Hi

JohnBoy · #1 02-14-2014, 12:20 PM

I would like to introduce myself a litte here first, I am a 36 year old male from Indiana. I consider myself pretty active.
My problem is I woke up in late August with a stiff neck one day, the next day it was still there but I was feeling some tingling down my arm, the next day I felt the tingling in my fingers...eventually my stiff neck went away but the pain in my neck and the tingling in my fingers just progressed. 6 weeks of dealing with that pain was enough for me (well my wife insisted I get checked out). I went to a sports medicine doctor, figured he would be fairly good at diagnosing me, I pretty much knew what the prognosis was going to be, my wife has been through 2 lumbar back surgeries and I recognized the radiating pain and tingling. That doctor put me on prednisone and flexeril said call in 3 days if the pain persists. I called him in 3 days because it just seemed to be getting worse. He did some x-rays and sent me to physical therapy and even though I begged him for someting to help with the pain he refused and told me to take advil. Dr. Called and said x-rays were normal.

I went to 2 sessions of pt and they released me saying they couldn't do anything more because I was in way to much pain and my muscles wouldn't relax.
I was pretty much taking 800mg of advil every 4 hours and it wasn't touching the pain so I called a spine specialist (non surgical). That dr. sent me for my mri ( I don't have the results in front of me) that said I have degenerative discs in every level of my cervical spine except 1 and I have (im thinking) 4 bulging discs and 1 that is herniated, It also mentioned many times foraminal narrowing and mild stenosis. This spine dr. recommended I try epi injections in my cervical spine but said it looks like you may need surgery, the only problem was that his office where he does the injections was 50 miles away.
Thats when I called a Pain Management dr. This doctor was going to give me some pain meds because no one else would and I was hardly able to function because of the pain I was in. My pain doctor gave kept me on my flexeril, and put me on hydorcodone 10\325 6x day. That has made me able to function atleast while I am at work then I can go home and use my heating pad. I was given 2 epi injections where my disc herniation was one week apart. They gave me 1\2 a days relief each and I was told to expect 6 weeks relief minimum. Then a series of facet injections was recommended as a last resort. I was all for it. I went in December 2013 for my first Facet injection and I had about 1 full day of relief (I think it was just the drugs) then it was back to my normal. I went for my 2nd round on January 11, 2014 and I think that made me hurt even worse. I go see this doctor again next week for a followup for the facet injections and Im going to tell them I am ready for surgery.

Long story I know...

My reasoning to come here is I have been doing a lot of homework on the cervical spine and surgeries and I am hoping I can get an ADR instead of fusion, I fear that a fusion is going to make my problems even worse with the degeneration, since my discs are already bad and fusion weakens the discs above and below then it won't take long for them to go bad. I have heard some horror stories with ADR but I have also heard a lot of success stories. Lots more success stories than I have with fusion. I know I have bulges but they are not technically herniations except for the one level I believe it is c5\6.

I had someone say that since I facet injections that makes me ineligable for ADR? I don't know why that would be.

I would like to hear from other people that have had this done and give me some hope of returning to my normal active lifestyle, being able to go for a walk and look up and the sky would be great, as it is I can't look up hardly at all but I can identify everybody by what kind of shoes they are wearing now lol

jss · #2 02-14-2014, 12:59 PM

Jb,

Four levels!? Most everyone gets at least a couple of weeks relief from the ESI's. I'll bet that your radiology report is some interesting reading. Be aware that your spine surgeon probably won't look at your report, but will interpret the images for himself. Just because a disc is bulging doesn't mean it's causing pain. There are a number of diagnostic tests you may have to endure for them to isolate your pain problem. You've already had two of them; the ESI's and facet injections.

Yes, the success of ADR outcomes are all over the map. Some are remarkable successes and some are horrific; with the great majority being on the successful side. There are a number of posters on this site that had ADR after facet injections.

I've had two cervical fusions and two ADRs over a 10 year period and have been able to do almost everything I desire. Others with cervical ADRs have returned to activities such as running, mountain climbing, horseback riding, bicycling, ice hockey and the marshal arts. Every outcome is different, but a successful ADR won't automatically preclude you from doing what you love.

Good luck, Jeff

JohnBoy · #3 02-14-2014, 02:18 PM

Yeah, I don't think all the bulges are causing pain, I am almost certain that it is just one level. I would just rather have the ADR than fusion. I would hope the surgeon orders a new MRI since I think things have changed.
When I started hurting and went to the doctor originally I complained of pain... If I could only hurt like that now I would be great! This pain has progressed almost daily.

JohnBoy · #4 02-14-2014, 08:08 PM

I forgot to mention that I had nerve conduction test done also but they came back as cts in both arms and that is all. After some discussions with my pm doctor I convinced them that was not the problem since I never had this tingling and numbness before my neck! Also I believe I was saying I had epi injections and they are esi injections (epidural steroid injections).
In your guys opinion what is the soonest my surgeon would order another MRI?

Jeff? What other diagnostic tests will I need to go through? I'll hunt up my MRI results and give you guys the real results... I know it was 3 pages long!

Thanks

Harrison · #5 02-14-2014, 09:10 PM

Hi J, when you can, pls see:

http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/f58...-health-11053/

Thanks.

Kelly4ADR · #6 02-14-2014, 09:20 PM

Jb,

My situation is similar in that I have 5 bulging cervical discs, two which are severely herniated. I saw my surgeon today who basically said don't even bother with esi injections, as they may help temporarily (or may not) and they certainly don't fix the problem, only help with the pain. Some people can get by with esi's, it doesn't sound like you are one of them.

So he put in the request to my insurance to get approval for a two level ADR. I don't want a fusion either, and he didn't recommend it. I have done a lot of research myself and I am personally very excited to have ADR over fusion. Now,,we will have to see if my insurance approves. My herniations are at c5-6 and 6-7.

I believe it is called a discogram where they inject your discs with fluid to pinpoint the location source of your pain. The procedure isn't very fun from what I have heard.

Good luck to you and I hope you find some relief soon.

Kelly

MMsC5-6-7 · #7 02-15-2014, 03:23 AM

Hi JB,

My situation is also similar to yours and Kelly's. I have severe cervical degeneration with bone spurs from C2-C7 and cord compression. Two surgeons want to do fusion of C5-6/C6-7, but I now understand that 2-level fusion will not address the degeneration of the discs above - most likely will speed it up. And then what...more fusion?

Dr. Bierdstedt has said a 2-level fusion would be an "incomplete treatment plan" and that I have a certainty of further degeneration. He has recommended either a 4-level ADR C3-C7, or 3-level ADR plus rigid cage at C6-C7.

I am sending my files to Dr. Zigler in Texas today - hoping they can expedite a reading as I need to make a decision rather quickly due to living / financial / insurance situation.

I hope you find some relief to your pain soon. As others on this blessing of a forum have recommended to me, get opinions from the best surgeons within your reach. Please keep us posted on your progress.

JohnBoy · #8 02-15-2014, 10:27 AM

Thank you guys for letting me know I'm not crazy. Mms that cage sounds scary! But I bet you're at the same place I am... I don't care what it takes just make it better.

Kelly, the esi's were pretty much a waste of money. I'm thankful for insurance because they were $2000 a piece and I had 2 and the facet injections were $3500 a piece and I had 2 of them too. I didn't get any relief from either one so a BIG waste of money! I figured they wouldn't work but wanted to give them a try!

Mms... My point exactly! If I get a fusion with my degeneration then I feel like it won't stop until I'm fused from C1 - T2 and I don't want that! If I can get this fixed and never have a surgery again that would be my choice!

I want to get my life back and at least be able to take my trash out without feeling like I'm going to die!

Thank You guys for you're support I need all I can get!

Harrison · #9 02-20-2014, 10:23 PM

J, see:

http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/f58...-health-11053/

Thanks.

jss · #10 02-21-2014, 08:10 AM

Jb,

There are a number of other tests that you might be put through, it just depends on what your surgeon believes is warranted. Though I'm sure there are many more, here are the common ones:

CT/myelogram will give them a much better look at the bones and nerve structures if they're unsure of the root cause
Discogram isolates which particular disc is causing pain (guys that have had this say that is is very painful)
ESI's can be administered in such a way as to isolate pain to a particular root nerve

Good luck, Jeff