Post surgery question for cervical adr patients

[Sonata]

Dear all

I have been on this forum for a while as a guest and have found it very useful. You guys seem to be a great support group. Before I ask my question I would like to give you a brief description of my condition.

I am a 39 year old female.
2005 I had pain on my left arm after playing excessive tennis and golf. Orthopedist surgeon gave me medicine and PT and it went away. During the course of 2 years I had occasional pain on my left arm and between shoulder blades. Every time I rested and took some pain killers the symptoms dimisnished. Last November again after playing frequent golf I started feeling pins and needles on my left arm. The orthopedist ordered an MRI and we have found out the result below
c5-c6 prolapsed disc to the right with very slight cord impingement, pretty much narrowed vertebrae space (And I have no symptoms on my right arm)
c6-c7 prolapsed disc to the left with very slight cord impingement
Osteophytes on both levels more on c5-c6
No signal loss.

After resting for a month all my symptoms which were slight pins and neddles are gone. I feel so fine physically that I still can't believe the pictures from the MRI. I have stopped playing golf or tennis. I am told by some surgeons I could go back to my normal life and some surgeons offered fusion on both levels (money makers) by telling me that I might get paralysed if I take a bad hit etc.. terrible bed side manners that scared the heck out of me for a while but I am not any more. Just a bit afraid of the future because of the inevitable degenaration that will happen because of aging.

I know that there's a very high chance of me getting surgery. I definitely will opt for ADR not fusion. I am told by many that as long as I do not have any pain or any neurological deficits I should not go for surgery. Since the spinal cord does not look deformed and there's no signal loss, I was told to do back strengthening exercises..

But at the same time..I might be lowering my chances by waiting too long for adr. I ask my self the question of going into this surgery compeletely pain free and walking out from it having to deal with pain..

I am wondering if there are cervical adr patients out there (especially 2 levels) who are living normal lives completely pain free (without meds). From what I read majority of the cervical adr patients are having pain or other symptoms even after 2-3 years after the surgery. This is the dilemma. Going in for surgery for possible future trouble and walking out with life long deficits and pain...

How long do I have to wait? Any chance I might not need surgery ever? My father is 80 and have been a cervical patient for nearly 40 years. He has 3 levels auto fused naturally on his cervical spine ! (seen in an xray 10 years ago). His spinal cord is most likely making zigzags on his cervical area. He wouldn't do an MRI, too stubborn . I remember as a child he had vertigo and nausea in the evenings. He always got away from it by wearing a neck collar, medication and rest..And will power ofcourse..He is an amazing man..still works today.

Thank you all for reading my story..
Looking forward to hearing your responses.
Best wishes

[Harrison]

Hi Sonata, welcome and thanks for posting...and even inserting a signature too! : )

Sorry to not address your questions at this time, but I will soon. In the meantime, a few more questions for you:

- it seems like your pain comes and goes, as well as your other symptoms. What does your pain level vary from (using a 1-10 scale)?

- when you get "pins and needles," where do you feel them? And where do you feel the pains...when you do get them?

- do you have other health symptoms?

I'll chime back in soon...thanks for joining our community.

[Sonata]

Hi Harrison

Thanks for your reply.

My pain came only 3 times in the last 2 years. It was a 5 the first time, but then the last 2 times was a 1 which did not disrupt my normal life. The pain was between the elbow and hand on the front surface of the arm. Pins and needles feeling was very mild on my left arm. same place 3 months ago. I actually did not have any pain in the last 6 months.

The only medical condition I have is hypothyroidism. I take thyroxine pills everyday to keep the thyroid hormone level in normal levels.

My problem was never on a life disrupting scale. I was told by some doctors that I am lucky looking at the results of my MRI. Some people apparantly have a lot of pain only with bulging discs. Whereas mine are both prolapsed but I am still doing fine (my father's genes?).

Thanks again..
Sonata

[Terry]

I have had 4 level ADR; 2 cervical, 2 lumbar. If I had only cervical I could safely say my surgery was 100% pain relieving. I even lost fibromyalgia type pain that I had in the back for a number of years with this surgery. My lumbar area still causes me some discomfort though I am fully functioning for over one year since my surgery. You may PM me for details and I would be willing to discuss this with you on the phone as well. Please PM me for my phone number if interested.

Welcome to the forum.

Terry Newton

[Lisibug]

I have had two cervical surgeries, first a fusion and then a 3 level ADR. I think you would find it very hard to find a surgeon to perform spine surgery on you with pain only 3 times per year. It's wonderful you are not actually in bad shape. I do not think, if the docs are saying you are not in any danger neurologically, there is any way you should be considering surgery at this point. Granted, many of us waited possibly far too long, but I would think you should at least be having daily pain which would frequently hit 7 or 8 on a 1-10 pain scale without meds before you consider surgery, unless of course, you were in danger neurologically. Most neurosurgeons will say the same thing. I hope you are able to keep your spine in the shape you're currently in and that it doesn't deteriorate any further. That would be wonderful. I wish you all the best.

[Sonata]

Thank you all for answering and being so supportive. Lisibug I have been reading your story over and over again the last 2 months and it is just amazing. If I need surgery I will going to Dr. Bertagnoli as well, my husband is German so I feel confortable about that. Your recovery sounds great.And Terry I am crossing my fingers that your lumbar problems will resolve too just like your cervical.

Just like you said Lisibug majority of the opinions are against surgery at the moment, since there's no spinal cord compression (although there's slight impingement), no neurological symptoms or pain. But at the same time I just can't help myself asking the question if adr is so succesful why aren't they going ahead and putting 2 inside and staighten up things in there? Are there still too many unknowns? Lumbar adr statistics ahow a very low percentage ADD. Plus the weight they have on them is mych higher than cervical artificial discs. By waiting I am putting other levels at risk as well right? But if I have the adr now then I am saving the other levels.. Which one is a higher percentage of being succesful? The odds dopn't look in my favor in the future with a neck this..Which solution has a higher probibilty of success..Keeping it the way it is and wait or going ahead with preemptive surgery?

This is the dilemma I have...

[Fortitudine]

Sonata,
Here's my amateur take on the situation. I am a writer who specializes in orthopedics so I've got a decent background in the area; I also happen to have a situation not unlike Lisibug's - c3/4/5 and 6/7. Stenosis bad - 'severe' cord compression at c4/5. I was diagnosed 4 years ago but have not had surgery yet, despitte being told by a number of docs and others that I was risking my life. However, I have no pain and very few symptoms (getting pins and needles in arms while sleeping).

For me the toss-up is - do I wait and then find out it's too late for ADR, or do I take the chance of surgery while I'm fine and end up in pain for the rest of my life? There are no guarantees with any spine surgery and the odds are not as good as they are with many other joint replacements. And with cervical ADR being so new, there just isn't the research to support choosing ADR over the 'gold standard' of fusion.

It's a dilemma, isn't it?

[Sonata]

Hi Hope

I am sure you remember me from Mark's website as well. I am so glad that you are doing fine. I was wondering if yo had surgery already.

I guess we are one of the "lucky" ones to be without symptoms. Thank you so much for your insight on the topic. Majority of the time I agree with you. It makes me wonder sometimes how people survived and lived long when there were no MRI machines 50-60 years ago. Life expactancy was still good those days. So if it is really dangerous and risky to be in this situation then wouldn't you think one third of the population on this planet would get paralysed below the neck or die from spine problems? So many people out there walking in the street with cord compression and no symptoms and they haven't been even at a doctor's office. Or some have some pain and still don't bother (My dad..please read above about him). How about the people who cannot afford it which make the majority of the population on this planet? I am sure there's a risk for us ofcourse but not as dramatic as some doctors say it. I am all for the adr for people with severe pain and my heart goes out to them and I do believe that they made the right decision to go for it. I would too. So I'll be doing the same as you do. Watchful waiting for the moment and hope that my other levels are staying in place. I will be doing an MRI every other 4 months and see how things are moving. And continue doing strengthening exercises. And if I need surgery then it will definitely be ADR.

Best regards

Sonata