5 weeks out of C34 anterior Framinotomy. Ouch!

[Mike L.]

Well had my 5 week checkup today with my local (santa Barbara) nuerosurgeon. The 1" surgery site is healing nicely. A little pain up towards the jaw. But.......

My sensory nerve is just as bad if not worse than before the surgery. The affected area is my right shoulder, not down the arms. In the morning it isn't too bad but after a few hours of general use it starts its aching.

I have heard of compressed nerves being permanently damaged and I have also heard of nerves getting better after months. I waited 4 months before getting the Anterior surgery and now wished I would have gone with the ADR after only a few weeks after initial chiro induced bone spur stenosis.

Please lend your advice:

- will ADR relieve this pinch?
- time to recover from this one. patience needed?
- time to reconsider ADR?
- Stenum has a new ADR with nerve support structure?

Hope you're all are healing well!
MIKE

[Mike L.]

Well I have need for some forum help. Thanks in advance.
I had a large bone spur rotated into my C34 disc space. The surgery last February didn't clear out the nerve. Apparently, he went in from the side and the Dr.s in Los Angeles indicated it should have been a posterior approach. So now I have to find some INFO to proceed. I have had a post surgery CAT scan and MRI. Dr. Lanman has offered ADR as the best, next step. He wants the Prestige with the crews. He said he even did one at C23! I have a second opinion next week with Dr. Delamater. I have also had an appt with dr. Regan last fall when this first happened.

To complicate things I have also torn my inguinal for a Sports hernia. This is not the first time I had it repaired 3 years ago and I retore it in the pool treading water because the bone spur surgery still has my arm in numbness and pain.

Some concerns:
- Which one first?

- After 8 months is my foramin nerve permanently damaged so ADR won't work? Dr. Lanman didn't think so.

- My daughter will watch me until off pain meds, the last surgery it was 12 days. Should I have her anticipate longer/shorter?

- My C7 disc space has a large osteophyte that needs to be trimmed to let my throat relax again. It is herniated but no pain. When is 2 level ADR going to be available?

- Is the laser institute procedure for failed foraminotomies (sorry about spelling) an option?

- Is it better or worse concerning upper level fusion or ADR for adjacent disc disease?

- My previous surgeon claims my muscles are thick and that getting the tooling perpendicular will be hard at C34.

Please help. Even if its more questions to ask Dr. D or Lanman.
Good healing to all!
Mike

[Jessica]

Discogram-
Sorry I missed it if you said you had a discogram already. I wonder if this would answer your questions about the nerve damage. I know mine really helped me figure out that my disc was causing my pain.

I know that Dr. Delamarter can do multi levels. There may be other docs that can. As far as FDA approval, who knows...... I have tried to find out, but no luck.

Best of luck with your diagnosis and treatment.

[Mike L.]

So I would be wrong not too have this discogram screening?
The nerve got pinched 8 months ago by rotation.
I will ask Dr. D about it. Thanks alot. Mike