@ga29
Do you have any bladder control issues, heaviness in your legs while walking, or notice yourself dropping things or your handwriting worse than normal? That can be caused by your cervical spine. It sounds like something is pressing on your spinal cord/nerve roots to cause the electrical shock like pains. I have had those and they are terrible.
Yes to all except for bladder issues. I have trouble getting bladder to work sometimes, a lot of numbness.
Hope all who are suffering get some answers. I just don’t think an ablation will be the answer, but I’m not the expert.
Yes to all except for bladder issues. I have trouble getting bladder to work sometimes, a lot of numbness.
Hope all who are suffering get some answers. I just don’t think an ablation will be the answer, but I’m not the expert.
@ga29
You may want to get a second opinion about the ablation and for someone to check if you have any spinal cord flattening/pressure that is affecting your brain signals communicating to your bladder to release urine. I also don’t think ablation will do anything about your numbness or bladder function so you may want to hold off on this procedure if it won’t help this. Do you know which nerves are planned to be ablated? Which nerve roots are pinched and at what level(s)? Did the doctor say what would and would not be helped by the ablation?
Yes to all except for bladder issues. I have trouble getting bladder to work sometimes, a lot of numbness.
Hope all who are suffering get some answers. I just don’t think an ablation will be the answer, but I’m not the expert.
@ga29
P.S. I forgot to ask if you had upper and lower EMGs done by a neurologist to determine nerve function and signals from central nervous system to peripheral nervous system? This can help with narrowing down the source of the problem and functional impact (like radiculopathy).
@ga29
P.S. I forgot to ask if you had upper and lower EMGs done by a neurologist to determine nerve function and signals from central nervous system to peripheral nervous system? This can help with narrowing down the source of the problem and functional impact (like radiculopathy).
They did an upper. No nerve damage. I really don't have bladder problems. When I cough hard I have some leakage. My Dr. Said that was normal for my age.
@ga29
You may want to get a second opinion about the ablation and for someone to check if you have any spinal cord flattening/pressure that is affecting your brain signals communicating to your bladder to release urine. I also don’t think ablation will do anything about your numbness or bladder function so you may want to hold off on this procedure if it won’t help this. Do you know which nerves are planned to be ablated? Which nerve roots are pinched and at what level(s)? Did the doctor say what would and would not be helped by the ablation?
@ga29
You may want to get a second opinion about the ablation and for someone to check if you have any spinal cord flattening/pressure that is affecting your brain signals communicating to your bladder to release urine. I also don’t think ablation will do anything about your numbness or bladder function so you may want to hold off on this procedure if it won’t help this. Do you know which nerves are planned to be ablated? Which nerve roots are pinched and at what level(s)? Did the doctor say what would and would not be helped by the ablation?
Thank you very much for your feedback on my neck issues, hopefully this will be of help to others experiencing similar pain. I didn’t think of my bladder not working well as a symptom of my neck issues. The nurse from my surgeon’s office asked if I was having loss of control, which I have not. Only inability at times to urinate at all. I assumed it was something to do with my lower back nerves. My surgeon assured me last year it was not the cause.
Here’s part of MRI report for my neck, done in April.
C5-C6: Degenerative disc changes present at this level with intervertebral disc space loss and posterior disc osteophyte complex. Stable associated mild to moderate narrowing of the spinal canal with partial effacement of CSF surrounding the cord and flattening the right anterior surface of the cord. Moderate right lateral recess narrowing and mild left lateral recess narrowing. Uncovertebral osteophytes result in moderate to severe neural foraminal narrowing on the right and mild-to-moderate on the left.
The level below is similar.
C6-C7: . Mild Modic type I changes involve endplates on the right new in comparison with the prior. Mild partial effacement of CSF surrounding the cord but no significant narrowing of the spinal canal. Moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing on the right.
My pain management PA told me Monday the diagnostic injections were on C3-4 level, not sure if that’s correct.
I will ask the dr. Next week when he does the 2nd diagnostic injections, exactly where he’s aiming.
As to your other question, I haven’t had the emg testing yet. My NS gave me directions to try PT, then he will order the emg testing if it doesn’t help.
So far it is making pain worse; the therapist is very experienced and does manipulations on my neck on each level of vertebrae, and last week we tried dry needling.
Perhaps I need to check in with my surgeon, who did my last fusion? And see if the emg tests should be done now.
well now.... saw a DIFFERENT ortho doc yesterday due to horrendous neck pain for the past 6 months but has been on going for over a year. Come to find out that my fusion between C 4 /5 did not fuse after all this time and that's why I'm in so much pain. Will be having yet another surgery. 🙁
Thank you very much for your feedback on my neck issues, hopefully this will be of help to others experiencing similar pain. I didn’t think of my bladder not working well as a symptom of my neck issues. The nurse from my surgeon’s office asked if I was having loss of control, which I have not. Only inability at times to urinate at all. I assumed it was something to do with my lower back nerves. My surgeon assured me last year it was not the cause.
Here’s part of MRI report for my neck, done in April.
C5-C6: Degenerative disc changes present at this level with intervertebral disc space loss and posterior disc osteophyte complex. Stable associated mild to moderate narrowing of the spinal canal with partial effacement of CSF surrounding the cord and flattening the right anterior surface of the cord. Moderate right lateral recess narrowing and mild left lateral recess narrowing. Uncovertebral osteophytes result in moderate to severe neural foraminal narrowing on the right and mild-to-moderate on the left.
The level below is similar.
C6-C7: . Mild Modic type I changes involve endplates on the right new in comparison with the prior. Mild partial effacement of CSF surrounding the cord but no significant narrowing of the spinal canal. Moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing on the right.
My pain management PA told me Monday the diagnostic injections were on C3-4 level, not sure if that’s correct.
I will ask the dr. Next week when he does the 2nd diagnostic injections, exactly where he’s aiming.
As to your other question, I haven’t had the emg testing yet. My NS gave me directions to try PT, then he will order the emg testing if it doesn’t help.
So far it is making pain worse; the therapist is very experienced and does manipulations on my neck on each level of vertebrae, and last week we tried dry needling.
Perhaps I need to check in with my surgeon, who did my last fusion? And see if the emg tests should be done now.
@ga29
Your MRI results are very similar to mine. My orthopedic spine surgeon immediately diagnosed me when others missed it having cervical spondylitic myelopathy at C5C6 which was affecting arms/hands/bladder and walking. I also did PT and dry needling but did not do cervical injections. You may need to get a second opinion on whether you have myelopathy which is flattening and injuring your spinal cord to prevent further and permanent injury. I also never thought my neck was causing these issues because I also have severe lumbar stenosis. Your bladder definitely is having problems releasing urine because your brain signals are being disrupted traveling through your cervical spine/spinal cord to your bladder. It sounds like you may need ACDF surgery to remove injured disc(s) and osteophytes and fuse/cage. Injections are not going to stop your vertebrae/discs mechanically pressing in your spinal cord. It is only a bandaid for the inflammation caused by the pressure/friction.
well now.... saw a DIFFERENT ortho doc yesterday due to horrendous neck pain for the past 6 months but has been on going for over a year. Come to find out that my fusion between C 4 /5 did not fuse after all this time and that's why I'm in so much pain. Will be having yet another surgery. 🙁
@mrsr1234
That must be frustrating to not have your former ortho see the problem with the fusion and that you had to suffer so long. Was your former ortho the one who did the fusion in the first place and covering up the problem?
@mrsr1234
That must be frustrating to not have your former ortho see the problem with the fusion and that you had to suffer so long. Was your former ortho the one who did the fusion in the first place and covering up the problem?
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Yes to all except for bladder issues. I have trouble getting bladder to work sometimes, a lot of numbness.
Hope all who are suffering get some answers. I just don’t think an ablation will be the answer, but I’m not the expert.
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1 Reaction@ga29
You may want to get a second opinion about the ablation and for someone to check if you have any spinal cord flattening/pressure that is affecting your brain signals communicating to your bladder to release urine. I also don’t think ablation will do anything about your numbness or bladder function so you may want to hold off on this procedure if it won’t help this. Do you know which nerves are planned to be ablated? Which nerve roots are pinched and at what level(s)? Did the doctor say what would and would not be helped by the ablation?
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1 Reaction@ga29
P.S. I forgot to ask if you had upper and lower EMGs done by a neurologist to determine nerve function and signals from central nervous system to peripheral nervous system? This can help with narrowing down the source of the problem and functional impact (like radiculopathy).
They did an upper. No nerve damage. I really don't have bladder problems. When I cough hard I have some leakage. My Dr. Said that was normal for my age.
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1 ReactionThe one surgeon I saw didn't say that word ablation. Yes they know what nerves are being pinched
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1 ReactionThank you very much for your feedback on my neck issues, hopefully this will be of help to others experiencing similar pain. I didn’t think of my bladder not working well as a symptom of my neck issues. The nurse from my surgeon’s office asked if I was having loss of control, which I have not. Only inability at times to urinate at all. I assumed it was something to do with my lower back nerves. My surgeon assured me last year it was not the cause.
Here’s part of MRI report for my neck, done in April.
C5-C6: Degenerative disc changes present at this level with intervertebral disc space loss and posterior disc osteophyte complex. Stable associated mild to moderate narrowing of the spinal canal with partial effacement of CSF surrounding the cord and flattening the right anterior surface of the cord. Moderate right lateral recess narrowing and mild left lateral recess narrowing. Uncovertebral osteophytes result in moderate to severe neural foraminal narrowing on the right and mild-to-moderate on the left.
The level below is similar.
C6-C7: . Mild Modic type I changes involve endplates on the right new in comparison with the prior. Mild partial effacement of CSF surrounding the cord but no significant narrowing of the spinal canal. Moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing on the right.
My pain management PA told me Monday the diagnostic injections were on C3-4 level, not sure if that’s correct.
I will ask the dr. Next week when he does the 2nd diagnostic injections, exactly where he’s aiming.
As to your other question, I haven’t had the emg testing yet. My NS gave me directions to try PT, then he will order the emg testing if it doesn’t help.
So far it is making pain worse; the therapist is very experienced and does manipulations on my neck on each level of vertebrae, and last week we tried dry needling.
Perhaps I need to check in with my surgeon, who did my last fusion? And see if the emg tests should be done now.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactionswell now.... saw a DIFFERENT ortho doc yesterday due to horrendous neck pain for the past 6 months but has been on going for over a year. Come to find out that my fusion between C 4 /5 did not fuse after all this time and that's why I'm in so much pain. Will be having yet another surgery. 🙁
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2 Reactions@ga29
Your MRI results are very similar to mine. My orthopedic spine surgeon immediately diagnosed me when others missed it having cervical spondylitic myelopathy at C5C6 which was affecting arms/hands/bladder and walking. I also did PT and dry needling but did not do cervical injections. You may need to get a second opinion on whether you have myelopathy which is flattening and injuring your spinal cord to prevent further and permanent injury. I also never thought my neck was causing these issues because I also have severe lumbar stenosis. Your bladder definitely is having problems releasing urine because your brain signals are being disrupted traveling through your cervical spine/spinal cord to your bladder. It sounds like you may need ACDF surgery to remove injured disc(s) and osteophytes and fuse/cage. Injections are not going to stop your vertebrae/discs mechanically pressing in your spinal cord. It is only a bandaid for the inflammation caused by the pressure/friction.
@mrsr1234
That must be frustrating to not have your former ortho see the problem with the fusion and that you had to suffer so long. Was your former ortho the one who did the fusion in the first place and covering up the problem?
yep... and went back many times. Was told PT, etc... nothing he did 'was the problem' of course.
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