Hi

I have been active in the TOS forum as I have been diagnosed with bilateral TOS and recently had surgery on the right side which no doubt conirmed it. All nerve roots were compressed. I am having a rough time recovering and things are not going well for me.

I saw a chiro who thought he could "cure me". He still thinks he can. All he wanted to do was spinal adjustments and he didn't look at any tests or order any. He adjusted my neck a few times and OH MY IT HURT! He said "I was stuck". My problems just kept getting worse and I started having dizziness and ringing in the ears along with everything else. I stopped going to the Chiro and ended up having the surgery.

I also had cervical spine issues but nobody gave it much weight. My symptoms were so severe and they thought it was all due to TOS. Well now I still have the same symptoms and then some. I've been worse than I was. I have such bad headaches that I can't open my eyes. I can't even sit up anymore. I feel like my head is way to heavy for my body. My neck (spine) just BURNS and I feel like throwing up because it hurts so bad. I have numbness and tingling down arms and left leg. I have trouble now going to the bathroom, trouble walking, and my thumbs are killing me. That's a few the worst symptoms. I can't stand it!

I was sent for another MRI Thursday night and I almost couldn't handle it. It took forever because they couldn't get me comfortable (still sore from TOS surgery) then to top everything off....the machine broke and they told me to lay still til they fixed it..YEAH RIGHT! It took them 30 min! What a night. by the time I was done I was SICK!

Anyways...I have no curve at all. I have spondylosis, disc herniation C4-C6, degenerative hypertrophy and they are still looking to see how severe this all is as to whether I will need surgery. There were signs of all this on 2 previous MRI's but it has been getting worse. I don't know why. Everyone keeps asking me what's wrong with me and why is this happening. I truly don't get it.

I am scared and I dont know if I can withstand another surgery. I'd like to hear and learn more about spinal fusion surgery. I believe I need to prepare myself for this. I cry every day when I look at my neck from the TOS surgery and it is so painful. I just don't know if I will have any other choices at this point. I am on so much meds and it doesn't work.

I have been told none of this is "normal" ok...why and no what?

Good night all

Hi Kimmy,

I had no curve in my c-spine, either. My doctor didn't act like it was a big deal, though, for whatever reason. I did have ACDF surgery in December and lo and behold - my curve has returned. He pointed it out in my last x-ray. I'm really not sure how all of that is connected - surgery and curve, but it looks more normal now. I didn't really have any issues from the lack of curve - at least none that I was aware of at the time. I'm doing fine after the surgery, though - for me it was quite easy. One night in the hospital, six weeks off work (excessive, but my surgeron is very conservative) and I am now back at the gym and working with no problems.
good luck,
Kelly

Here's a nice site for some basic stretches and explanations about TOS and carpal tunnel etc.
if you go to the home page there's much more too, but here is the TOS pages -
http://www.bodymindresources.com/car...acictheory.htm

this one is for the heal thyself series page -
http://www.bodymindresources.com/doorways.htm

Kimmy,

I just went and re-read very carefully everything you said. I don't think a straight cervical spine would cause all the numbness, tingling in fingers and dizziness. All of that just tells me there is more going on than just a straight cervical spine. It could be facet arthritis, bone spurs, herniations..whatever. I would definitely try to get into to see a GOOD spinal pain management doctor. They are trained to detect subleties that no other doc can. I found that out fast. And if need be, can refer you to an NS or OSS. But they are GREAT about finding out the source whatever it might be. It sounds to me and of course I know nothing other than what you have stated, that IF there is nerve root irritation or spurs, etc., injections might be very beneficial to diagnose the pain generator(s) and to help relieve some pain and spasms. I will just put it this way...I trust NO ONE other than my own spinal PM to touch my neck. After 3 years of pure you know what...he was the one that saved me from further grief. I wish you well with all of this.

The numbness/tingling could be paresthesia, which can be caused by radiculopathy, nerve root impingement or compressed nerves - C-spine and/or L-spine - from things such as Kathi cited.

If bone spurs, many people get those with time and with age. If removed, chances are greater that more will appear than not. So, it would be a repeat to have them surgically removed. (Only way I'd consider it is, if the procedure is minimally invasive.)

I'll have to re-read after my doc appointment today.

Arthritis runs strongly through my father's family (who I mainly am like...looks, build, etc.). I would say that's a strong possibility now that I'm 44...especially after the two rear-ends? Thanks for mentioning that because it's been lurking in the back of my mind.

I've really been watching myself this last week so I'd have something to report to y'all (you all really amaze me with your knowledge and sharing it). I'm beginning to think it's ALL my posture.

Being a co-admin at two websites, I'm online (especially reading and clicking) alot. With being right-handed, I lean continually on my left elbow so I can manipulate the mouse.

I'll never forget when I worked as a project coordinator at the last firm I worked for. I was on the phone most of my time there. I would write and lean on that left elbow again. I remember dealing with quite a bit of pain there on my left side, and was worried about it. It got better when I had to quit, but then I think I've traded for a new position leaning on that left side!

See I need to get a chair that doesn't have an arm on it and I think that will help me remember my posture. For instance, I pulled a kitchen chair into the livingroom computer and automatically, I don't know how many times, went to lean and nothing there so I adjusted myself another way. I was majorly surprised at how much I do that. When leaning on the arm of the chair, my shoulder gets pushed high up, elbow rests and hand then hangs. Doing this hours a day??? I really think that's it and why it mostly on the right side!

I have to say that I'm very relieved to think it's no so much my neck doing it all.

Now, with the feet...I don't know? It doesn't do it nearly so often, just sometimes when I'm on my feet a long time (i.e. hand washing dishes) on hard floor. Oh, and to walk the mall or something? Sometimes I can spasm so bad that it goes around front to feel like medium labor pains. These things aren't often, though, and are always relieved when I sit down and relax.

I walk alot...walking boys outside, etc. and it's not often that this happens. I've mainly noticed it on certain flooring, so I'm wondering if cushion insoles will help when I know I'm doing those certain things...the kind with shock absorbers and good cushion?

I really, reallyknow little about spine and back because I've been so blessed there. I've always been physically strong, and always taken advantage of that...realizing as I get older and in hindsight.

My husband has horrible issues with herniations, bulges and arthritis (with sciatica involvement), and my daughter has followed him at the tender age of 18 with two herniations and sciatica involvement. I can relate with nerve pain due to the TN, but can't imagine what my baby and her daddy goes through.

I really think my posture, mixed with the fibro, it causing alot of this. I'm going to give a good concerted effort to change my posture when at computer and get back to weightless exercise for the fibro (yoga and swimming).

I really let myself go this last year and a half when daughter was so ill...eating VERY poorly with no vitamins consistenly, very little sleep, extreme anxiety and stress, etc. Combined with that, and my not caring properly for myself, I think I'm paying the price and only I can change that part of it.

Part of that will be to follow-up with the spine doctor (as well as other doctors for checkups, etc.) and check into good computer posture.

I apreciate you guys so much! You helped me realize what I might be doing and have control over to change...feeling empowered is always a good thing...combining that with increased knowledge is great.

I can't thank you enough and will let you know!

KD

PS-If anyone has any information regarding computer posture, etc., please share. Also, knowing that it's such a huge habit, I wouldn't be opposed to buying a special chair or device. I've tried the special keyboards and hate them, but if they're that important, I'll get another one (it sounds like they're really important).

HI KD,

Be sure to try to focus on those abdominals and core too. It will help strengthen the spine overall and take pressure off. I'll look in my water aquatics books to see if there is an exercise.

Google, forward head posture. That is what they call people that get it from their computers.

I think and ergonomic ste-up is important. Maybe its not the lack of arms on the chair but that they were too high. I have an ergo chair with adjustable arms.

Posture is a hard thing. I think I should take a little of my own medecine when it comes to this

Kimmydawn,

I just wanted to say that I have read through this thread briefly....I agree with the advice that Bobbi and Kathi have given you...I think you can see by my signature that I have a cervical fusion at C 4/5,5/6,and 6/7...I always get just a little nervous when people recommend chriopractic care to people with cervical problems without first sending them to either an OSS or NSS...Had I gone to a chiro first I might be paralyzed from the neck down..There are good and bad chiropractors...and... If I had gone to a chiro that did not know enough not to do an adjustment he could have done a lot more harm than good......My cervical problems were so bad though that with just one adjustment he could have caused irrepabable harm...so please see a medical doc first...My OSS doc warned very, very strongly about staying away from a chiro...Some people are helped by a chiro...but it depends on the problem and only a doctor can determine that.