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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.


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  #21  
Old 02-24-2011, 11:08 PM
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DAnn DAnn is offline
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msrudy,
I am so sorry for your situation and your current pain. You are so brave, so keep hanging in there. I hope your current doctor can figure out what is going on when you have your appt. Sounds like you are on the right road to figuring out to know what to do next.
We are here for you, so keep in touch.
DAnn
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DAnn
DDD/Cervical Stenosis
September 2010 MRI showed:
C6-7 disc moderately to markedly narrowed, mild retrolisthesis of c6 on c7 producing effacement of the thecal sac but no cord impingement, mild narrowing of left neural foramen;
c5-6 disc moderately narrowed, anterior and posterior disc bulge with mild anterior cord impingement;
c4-5 disc intact and normal height, potential posterior annular fissure.
Cervical hybrid surgery in Texas April 12, 2011, fusion at C6/7, Prodisc C at C5/6
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  #22  
Old 02-26-2011, 09:17 PM
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msrudy msrudy is offline
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Thanks DAnn. It is so good to have so much support and advice as well. It really does help. I am trying to be brave and strong.I have a 16yr old boy and a 7yr old lil girl who I put on my happy face for and endure the pain. Sometimes they can't help but notice how much pain and stress I am in that to breaks my heart for them. It is seeming like FOREVER until my Dr. appointment on 3/4/11 but I believe I will finally get the answers to my problems I need and the treatment plan will follow and then
some relief.
I am still trying to be patient and not stress it. Thanks again!
msrudy
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  #23  
Old 03-19-2011, 11:22 PM
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DAnn DAnn is offline
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I have young kids as well (but not teenagers yet)...keep that happy face going for them! (It will help you too).
DAnn
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DAnn
DDD/Cervical Stenosis
September 2010 MRI showed:
C6-7 disc moderately to markedly narrowed, mild retrolisthesis of c6 on c7 producing effacement of the thecal sac but no cord impingement, mild narrowing of left neural foramen;
c5-6 disc moderately narrowed, anterior and posterior disc bulge with mild anterior cord impingement;
c4-5 disc intact and normal height, potential posterior annular fissure.
Cervical hybrid surgery in Texas April 12, 2011, fusion at C6/7, Prodisc C at C5/6
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  #24  
Old 03-22-2011, 07:48 PM
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msrudy msrudy is offline
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Thanks again DAnn. My visit to the spine specialist on 3/4/11 went like this. He is sending me to pain management to have pain blocker shots in my neck on 3/29/11. He said this will tell him a lot as to where this pain is coming from and it will determine what type of treatment I need as in another surgery from ADR revision to fusion or what and that's as far as he went on explaining what my other options would be if the pain was not coming from my C-Spine. He thinks it is level C-6 C-7 level that is giving me the problem.

If it is I believe if I understand right he will remove the ADR and do a fusion on C-5 C-6 & C-6 an C-7 and I am terrified about it all and if so they will have to go through the back this time. Any info on this surgery would be helpful...and if the pain is not coming from there then its in my shoulder muscles and any advice on what could be done about that would be helpful also.

Thanks for all the advice and support. I'm hanging in there as this keeps dragging out but I know it takes time to have all the right test and procedures done.
msrudy
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  #25  
Old 03-22-2011, 08:03 PM
dustman9725 dustman9725 is offline
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Default Holy Moly

Gosh, we are right on track with each other! Scary. I went on my John's Hopkins Neurosurgery Visit today and he said that he is going to put me in a Miami J neck Collar for 1-2 weeks and see if that eases my pain. If it does, then it is obviously a problem with that same disc C5/C6 (ADR surgery-ProDisc C level). The next step beyond this is to schedule me for a fusion over the ADR disc...going in through the back.

So, I am going to grab that collar tomorrow. He wants me to wear it everday when I am not sleeping. I may even wear it when I am sleeping if it doesn't prohibit my sleep too much.

If I start feeling improvements...it is under the knife again. My Hopkin's Doctor seems very confident and is certainly more experienced then my initial surgeon.

My hopkins Doctor doesn't like these ADR surgeries. He said that I only had one level and that a fusion at the single level of C5/C6 works 99% of the time without mobility issues, etc... He was curious as to why the Fusion was not done originally.

He thinks that my initial, young surgeon got too cute and deviated from what works to "try" the new technology. So hear I am 9 months into an agonizing situation b/c the surgeon wanted a little more moolah and he got a woody relative to utilizing the "newest and greatest" ProDIsc.

They can't take it out, so just fuse over it. Hopefully it works.

I'll keep everyone posted.
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  #26  
Old 05-10-2011, 04:32 AM
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msrudy msrudy is offline
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Exclamation Still no relief or real answers...need support and advice

Hi everyone,
I haven't been on here since March but I wanted to check in and let you guys know what has been going on with me and I really need some support and advice. I went to pain management in March and got evaluated and the pain management doc is giving me the epidural and steroid injections. I have had two rounds of four. My next one is scheduled for June 3rd.Seems they are scheduling them once a month when in the beginning I was told it would be every two weeks?? This thing keeps on dragging out! I recently found out May 6th, when I had my second round of shots that I had a significant amount of scar tissue in the lower level of my c-spine?? My muscles are still tight and weak and spasm a lot. Still have headaches and pulling in my neck. I can't reach,bend, lift or stoup without pain and spasms. I am still sore from the shots and it is day four and I am still sore because this time the doc used a catheter to get the medicine in deeper. So I can't tell if I am going to get any relief. So far NOT! The first round the soreness only lasted for two days but I didn't get ANY relief from the first round. I am now on percocet 7.5 3 times a day and Zanaflex at night. Still confused and no relief. Still putting on the happy face and being brave.

About the scaring on my lung..my regular physician said it was nothing to worry about, could be the two times I had pneumonia. He didn't do any test to check. He must have had a busy day that day. Still gotta get that checked but now I am so broke and I can't even afford to go to the dentist or the eye doctor and I need to real bad. I am still outta work and all I have is medical coverage and I don't even know for how long because my FMLA time has run out and personal time on my job is probably about to run out.

Just as a reminder, I had ADR prodisc surgery July 2010 on C-5 C-6 level and pain is worse since my surgery.

Here is all I know that is wrong with me so far:

My MRI Cervical Spine with and without contrast Impression
1.Status post cervical disc replacement at the c-5-6 level with marked magnetic susceptibility artifact emanating from the metallic artificial disc. This precludes adequate assessment of the underlying spinal canal, neural foramina and opposing vertebral bodies.
2.early disc desiccation at the C2-3,C3-4,C4-5, and C6-7 levels.
3.Loss of the lordotic curvature.

CT of the Cervical Spine with Contrast
1.loss of lordotic curvature.
2.Status post cervical disc replacement at the c5-6 level without evidence of artificial migration. The artificial endplates appear to be well incorporated into the opposing vertebral bodies and in satisfactory alignment and position.
3.Incidentally noted is subtle pleuroparenchymal scarring and emphysematous changes in the bilateral lung apices, particularly on the right.
and now.....significant amount of scar tissue in the lower level of my c-spine??
I suppose after I get all four rounds of the shots and I go back to see the Spine specialist possibly by August, he will know by the relief I get from the injections if any, how to come up with a treatment plan. Hopefully, I don't get stuck at pain management with all these docs giving up and telling me I don't know what is wrong and wind up at square one because I don't wanna take pain meds the rest of my life.I want my life back and I definitely don't wanna have another surgery until it is absolutely necessary...and yes, I was asked that question by a co worker who ask do you wanna have surgery!! DUH!! NO!! It seems no one understands because I don't look sick but I am in a lot of pain. I'm trying to think positive and not give up hope. So with that said just maybe they will figure it out. In the meantime, does anyone know what all of this could mean.? What could be wrong? What could be done about it with the info I have so far??
Thanks in advance for any support and advice,
msrudy

PS sorry dustman9725 for what you are still going through. Let's try together not to give up hope.
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  #27  
Old 07-12-2011, 09:15 PM
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msrudy msrudy is offline
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Default Tremors that start in my neck and go full body shaking...HELP!!

Hello, I noticed no one replied to my previous post. Does that man no one knows what is going on with me?? I have had all rounds of my ESI's (Epidural Steroid Injections) and got 3 wks of relief from them. I still have pain in my neck, hands and arms tingling and pain in my left arm. Shoulders still tight in muscles. Do light stretches and exercises but then I go into these shakes that start out like tremors in my neck then go to full body shaking. I don't do the stretches anymore because of that but if I do light house work or anything in my normal activity I get tremors that go into full body shakes. I have an appointment with my spine specialist on 7/22/11 hope he can help. In the mean time, does anyone think they know what is going on with me or ever heard of this before?? You can read my previous post to update on what's been done and going on since my ADR surgery on 7/28/10. Thanks in advance for any advice or help.
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  #28  
Old 07-13-2011, 12:17 AM
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jss jss is offline
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MsRudy,

I am so sorry to hear that you've had little, if any, relief after your surgery. I've had four cervical surgeries in three surgical sessions and unfortunately don't have any insight or advise to give.

Please keep us posted on results from your appointment in two weeks.

Good luck, Jeff
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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
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  #29  
Old 08-14-2011, 07:15 PM
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JKDE302 JKDE302 is offline
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MSRudy how are you? Update?
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C4-5: Mild disc height loss with central annular fissure. Small broad-based left paracentral disc protrusion. Moderate central canal stenosis-the disc protrusion abuts and mildly flattens the left ventral surface of the spinal canal.

C5-6: Disc desiccation with mild height loss.Diffuse discosteophyte bulge and uncovertebral joint hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis- Severe neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally, right greater than left.
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  #30  
Old 08-24-2011, 05:29 PM
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SISSYJOC SISSYJOC is offline
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I hope you are finding the answers you are looking for I was
just wondering if you have gotten plain xrays lately? Thats how my dr found out what was wrong with me. Sounds almost word for word what I have been going through and Dustin too. I finally got fed up of being a pin cushion and being miserable every single day going through horrible painful procedures that never helped(botox injections were the worst) not having a life and wouldnt take "its just muscle pain" for an answer any more stopped being the nice patient and started demanding answers. My surgery is for September 9th posterior cervical fusion over prodisc-c c5-c6. Please let me know how you are doing now
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May 5, 2010 c5-c6 prodisc ADR surgery in Yakima, WA. 16 months later after suffering every minute of every day I had a posterior cervical fusion c5-c6 over the prodisc surgery on September 9, 2011. June 18, 2012 posterior hardware removal of fusion. I HAVE ZERO PAIN!
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