[Scooter14]

I am so glad I found this forum as I am much worse now than before my most recent surgery. My story... I had a disc herniation 6 years ago at C6/C7 and the resulting ACDF using my own bone was very successful. The pain and numbness I had in my left arm was almost immediately relieved. Awesome!

About 2.5 years ago I started having walking balance type issues. Just a lack of confidence in my gait. About 6 months later, I started getting extremely cold burning spots (softball size) in the same spot on my right arm/elbow forearm and right calf. The doctor sent me to a neurologist who did physical therapy and ultimately an MRI (brain and spine with dye) which revealed another herniation with pressure on the spine at C5/C6. In the mean time, a warm spot developed on my left calf and numb/warm spot on my left back shoulder. The diagnosis was cervical spondylitis with myelopathy.

I had surgery approx. 3 1/2months ago with an artificial disc at C5/C6 (successful according to surgeon and xrays) but my symptoms are sometimes even worse now. Furthermore, I now have some left leg pain here and there but pronounced pain in left shoulder/arm/hand. In addition, some occasional twitching on left arm and hand clumsiness at times.

I expected the surgery to be the answer like the first but I have so much anxiety now. I wondered if the cervical issue was not the real problem or did they botch something. Of course the Internet convinced me that I had ALS or MS. I recently visited the neurologist and she did another MRI revealing that the new disc was not pressing on the spine, some basic neuro tests again, reflex (no real reflex in arms, slight hyper in right knee #3 on right knee and #2 on left knee, Babinski (normal), standing and walking tests, strength tests, and ultimately stated that I did not have MS or ALS as I worried about. She is fairly positive its related to my cervical issues and recent surgery. She states that I just went through a major surgery and I need to give my body and spine time to heal. The problem is that I did not have left arm/hand issues before the surgery. Anyone else have a similar experience?

I sure hope she is right as I cant really do much at this time due to the pain and anxiety.