Hello Everyone

[SewinthePast]

Hi,

I am due to get my surgery on June 12th so it is coming up - THANKFULLY!

A little bit about me:

I am a historical interpreter and also a professional seamstress, who can barely work right now due to my issues. Also I run with the local K-9 Search and Rescue team (training a dog - we were to do our tests for certification this September but don't know if that will change - I have another team mate holding my dog and I walk and give the verbal commands. Seems to be working well - just more bad days then good so driving is not always an option for me to training) To say my quality of life is effected is an understatement.

About three years ago I had my left elbow area going numb - family dr thought it was tennis elbow per say due to lifting my mother who had since passed away. He gave me a steroid shot and said that should help. A few months later my whole left arm started to go pins & needles or numb - I was not in PAIN but he said lets do an MRI and then PT. My MRI came back with a bit of spondylosis. PT exercises did nothing but traction helped so much that I left PT with just my index finger numb all the time. That I could live with. I used the traction at home as needed over the years.

In the last year or so I started to have "funny" pain around my right collar bone area but I think now that may have been my warning it was starting to get to the push vs shove point.

Late January I started to have pain, like muscle cramps, in my neck & shoulder but was under a TON of stress so I wrote it off to that. Once that stress was resolved it seemed to get less - not totally gone but less.
March 26th I woke up in the worst pain I have ever had (I've had migraines, two children born & kidney stones in the past) Felt like every muscle in my neck, upper shoulder area of the right side and down my arm was in a cramp that would not let up. Went to the dr and he said ok lets do a round of steroids & muscle relaxers. Nothing seemed to be helping so he said stop the relaxer and go with Tylenol 3 - did nothing really. At day 10 or so I had the cramp relieve but then it went to numb/pins & needles - during this time I also went to see our chiropractor but that did not help either. I went back to the dr and he ordered PT & another MRI.

PT we went back to the traction - hurt a bit more then I remembered on the discomfort level but it was tolerable - Had my repeat MRI the following Monday.

Got my copy on Wednesday - The detailed lines where:

c5-C6 interspace: there is DDD and moderately advanced degenerative spondyosis. Protruding disc & spru is causing stenosis of the left lateral recess.

C6-C7 interspace: There is DDD and degenerative spondylosis. The broad-based protruding disc and spru complexes causing encroachement on the ventral aspect of the thecal sac. There is stenosis at both the right and left lateral recess. Stenosis greater on the right due to a right paracentral herniation of disc material and endplate spur.

I gave the nutshell to my friends who were worried about me and a gal on our Search and Rescue team said you need to see a neurosurgeon NOW. Found out she had a similar situation a few years ago and she recommended the person she used. She had a great outcome - in fact I had no idea she had any issues prior.

PT was doing nothing in fact third week of three times a week the PT folks said I needed to call my dr and see what my next step should be since this is not helping. The family dr recommended just going to a pain specialist for injections but after taking with others who are in the medical field (guess it can be a good thing to work in EMS/rescue) they advised to see a surgeon as well and skip the injections since it would only buy time and not real time - as the things that are going on are not going to get better by themselves. Thankfully my insurance allows self referrals and I made the appointment for the surgeon.

I had been told if there is a way to not have the operation he would tell me - folks know him well in the region - very well respected in the health care field by peers and staff.

He came in after his PA did all the reflex tests and other fun "games" and said here is a list of treatment options (guess what I did them all) he does not recommend injections either.

He said ACD with possible fusion but he likes to use the ADR and it looks like I will be able to get it.

The other day we had a lunch for the hospital (the one I will be going to) and EMS in the area. I brought my dog along and of course got talking about her. Then I just asked (polite conversation type) where they worked over at the hospital and they happen to work in the spine & othro wing. I mentioned they will be seeing me soon and we ended up talking - the one was a PA for the surgeon and she said they rarely use bone grafts anymore since the success of the ADR's for not only the surgeon's standpoint but also for the patient and long term. The one gal who was a nurse on the floor said she will be having the same done soon and to know the nurse is saying she trusts him as well as others I have met who have had surgery on this area makes me feel that this is the right choice. Its not going to get better and the longer the nerves are compromised the more chance I have of losing it even after.

I want my life back...I do know there are risks and things could end up worse but if I do nothing it will be worse anyway. (kind of like when my husband was told he needed a new heart - they said this is the risk and so forth and he said calmly my risk of dying if I do nothing is 100% so the point.)

[Grover771]

Hi Wendy,
Sorry that you're here, but I hope you'll find the comfort in knowing we are all here for each other. My problem is in my lumbar spine (L3-S1), but I am also looking into ADR with possible fusion. My first appointment with the surgeon is on June 3rd.

I totally understand your desire to get your life back. It's so depressing to be in pain. Hang in there, we're all here for you.
Deb

[2Confused]

Good luck Wendy... I hope you get your life back soon! I never dreamed I would feel so good again, but I do have my life back and I'm living pain free! You will too. Stay strong and again good luck!

[SonjaB]

Hi Wendy, sorry you have to be here but you are in good company, everybody here is on one side or the other. I get to the other side June 5th in Barcelona with Dr Clavel, mr problem is lumbar, L3 to S1 so fun times ahead!

I too used to be a seamstress but switched to quilting when we moved from the UK to Utah, now I quilt or used to. Like you that went out the window ages ago when sitting became impossible.

So glad you have found someone to do your surgery where you live and under insurance by the sounds of it.

Make sure you keep us up to date as things progress and good luck on the 12th.

[SewinthePast]

Thank you all for the good wishes and Sonja knowing the feeling - please keep us posted on how you are doing too!

Today was another not so good day. I am getting really frustrated and I guess kind of depressed (not my norm) I put on a "happy" face for others but at home my frustration is coming out as being just grumpy and short tempered. Sleeping is becoming more difficult - I am tempted to take a Tylenol PM tonight just so I don't feel like I have been waking up.

I tried to sew today and keep getting foggy in my head. Is that "normal"? I am not on any meds at this point...is it just lack of decent sleep? My dad asked if we wanted to join him, my sister and her other half for a picnic and I said not really feeling social.

Trying to not worry about the surgery - I posted to another group a few days ago and I got a welcome message that left me feeling mixed up and a bit scared. I know so many who have said that I should not worry. The dr is fantastic and really knows his stuff. The person on the list ran down a long list like I should get a second opinion, I should try injections, I should make sure that he does not use a bone growth med and the list kind of just went on and on. I've seen his work two and more years out...they are doing fine - they are back to their fully active lives - and as I said I know I could be an exception and not get better - I've seen the stories here as well and I have had two people say they would not ever do a fusion (which is what they had not ADR) again.

I just feel so emotional.

[SonjaB]

Hey Wendy, it must be in the air, I had a horrible, almost went to ER, kind of day yesterday. I posted on here somewhere in a thread I started a while ago saying the same thing. Then I had to apologize for being such a grumpy old sod lol

People who are not in pain or have never had prolonged non stop sort of pain just don't get it! Yes it makes you unsociable, fuzzy headed, suicidal at times, depressed at times, unable to sleep sometimes......the works! The dr gave me ambien for those nights I need it. If I haven't slept well for 3 or 4 nights in a row I'll take it but it does make me really sleepy all the next day. Hard when I have to lay on my back all day working on a laptop. The computer will put me to sleep on its own, add in having to work in bed coz I can't sit and it's a given I'll sleep all afternoon lol

Take your Tylenol, everyone functions better physically, emotionally and mentally on a good nights sleep.

And to boot, there's always someone who thinks they know better, or read something you didn't. It's so hard to stand up for yourself even though you know inside you've done waaaay more research than them and you made your decision based on your research not their one minute web page read.

Looking forward to hearing how well you do after the 12th, you'll do fine I'm sure and you'll be just as emotional but it will be of the smiley sort lol. I too am looking forward to getting to the other side, just 5 days till we fly out, scary!

Hang in there, not long now.

[SewinthePast]

thanks Sonja - I am feeling bit less grumpy - thankfully for my family.

Your big day is coming up!!! I am so happy for you!!! I have my pre op Wednesday so that will be a step closer.