Hi Guys

I've been reading a lot here in the past year or so. I have C2-C7 bulges, kyphosis and osteophytes. The first of it started in 2006 out of nowhere. I initially did PT and that worked for a little while. After that was over, I started having hand swelling and aching along with severe shoulder pain. That part stays constant and is the worst at night. I haven't slept decently in forever. Then I have a big flare up every few months where I can't lift my own head to get out of bed, turn more than a few degrees, etc. I'm sick of medicating and being a miserable person to be around. I want surgery to fix this! I was supposed to have 1 level ACDF in 2006 but cancelled it myself because I was nervous about the domino effect with all the neighboring discs already bulging. So now we have the FDA approved disc and I want it!

I got my pain specialist doc to order a new MRI for me in December. Nothing new in the spine to indicate the hand problems...just the same old pictures. This time it showed a thyroid problem. Great. So I took the time to get that all checked out. Got the good news today...no cancer! So I'm back on track to get my discs fixed.

NOW...the big question...who to go to for this. I have BCBS Federal Employee PPO and live near Los Angeles. I initially saw Duncan McBride, chief of neurosurgery at UCLA. Not sure he'd be my choice again and I don't know if he even does disc replacement. So I'm contemplating other surgeons. Anyone in particular that you guys would recommend??? I'm thinking Larry Khoo (UCLA) or Jeffrey Wang (UCLA) or Michael Kropf (Spine Inst.). Anyone have experience with those guys? How about James Watson, Robert Watkins or Brian Rudin? Like everyone, I want someone good! LOL!

So many thanks for any advice!

Victoria

Victoria,

I have similar problems, especially the hand swelling (my left wrist looks deformed) and the shoulder blade pain. What has worked best for me for the shoulder blade pain is Flexeril, a muscle relaxant, which helps the back muscles relax and also makes me very sleepy. However, this past month I've had two series of trigger point injections and they have significantly reduced my shoulder blade pain, from the only thing I could think of to a minor problem.

The best ADR surgeons in the Los Angeles area are: Dr. John Regan, Dr. Carl Lauryssen, and Dr. Rick Delamarter. I had consultations with the first two and was pleased to find that their reputations were accurate.

Thank you, KL. I would love to go to any of those surgeons but they're not preferred providers on my insurance. Kropf works with Delamarter though and Rudin studied under Delamarter. I'm thinking Kropf might be my front runner at this point. I'm hesitant to pick up the phone and hear that there's a 2 month wait to see some of these guys.

I have had Flexeril before. It's definitely a great muscle relaxer. I can't take it very often though because I'm a mom to 2 toddlers who need an awake mommy! LOL!

That's great news about your shoulder pain. I hope the injections keep working for you.

Thanks again for your reply!
Victoria

I'd go to Delamarter. I sure wish you all the best and hope you can get a lot of relief. I know Reagan and Kropf also have good reputations, but I don't actually know people who have had surgeries done by those docs, whereas I do with Dr. D, including a relative who had a 2 level cervical ADR 2 years ago and is now entirely pain free. I have another friend who had a 3 level cervical fusion done by him and is also pain free. I don't think everyone can have surgery and be pain free though - I think it very much depends on how severe the patient's injury was, the skill of the doc and how the patient heals. I had a 3 level ADR done by the man I think is probably the best ADR doc in the world, Bertagnoli. I still have some pain, but am much, much better; however, I was in quite severe shape for a long time prior to surgery.