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Old 12-18-2017, 11:53 AM #51
Jastek Jastek is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter24 View Post
Thanks Jastek, if found your post very helpful in a better education of my issue. I had Posterior surgery a week ago. Right cervical three four five Hemilaminectomy, foraminotomy. (no fusion) 60 year old male.
While in recovery I found no use of my right deltoid. Since Im new to C5 Palsy I would be interested in anyone’s experiences. Are exercises useful in the regrowth of the nerves or is it more to keep from getting a frozen shoulder. I read one white paper that talked about the use of steroids, has that been useful for anyone? Also the fact that i had no fusion, positive for rehab?
Peter24 - The exercises really serve the main purpose of keeping your muscles from atrophying and retraining the muscles as they get reinervated. In a small way, they also help the nerves grow. The muscle activity creates electrical signals that help guide the nerves to grow back through their original path.

Steroids are usually only used as an initial treatment to prevent swelling, which can minimize the damage to the nerves. I have not heard of using steroids as an on-going treatment. I would be interested in reading the article.

I don't think your lack of a fusion helps your recovery much. Your recovery is all about nerve regeneration and a fusion (or not) should not impact the nerve's ability to re-grow.

Good luck on your recovery !!
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Old 12-18-2017, 09:47 PM #52
barbara thorn 1 barbara thorn 1 is offline
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Angry "Streak of Bad Luck"

It has been 3.5 months since my cervical fusion of C4-5, C5-6 plus plates and screws. Woke up from surgery with my left deltoid and Lt shoulder completely paralyzed. Arm was normal before. Had surgery to stabilized my neck so this would never happen. Was never informed this was a possibility.
Since surgery I have been in intense PT. After doing 100's of exercises every day, my arm is about 70% improved. Can now raise my arm 60% up towards my head. Arm still very weak. Can not hold much weight.
This has thrown me emotionally and mentally. I had a job in nursing when this all started. Right now I don't know if I will be able to return.
Still have nerve pain in Lt upper arm, especially when I try to cut gabapentin back.
Today was my last day of going to PT. Will still have to do many exercises at home, trying to get my arm back. There no guarantees.
Since Sept I have talked to many Dr's and they have never heard of this.
It does not happen often.
I feel it will take several more months of PT at home to get my arm back if possible. Very discouraging.
So happy I can read other people who had this surgery.
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Old 02-05-2018, 08:15 PM #53
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Im 3 months into C5 PALSY, my story sounded similar to Tim's. starting with no movement in my right shoulder and arm I now have full range of motion but my rear deltoid is still not firing at all, and still have some weakness in my bicep. My question for any of you is do you have a tightness where you have the palsy? My shoulder feels like its held down by rubber bands that always wants to force it back to its resting position. My arm after I lift 5 pounds 10 times feels like i just did 100 curls with heavy weights, the arm becomes very tight. Thank you and good luck to all
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Old 03-17-2018, 08:21 PM #54
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That is the way my deltoids feel also. Mainly in rear deltoids. Feels like tight burning, similar to what it feels like when you are lifting weights to the point they start burning. That's because some of the nerve fibers are not firing, so the muscle that is firing has to work harder.
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Old 02-15-2019, 12:48 PM #55
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Default Anterior decompression laminectomy and resultant C5 palsy

Greetings all,

First I'd like to thank everyone who has shared his or her experience with this frustrating condition. It's easy to feel isolated, baffled and frustrated when dealing with this complication since so few in the medical profession can or are willing to admit that it's largely a "hurry up and wait" situation. I'll offer my experience with cervical spinal surgery and the resultant C5 palsy as well.

I was diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis (after EMG testing and MRI) in July, 2018. The symptoms had been coming on slowly for years but I disregarded them, writing them off as I suspect many of us do as the results of "aging" or "overdoing it" or some such excuse. The stenosis was so severe that conservative treatment was not on the table. Surgery--anterior laminectomy and foraminotomy between C3 and C7--was scheduled for Dec. 20.

The surgery was uneventful. I was fine for the one day and two nights I was in hospital. The wound was extremely painful, of course, but at that point nothing untoward was present. I was discharged on the 22nd.

The first two days at home were much the same as in hospital. In the wee hours of the 24th I awoke with pretty severe, cramping pain in the upper arms, particularly the bicep on the right side. I didn't think much of it as it was time for painkillers anyway. In taking the medication I noticed that my right arm was very weak and wouldn't rise all the way. I thought it odd but carried on, thinking it was a post-surgical symptom.

In the wee hours of Christmas morning I awoke and the right arm was 100% non functional. I had normal hand function and no trouble grasping or holding things but the arm simply wouldn't move no matter what. I could neither rotate the palm upwards or raise the arm at all. I was told by my surgeon's answering service--rather rudely, merry xmas--to go to ER right away, and that's where we spent Christmas day. An MRI showed the surgery was a success: my spinal cord was free and no longer stenosed, but the telltale signs of myelomalacia (essentially a bruise on the spinal cord) were
visible on the cord at the level of C5. I was prescribed dexamethasone, a steroid, and sent home...no diagnosis.

At my surgical follow up on January 6 the surgeon told me I had a C5 palsy, that it happens to about 5% of anterior surgeries, and that it pretty much heals on its own in time but occupational and physical therapy are used to help combat the muscle atrophy in the bicep and deltoid muscles on the right side, which are those primarily affected by damage. Jastek in this forum has succinctly and beautifully described why the palsy occurs so I refer to his posts for an explanation as to what causes it.

After that the confusion began. We spent three frustrating weeks just trying to get the surgeon's office to write proper orders for therapy so insurance would cover the work done...each day that passed was another day of no therapy and more atrophy. The second follow up with the surgeon found him changing all his numbers, percentage-wise, of how many suffer from this complication...suddenly it was "very common" following this surgery. Needless to say this did nothing to boost my confidence in this man and the doubts began. My impression is that he's just not seen many with this complication and it's kind of hit-or-miss. I should probably mention here that, like some of you, I was not warned of this potential complication before surgery.

I'm evidently a unique case to the therapists as well...in their combined 35-plus years of combined experience they've not dealt with a post surgical C5 palsy. They did their research and have me on isometrics currently to get some muscle back...the biceps and deltoid are just out of commission. I've seen small improvements since the therapy began two weeks ago but the right arm is still largely useless. It's impossible to eat with that hand as I cannot lift utensils to my mouth. Brushing my teeth can be done only if I hold the brush in the right hand and then use the left to do the work. Driving isn't too hard but I fatigue easily--or rather the arm does--and I'm not confident while doing it, so I keep trips short and near to home to build confidence at this point. Chores are a challenge, particularly folding laundry. Getting dressed: pulling on t-shirts, buttoning, zipping up, etc. are comically frustrating.

It seems the more I get into this the more contradictory information seems to pop up. The surgeon harps about electrical stimulation but the therapists are more dubious for this issue...and we've run into the same issue trying to order a unit from a medical supply house...the surgeon's office drops the ball on providing notes and charts for insurance clearance.

I go to my OT sessions twice weekly and do my 'homework,' mostly isometrics at this point, to help at home. Religiously. When the arm fatigues it grows 'heavy' and feels like it's done. In the last week I've begun to notice L' Hermitte's syndrome as well but mine is not frightening or painful as some seem to be...it's unsettling until you know what it is and that it will pass as healing progresses.

I can tell you that I wish the surgeon had warned me of this potential complication as it's really changed my life. I am not working presently; I've been a teacher for 24 years and thankfully had 80 days of paid leave stored up so I've been able to use them. In that sense I feel very lucky. With regards to the medical profession I'm not feeling so positive. It just seems that there isn't a great deal of information out there about this so that those afflicted feel isolated and frustrated and fearful. I got the impression that several people I spoke with thought I was faking or exaggerating until an examination occurred.

I hope we all are in the roughly 70% who recover full or nearly full use of our limbs despite dealing with a profession that really doesn't seem to know much about our issue or how to deal with. Nerve issues are notoriously fussy and dealing with them frustrating...but at least we're not alone on here.

I'll post updates as my therapy continues so you can have this guy's experiences.
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Old 02-15-2019, 01:15 PM #56
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Default Anterior decompression laminectomy and resultant C5 palsy

Whoops. In reading my post I see that repeatedly said 'anterior' when I should have said 'posterior.' Apologies. It would be pretty tough to perform a laminectomy from an anterior approach
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Old 02-15-2019, 02:14 PM #57
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Hi Spock433B

Welcome to NeuroTalk .

I am sorry to read about what you are experiencing (it is something that I know little about).

I hope that you will be able to make progress.

Best wishes.
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Old 04-16-2019, 02:54 PM #58
Jastek Jastek is offline
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Spock433B,

A couple things:

1st, hopefully you have gotten approval for the muscle stimulator, but if not scream at your doctor until he gets it approved. It is the most important part of your recovery. Everything else helps, but this is the most effective in keeping the muscles from becoming atrophied. Once they atrophy for an extended period of time, the tissue turns to scar tissue and cannot come back.

2nd, if you have any questions or just need some encouragement, please post it here or send me a message through my profile.

Good luck. Staying positive (as hard as that is) is going to help. Please keep us posted.
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Old 05-10-2019, 06:22 PM #59
Patricia Cox Patricia Cox is offline
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Politics C5 palsy response

[QUOTE=Jastek;1185910]I had posterior decompression surgery at C4 - C6. After surgery, I developed C5 Palsy in both arms. Both arms are basically paralyzed.

Doctors say that in 70 % of cases, the function is regained, but I am afraid that mine is more severe than most cases and I will not get it back. All the doctors say that mine is the worst they have seen (both arms and complete inability to use arms).

One arm has started to regain movement, but the other arm is still completely paralyzed and has not improved ay all.

Has anyone else had this condition and can you share your experience (how long it took to get use back and how gradual was the recovery)?

Thanks.[/QUOTE
My husband just was diagnosed with bilateral c5 palsy. His is also severe. His right arm rates a 0 in many tasks with the other from 1 to 3. Very scary stuff. Did you try to get a 2nd opinion to see if more can be done. He was an athlete. Driving will be impossible for months. Wow. Your post showed up when I Googled.
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Old 05-10-2019, 07:11 PM #60
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Default My husband's recent diagnosis of bilateral c5 palsy

I will try to write more about my husband or get him to write about himself.
This site is interesting, but scary, as this is a new journey as his surgery was only a few weeks ago. We are getting some support in home health.
Wondered how many people got second opinions. I noticed in Japan they redid surgery at times in hopes of a better outcome. Anyone heard of that here?

]It has been 3.5 months since my cervical fusion of C4-5, C5-6 plus plates and screws. Woke up from surgery with my left deltoid and Lt shoulder completely paralyzed. Arm was normal before. Had surgery to stabilized my neck so this would never happen. Was never informed this was a possibility.
Since surgery I have been in intense PT. After doing 100's of exercises every day, my arm is about 70% improved. Can now raise my arm 60% up towards my head. Arm still very weak. Can not hold much weight.
This has thrown me emotionally and mentally. I had a job in nursing when this all started. Right now I don't know if I will be able to return.
Still have nerve pain in Lt upper arm, especially when I try to cut gabapentin back.
Today was my last day of going to PT. Will still have to do many exercises at home, trying to get my arm back. There no guarantees.
Since Sept I have talked to many Dr's and they have never heard of this.
It does not happen often.
I feel it will take several more months of PT at home to get my arm back if possible. Very discouraging.
So happy I can read other people who had this surgery.[/QUOTE]
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