Hello,
thanks for letting me join your forum. I've had neck/arm pain for about a year now getting worse and worse and then about 7 weeks ago I was hanging a towel on the washing line and that was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was in absolute agony and to cut a long story short I paid to go privately to see the consultant and paid for the MRI and my consultant referred me as urgent to the NHS. I got my appointment through this week for 6th october and I think the surgery will be about 3 weeks after that.
Thanks for listening!

Welcome saphire
sorry we had to meet like this but you have found the right spot.
there's a lot of very helpful and kind people here.
i hope you find some answers you are looking for when you get to your appointment in oct.
any questions or venting you may need please feel free.
best wishes
chuck

thanks for replying!

I'm getting scared of silly things like waking up in the recovery room and totally lost my voice so i wouldn't be able to shout for help if i needed it!!
And I read somewhere that the disc could slip and cut the airway off. It that just an internet scare story?? I know these are stupid worries but I'm beginning to dwell on them! I know i have to have this surgery as I'm housebound and cant sit. Standing is ok for a little while, about 10 minutes at the most. And I'm on amitryptiline which has helped the pain immensely but I'm zombified on it! It also gives me nightmares and is making me put on weight. Especially as I cant exercise.
Thanks in advance for any advice, i know there are so many more of you suffering way more than i am!

Saphire, welcome (long time no talk!) and thanks for posting. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif

In the four years since we started this community, we have unfortunately witnessed some scary stories. I've not read about a cervical disc slipping and blocking an airway, but some fusion patients have seen BMP overgrowth causing some serious complications. Their stories are on this board. And this board is just a small microcosm of what happens in spinal arthroplasty, so some of these "scary" stories may be true. Be a detective! Track them down for authenticity!

For a list of reasons, cervical ADR seems to have better results than lumbar ADR -- across a variety of artificial discs, patients and doctors. That said, cervical ADR and fusion patients seem to do well -- I have several friends that had cervical fusion and they are doing well after many years. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif

Did you review qualification and disqualification criteria for ADR with your consultant? They are different for each artificial disc -- which artificial disc are you expecting?

As one of your UK colleagues (Alastair) often said, "We are here to help!"

I have two of those little ADR's in my cervical arena. It has been almost two years and my voice has always been good pre and post surgery. I have the same level as you and another as well in the cervical area. The cervical recovery was much quicker than my lumbar area and I am living life as I can since my surgery. I am grateful for what God has allowed me to have.

Hang in there and we will support you in the process.

Terry Newton

Saphire, I have been going through the much of the same anxieties and pain as you for the past several years. It's not much fun not being able to stand or sit--I can't right now either! I am having surgery in a week (Dascor-plastic replacing the center of my disc). Let me offer you some advice:

1. Stay positive and as healthy as possible, both mentally and physically. Know that eventually everything will be fine and you will be pain free. Excercise and stretch as much as possible. Keep up with all you social activities and anything to keep your mind off the pain--and those "stories!"

2. Get as many opinions as possible and get them from the most reputable sources. Also get as many tests as possible. I had two discograms and two CT scans, only one of which revealed the severity of my problem. I also found that each Dr. you go to will usually want to do whatever their specialty (or their most profitable, at times) dictates.

3. Remember that you can change your medication anytime, tell your Dr. about your side effects. There are alot of medications for pain, and everyone has different side effects from them. Also remember that your nightmares, weight gain and other side effects are only temporary as you try to find the right pain medication and dosage.

Hang in there and good luck!

Johnny V
2000-2008-back pain due to running, car and motorcycle accidents/25 injections, 3 physical therapy attempts, chiropractic, medication
07-IDET surgery at L4-5 lasts 4 months
Dascor (disc nucleous replacement) surgery scheduled for 9-30-08 (one week)