Hi,I'm 42. I have degenerative disc disease and I was suffering for 3 yrs with pain down my left arm and tingling which also finally got into my right arm and was affecting the use of my hands.
My MRI showed ruptured disc and nerve root compression at c5-c6 level. My neurosurgeon suggested ADR with prodisc c..I had this surgery done 7/28/10 and now I am in worst pain than I was.
I did not stay overnight in the hospital for pain control or get a soft collar.I was told I would heal rather quick and be ready for work in a bout a week or to post op by my surgeon...wrong! I was sent home with tramadol and told not to look up for two weeks but I could drive the next day....duh!
I was not given any at home care instructions other than not to do heavy lifting but I could resume normal activity when I felt I could. I was miserable with post op pain. I called the Dr. back and he gave me darvocet and flexeril. Two days post op I felt like my muscles in my shoulders were at war with each other, my head hurt everyday and I have a pulling feeling in the level of c-5 c-6. Two weeks post op I had severe tremors that started in my neck and then went full body. I wound up in the ER got a shot of valium and morphine to calm that down but they lasted for four days. I was told my muscles were just weak from the surgery.
Anyway, after therapy and strengthening exercise and three months later, I thought I felt fine enough to go back to work and btw.. I only work part-time as a cashier about 28 hrs a week and after two and half months of going back to work my muscles are at war again my head still hurts everyday and my neck hurts from the base of my skull down and I still have the pulling at c5 c6 level and I still get tremors in my neck. I went to the surgeon who did the surgery 5 different times and told him of the problems I was having and he does nothing but x ray and says everything is in place and I don't know why you are still having problems. He sent me to a neurologist to check for nerve damage but said there was none.
In Dec 2011, I Went back to my regular physician he gave me more pain meds lortab 7.5 and flexeril and was going to send me to pain management who never called.
On Jan 18 2011 I turned my head to the right and had tremors in my neck again which went into full body shakes. I went back to the ER and got another shot to calm that down. Had a follow up with my Dr who then sent me to a spine specialist. He is saying I need to have a ADR revision to a fusion because of disc space width and height of the ADR.....I only saw one spine specialist who knows nothing about ADR because he only does fusions but he did get another Dr. to call me about what I need to have done.
My appointment with him to discuss the revision is 2/15/2011. I am in constant pain. I can't reach, stretch, bend or stoup without causing my muscles in my shoulders and causing my neck severe problems and pain.
I am kinda dumb about all this. I don't know what to do.I am tired of pain and the pain meds. They don't help anyways. I haven't heard anything good from a fusion either and I know it's not good to keep messing with the nerves in there. They went form the front for the ADR(which btw I have very little feeling in the front of my neck?) but wanna go in through the back for the revision...help!! Does anyone have any answers for me please.. I am a single parent. I have no help and I have a family to take care of and just want my pain free life back.
Thanks in advance
Msrudy