Hi, Thanks for reading. Any feedback would be appreciated!
I had a foraminotomy 8 months ago that removed a bone fragment that was irritating my nerves, an osteophyte, and freed up a little more room for my nerves since they were being crushed. I have been busy gathering a bone density test, an updated xray and MRI in anticipation of a cervical 2-level M6 ADR when I received the next blow—my xray indicates (that in the areas where I had surgery) “mild facet degenerative change is present.” Strangely, none of my MRI(s) have ever mentioned facet degeneration and I specifically asked the ultrasound tech to evaluate that since I am trying to rule out any contraindications. I thought that MRI(s) looked at soft tissue and would be a better diagnostic tool for facet issues than an xray that shows bone?
I have honestly felt like a dog chasing its tail
with all the hopeless scenarios and today the straw broke the camel’s back, or neck, so to speak!
Isn’t it possible that my facets have mild degenerative change due to two discs collapsing on top of them? Wouldn’t restoring that height and removing the stress be a positive outcome? I had already decided not to get the Prodisc due to the fact that it allows too much movement/stress on the facets, but is ADR out of the picture all together?
My pain is usually less in the morning when I have laid perfectly still all night on an ice pack
with my nerve and sleeping pill. However, after being up for an hour or so (due to movement such as driving to work, turning my head even 10 degrees to look at my 2nd monitor, brushing my teeth, etc.) causes pain. All this time I’ve likened it to the analogy of a punching bag—it’s fine just hanging there, but the slightest movement feels like it is getting punched over and over again and it swells. I have a lump of swelling on the back of my neck/thoracic area that is less prominent than it was pre-surgery, but still there. I suppose I really thought the pain generators were my nerves because: 1)the pain moves from side to side-one minute it can be on the left and the other it’s on the right; 2)usually pulling my neck (traction) up a little feels good; 3)I have 1 ruptured disc (c5-c6) and 1 herniated (c6-c7).
What are my options? I am going to see a pain specialist to see if any diagnostic injections are recommended. I don’t want to let time pass and cause any additional damage. It’s already going on the 13th month since the pain started. I suppose I could: 1)do nothing and just writhe in pain and agony (I truly feel like a 3-legged table that is causing further damage); 2)get a fusion (so far I “refuse to fuse”); 3)get two m6(s) and have no money or insurance to treat facet issues if they occur; or 4)get facet injections and hope they relieve the pain. If facet injections do relieve the pain, does that mean that my facets are continuing to be damaged by the collapsed discs but I just can’t feel it? The epidural injection I had pre-surgery caused “a fragment to present itself” from my disc rupture, so I am apprehensive about another injection.
Oddly, last week I had 2 good days (as long as I was as still as possible). I could actually turn my neck a little and didn’t notice I was doing it. Then I decided I should do my PT stretches (just touch my chin to chest and side to side) and the swelling and pain became relentless again.
Oh, I also have muscle tightening that occurs on and off all day long with tight hard balls in my neck and shoulder area that I am constantly having to do acupressure on so it will unclench my nerves. I’ve never read anyone else mentioning this.
So much for waiting for conservative methods. Please! I need some encouragement. Some light at the end of the tunnel. A lifeline because I feel like I’m drowning!
