoma or damage done during surgery were "his" words. The problem is there was no "work" performed in that area of the cervical spine according the operating Surgeon, and he doesn't know what happened...He diagnosed me with Horner's syndrome & Parsonage-Turner syndrome. First Nerve Conduction Study & EMG ruled out Parsonage-Turner syndrome.

After doing much research into my issue and reading my surgery notes, it's my belief that the Dr/staff applied excessive traction to my shoulder in a downward motion in order to get a better Fluoroscopy real-time image of needle placement into the affected disk. The notes state that "the patient has quite large shoulders and on first x-ray the needle placement showed we were at the C4-C5 level. This means that they had lower my shoulders more in order to obtain a radio image further down. This type of trauma caused the Brachial Plexus nerve bundle to become stretched. This accounts for all the nerve damage/pain, VERY little deltoid use and as well as Horner's syndrome.

I've been on 15mg Oxycodone HCL for pain and 10mg diazepam for muscle spasms for 9 months now too. Since the injury is not on the outside for people(family) to see, I don't get much support for what I'm going through. I've applied for SSDI because I cannot work and of course was denied the first go around. Now working on appeal with a lawyer. I feel sorry for folks who are going through any type of severe nerve damage as it makes life not very much fun right now. Finally talked the Surgeon to schedule and MRI of my Brachial Plexus to investigate further. Shopping around for a Malpractice attorney at this time who will take my case.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 2014-01-30 16.55.46.jpg (212.6 KB, 469 views)
File Type: jpg 2014-01-30 16.56.48.jpg (214.6 KB, 526 views)
Rfcomm is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 

Tags
brachial plexus, c5 palsy, horner's syndrome


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Post acdf surgery 5th day StacieC Spinal Disorders & Back Pain 11 07-18-2013 03:02 PM
Post ACDF noni2012 New Member Introductions 1 06-01-2012 01:45 AM
4 Days Post Op From ACDF CatsMeow Spinal Disorders & Back Pain 3 07-08-2011 10:54 AM
post acdf robby New Member Introductions 3 12-04-2009 07:37 PM
Hoarseness, post-ACDF Redhotbeads Spinal Disorders & Back Pain 2 08-11-2008 02:29 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:11 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.