I went to my new neurosurgeon today and have cord compression at C4-C5. It was interesting seeing the scans as it looks like someone tied a string around my cord and pulled a little tight. I will be so glad to have this done even though I hate surgery.
I would advise anyone with back pain and numbness of any kind check with a doctor as it may be more than you anticipate. We get all these aches and pains and always attribute them to our autoimmune disease. Prime symptoms of my issues is headache and neck pain and I had neither so didn't get the connection at first. Thanks all. Irish
That's a good point Irish, we start to assume everything is part of the same syndrome. I wish you all the best with the surgery and hope you get good relief from the pain and numbness.
I hope your surgery goes well and you can reduce your pain. (((Hugs)))
Best wishes on your surgery Irish! You are sooo right on how we tend to not look elsewhere.
Spring
Irish - I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you have your surgery next week. I hope the fusion will help you feel better.
Hugs,
Bucky
irish, you are in my thoughts and prayers on your surgery. I hope it goes well, and brings you relief.
Hugs,
susanep
I have called around and found a place of post op rehab and after care. I am betting that I won't be able to go home alone. I have gotten weaker and have lost strength in my arms and hands. It even hurts to keyboard on tips of fingers. My son where I am staying now has been taking me to doctor and will take me to surg and pick me up and take me to the facility about 5 miles from him. They both work so I would not do well there.
The son back home went in hospital 10/28 and now 30 pounds less and one surgery later is supposed to go home tomorrow. He has been extremely sick and is lucky to be alive. More surgery coming up for him. His wife doesn't need me on her hands, The other son has health issues and isn't up to dealing with me at this time either. So this is the way it will be. Planned ahead sort of cause I knew I would not dare be alone for awhile.
Boy, life changes on a dime when you age and lose a spouse. l Have to role with the dice as they say. Have a good Thanksgiving people. Irish
I?m so sorry to hear this Irish. I pray for a quick recovery for you and no more neck pain.
Best of luck to you with your surgery Irish! I hope you get some relief!!
Thanks for all the good thoughts and wishes. I have to say that I am not without having nervous thoughts about this surgery. It is a hard surgery and my ages is of concern. I have to say that no doc has said anything about my age. I can't go without this surgery though cause I can't live like this so have to just forge ahead. Don't we all wonder what living a few days of life without having to forge ahead in spite of it all would be like.
Have as good weekend. It is beautiful out. Irish
Praying for a speedy recovery for you. I hope this is another great step for your pain to be alleviated. You have been through enough. Warm thoughts your way.
Angeldancer
Hi Irish, good luck with it all. I have been told I have significant instability throughout cervical spine with herniations and c2 slipping against spinal cord on movement. I have significant symptoms now. In this wonderful country I live in no one will touch me because I also have eds. I have been fobbed off again and again and a large proportion of us who have this and also EDS are forced to go abroad and pay for surgery.
I am so disillusioned by this country. Not only do they neglect those of us with horrific neuro manifestations of seroneg sjogrens they won't get involved with this either.
Hope you get some resolution of your symptoms and feel better with the fusion!
Good luck Irish! Glad you hve your rehab sorted out. Hope the whole thing results in less pain and you get some strength back!
Take care - Scottie :)
Irish I hope the surgery goes well and brings you some welcome relief.
Irish,
My thoughts and prayers are with you for an easy, successful surgery and recovery. I'm sending a big gentle hug, too.
Cheryl
Dearest Irish,
Venture forth into the land of cervical surgery, and return with reports for those of us who haven't been there yet.
We eagerly await your reports.
Regards, Elaine
Irish,
Best of luck to you. I have had 2 neck surgeries (discectomy/fusion) in the same area. Though surgery is a hassle, living without pain (or significantly less pain) is often worth it. Hope everything goes well for you &
you get quick relief.
Take Care.
SjoDry
Hi Irish, If you've had your surgery by now I hope it went very smoothly.
Last Christmas I had spinal lumbar fusion surgery on L4 L5 due to cord compression which caused right leg giving out at knee and screaming sharp pain shooting down my leg.
My surgery was successful. No pain now and all sharp pain is gone and legs are very stable.
BUT it does take many months of baby steps as the nerves around the surgery heal. Nerves give off weird pains over time as they stitch together. You may also feel pains were you didn't have them before as the surgery heals.
Be patient and do very light duty for a very long time and all will be well. It took me 10 months for all pain and weird back soreness to go away.
.......and PLEASE get off pain killers within a week if you can as I was constipated completely from the day of surgery until 14 days later when I stopped ALL PAIN meds except regular Tylenol. Prune juice won't do it if you're still taking pain killers.
take care.
gina
Well, Had the surgery on Wednesday at 1:00PM and went home the next day at about 4 PM. I had some IV morphine in recovery and nothing but Tylenol since. I seem to tolerate pain quite well for some reason.
This is the 9 th surgery I have had including the teeth being pulled under anesthesia. The hospital I go to has some great anesthesiology and I had my first surgery there in 1999. They are so good at doing general anesthesia on me without using muscle relaxants which cause trouble in people like me who have myasthenia gravis.
I have been at my sons house where I spend time when I go for monthly IVIG. I was I'm too good of shape to go anywhere for after care so I did save myself some money that way. I will go back home this next weekend when son and wife take me. I cant drive for 2 weeks.
I had a ACDF which is an anterior cervical discectomy fusion of C4C5. The doc used cadaver bone and titanium to hold it together. He said I could be dropped on my head and nothing would move. My doctor has done 900 of these surgeries so I am hopeful that all will be ok. Rioght now I am dealing with my upper chest or lower throat that is acting like an infection is trying to start. Maybe irritated from the intubation. With the dryness we sjoggies have this is very possible.
I will go into more details after I get home. My fingers are still sore and hurt to type. Thanks all. Irish
Good new and great that you aren?t in much pain. Take it slow and steady.