|
New Member Introductions If you just joined, please introduce yourself here. Please add a signature describing your spinal history (use the "User CP) and ask us how we can help you get started. |
|
Thread Tools |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Impending Surgery - Conflicting Views
Guys any advice would be very appreciated right now. I am scheduled for an ADR at 5/6 with M6 on the 14th June. I have been looking forward to getting this done and the prospect of being out of pain. Tonight I had a phone call from another Neurosurgeon I saw after he reviewed my recent bone scan (I saw him to get a second opinion and he ordered the bone scan). He said after looking at the scan he cant identify exactly where the pain is as there is evidence of inflammation at many levels so he would not recommend surgery? This is in direct contradiction to what the Neurosurgeon (who is performing the surgery) this week recommended. He looked at all of my scans and said it was a "no brainer" that he perform surgery at the 5/6 level and do an ADR? So my question is, has anyone else been faced with surgeons all looking at your MRI's, bone scans etc and diagnosing different things? It appears DDD is a very grey area and the conflicting views, advise etc is scary considering my surgery is only days away. I thought getting a few opinions from different surgeons would put my mind at ease but it has only confused me more. Arghhh!
__________________
aussie2 43 year old female from Australia Constant Neck Pain for over 7 years MRI 2012 CT SCAN 2012 Tried Chiro, Physio, Ortho, Pain Management, Medial Branch Blocks, Botox, Radiofrequency Nurotomy, Another MRI 2013 CT Scan 2013 C5/6 ADR with M6 scheduled for 14/6/2013 |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
aussi,
What a bad situation to be in. Many a patient has come out of surgery with a perfectly placed ADR, but had the same pain because it was done at a level other than the one that was causing the pain. No one wants that for you. Were it me I would be as sure as is possible that the correct level were being addressed before scheduling surgery. Before my last surgery I had six opinions, all agreeing on the levels that needed to be addressed; five of which agreed on the procedure that needed to be done. You probably don't need six opinions, but I'd be concerned that the two that I had disagreed. Good luck, Jeff
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000 C5/6 - ACDF in 2002 C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011 |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Aussie, can you tell us what your radiologist report of your spine says, verbatim?
__________________
"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Harrison thanks for your message. My reports state the following:-
MRI Feb 2002 C5-6 Mild diffuse posterior disc bulge flattening the thecal sac although the central spinal canal appears adequate. Mild right C5-6 foraminal narrowing due to what appears to be early osteophyic lipping of the uncovertebral joint. The exiting right C6 could potentially be irritated. MRI May 2013 T2 Hypointense disc desiccation changes are present at the upper four cervical disc levels. Degenerative C5-6 disc disease with braod based central and left paracentral disc protrusion which is non compressive in nature. Small central C6-7 disc bulge which is non compressive in nature. Bone Scan May 2013 Low grade active arthopathy anteriority at C6-7. One Surgeon who reviewed this scan disagreed with the written report and after going off the source document said it should have read C5-6? Love to hear your thoughts Harrison.
__________________
aussie2 43 year old female from Australia Constant Neck Pain for over 7 years MRI 2012 CT SCAN 2012 Tried Chiro, Physio, Ortho, Pain Management, Medial Branch Blocks, Botox, Radiofrequency Nurotomy, Another MRI 2013 CT Scan 2013 C5/6 ADR with M6 scheduled for 14/6/2013 |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Inflammation can be seen from a bone scan??? If so, couldn’t the inflammation be from the bulge irritating your nerve roots?
__________________
Jen C3 Bulge C4 Bulge C5 ruptured C6 Bulge 7/2011 epidural that caused a "fragment to present itself" 10/2011 C5-C6 Foraminotomy & removal of fragment Positive for left-sided Hoffman's reflex Effacement of anterior spinal artery |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Aussie2,
I agree with Jen. I'm not a big fan of epidural steroid injections. However, if you had one, that might reduce whatever inflammation you had (at least temporarily). If you felt better as a result of it, there would be a pretty good chance that your first surgeon who said ADR was a "no brainer" is correct. Gene
__________________
Car Accident 2002 - Small Herniated Disc C3/C4 1998 Larger Herniation and Cervical Fusion C3/C4 2005 Herniation C4/C5 - 40 epidural steroid injections from Oct 2005, - Oct, 2007 2008 - Foraminotomy at C6/C7 on left side Feb, 2010 - Cervical Fusion C4/C5 Dec, 2010 - Lumbar Fusion L3/L5 2013 - Bulge on C5/C6; herniation C6/C7 right side Mar 26, 2013 - Foraminotomy at C6/C7 on right side May 5, 2015 - ADR with Dr Blumenthal of TBI for C5/C6 using Mobi-C |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Hi Aussie,
Pls understand that I know nothing about radiology. But I love DEXA scans, as they reveal a great deal of information about bone health. They are usually decisive in terms of supporting or contra-indicating disc replacement. I try to help patients clarify their next steps, working towards complete wellness. My bias is helping the patient find a doctor they trust. I spend inordinate amounts of time focusing on the origin of DDD, which most patients and doctors ignore: pathogens like bugs. That said, pls clarify and embellish here...dunno what you mean by this statement: One Surgeon who reviewed this scan disagreed with the written report and after going off the source document said it should have read C5-6? Any more news since then would help. How are you feeling these days?
__________________
"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Everyone,
Well I am day 1 post surgery! Hopefully the worst is over with lots of nausea and vomiting last night. Harrison the day before surgery I was getting very nervous about the report from the radiologist conflicting with the level recommended by the surgeon. I asked the radiologist to review the films again and confirm his findings. He did this, and ended up writing a new report that confirmed the surgeons suggestion that the disc to be replaced is at c5-6! Needless to say I was a lot more comfortable going into surgery! It's seems to have all gone really well not a lot of pain and the X-ray taken today shows the disc in action so all good so far. Thank you all for your posts on this forum, they are a valued source of information and comfort!
__________________
aussie2 43 year old female from Australia Constant Neck Pain for over 7 years MRI 2012 CT SCAN 2012 Tried Chiro, Physio, Ortho, Pain Management, Medial Branch Blocks, Botox, Radiofrequency Nurotomy, Another MRI 2013 CT Scan 2013 C5/6 ADR with M6 scheduled for 14/6/2013 |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Phew! Sigh of relief! Peace, deep breathing and healing to you....
__________________
"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
Bookmarks |
|
|