Does anyone have DISH and/or OPLL?

Posted by langteach @langteach, Aug 5, 2011

After a recent MRI and CT, I have been diagnosed with DISH and OPLL of the cervical spine. These conditions mean that I have large flowing osephytes on one side of my spine and tendons turning into abnormal bone on the other side of my spine. The doctor wants to complete a multi-level fusion from C-3 to T-1 in a few days. Could anyone comment on the recover from multi-level fusions of the cervical spine? I worry about becoming disabled or paralyzed. I am a schoolteacher and deal with 13 yr old students.
Thank you for any advice.

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On August 7th I had C4-C7 fused I also learned I have DISH and osteoarthritis. In my case large bone spurs had to be removed during the surgery. Recovery has not been terrible but I am still in my hard cervical collar and will be at least until my next follow up on Nov 2nd. Dr said when 3 are fused it makes recovery longer like in my case. I also every day wear a Orthifix Cervical Stimulator 4 hrs a day.to promote quicker fusion. My main complaint is some swallowing difficulties that I think will pass. Im 45 and live a active life, this has slowed my down for the time being, but overall I have gotten used to the collar I have to wear it 24/7 except when eating or showering. Remember with DISH staying active is key. Please feel free to contact me with questions if you have any as I am happy to help however I can.

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@langteach

@doug2018, My cervical fusion was in 8/2011. I had a wonderful recovery except for the awful onset of type 2 diabetes from the dozens of steroid shots while in the hospital. The surgeon said not to worry, that my bloodsugar would drop back to normal after the shots stopped. However, he was wrong. My blood sugar soon forced me on to Metformin and a label that changes my life daily. I have not gone back to the surgeon after the follow up visits because my recovery was smoother than I ever imagined. After a few years I now have some tension and pain on one side of my neck, but so far not enough to send me back to the Neurosurgeon. He said that I would need more procedures on down the road, but so far nothing is bad enough to warrant more cutting for me. How is your recovery going for you? I just love being off ibuprophen!

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I am doing well over all, I similarly I had a strong dose of steroids in Jan and my blood sugar is higher, I had never had blood sugar out of the norms before. I am still in my hard collar 24/7 except to eat and shower, my surgeon said with a 3 level fusion expect 3 months so hopefully on my Nov 2nd follow up I will get some relief from it. I have to wear a Orthofix Cervical Stimulator to promote quicker fusion 4 hrs a day. My main complaint is some swallowing difficulty. Have you had any ? With my surgery they went in through the front of my neck, I dont know if thats the norm ?

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@sherry54

Hi,
I had seen four surgeons who advised me to have surgery higher up in my neck. Im not keen on it because the previous surgery has left me worse off.Further more all these surgeons are looking at my MRI of the neck and making a decision.I am not a cadaver that they experiment on.This is what i dont understand.Furthermore all these surgeons are known to each other and they are singing from the same hymn sheet.They dont realise how important patient history is in making a decision.They have no idea how i am feeling because they cannot feel for me.I had no idea what condition i had prior to surgery.I only started researching this condition after my surgery.

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I have read that Cervical procedures are the much more successful than other areas of the spine. The surgery has stopped my pain but still am wearing my hard collar due to a 3 level fusion. My only complaint is some swallowing difficulties that I believe will pass. I have thorasic issues as well, I go to Mayo next month where I hope that gets addressed along with the DISH condition overall. My surgeon was my second opinion, first with a neurosurgeon, the the second was a orthopedic surgreon.

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@doug2018

I have read that Cervical procedures are the much more successful than other areas of the spine. The surgery has stopped my pain but still am wearing my hard collar due to a 3 level fusion. My only complaint is some swallowing difficulties that I believe will pass. I have thorasic issues as well, I go to Mayo next month where I hope that gets addressed along with the DISH condition overall. My surgeon was my second opinion, first with a neurosurgeon, the the second was a orthopedic surgreon.

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Hi Doug, let us know how your Mayo appointment goes. I have DISH also. I haven't had much luck with the docs around here. I will try to attach a photo of my x-rays.

Shared files

#15 - Spine X-Ray - July 2009- (15-Spine-X-Ray-July-2009-.pdf)

C-Spine (C-Spine.pdf)

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@doug2018

On August 7th I had C4-C7 fused I also learned I have DISH and osteoarthritis. In my case large bone spurs had to be removed during the surgery. Recovery has not been terrible but I am still in my hard cervical collar and will be at least until my next follow up on Nov 2nd. Dr said when 3 are fused it makes recovery longer like in my case. I also every day wear a Orthifix Cervical Stimulator 4 hrs a day.to promote quicker fusion. My main complaint is some swallowing difficulties that I think will pass. Im 45 and live a active life, this has slowed my down for the time being, but overall I have gotten used to the collar I have to wear it 24/7 except when eating or showering. Remember with DISH staying active is key. Please feel free to contact me with questions if you have any as I am happy to help however I can.

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Dear doug2018, I too had problems with swallowing after my fusion. Years later I still sometimes choke on the larger pills and supplements that I use. The gel capsules sometimes get caught at the back of my throat and gag me. I have to be very still and calm when I take my pills. Mostly I choke on the magnesium capsules and the fish oil. After 7 yrs it has not abated. Also tend to choke on food while in restaurants. Mostly on drier meats and sandwiches. Can be scary if I cannot get a breath.

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@langteach

Dear doug2018, I too had problems with swallowing after my fusion. Years later I still sometimes choke on the larger pills and supplements that I use. The gel capsules sometimes get caught at the back of my throat and gag me. I have to be very still and calm when I take my pills. Mostly I choke on the magnesium capsules and the fish oil. After 7 yrs it has not abated. Also tend to choke on food while in restaurants. Mostly on drier meats and sandwiches. Can be scary if I cannot get a breath.

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@langteach A trick we used in hospitals to get pills down for those that had trouble was to put the pill in applesauce

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@lioness

@langteach A trick we used in hospitals to get pills down for those that had trouble was to put the pill in applesauce

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Thanks for the tip. I used that with my kids, maybe it will work for me.

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@langteach

Thanks for the tip. I used that with my kids, maybe it will work for me.

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@langteach hope so let me know the other thing can you cut pill in half ?then applesauce

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I have had both interior and posterior operations for cervical disks with disks removed and a titanium bar inserted in my neck. These were done in 2001 and 2003. Dr. Thanki performed both 12 hour procedures. In 2005, I had the lumbar spine laminectomy involving the whole lumbar spine. At this time, I was still working and each surgery required 3 months leave from work. Also a Miami J Cervical collar until the time was done. These 2 surgeries allowed me to put my arms up afterwards. In addition, 5 other replacements were performed on both hips, knees and left shoulder were performed, the last TKR of right knee was April 4 of this year. I would do it again, because the pain makes the decision in the end. I related to the spine looking like a dripping candle.

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@morkat

I have had both interior and posterior operations for cervical disks with disks removed and a titanium bar inserted in my neck. These were done in 2001 and 2003. Dr. Thanki performed both 12 hour procedures. In 2005, I had the lumbar spine laminectomy involving the whole lumbar spine. At this time, I was still working and each surgery required 3 months leave from work. Also a Miami J Cervical collar until the time was done. These 2 surgeries allowed me to put my arms up afterwards. In addition, 5 other replacements were performed on both hips, knees and left shoulder were performed, the last TKR of right knee was April 4 of this year. I would do it again, because the pain makes the decision in the end. I related to the spine looking like a dripping candle.

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Where are you told that you have DISH? It is easily defined by x-ray of spine.

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