Connect
← Return to My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve
Discussion
My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve
Spine Health | Last Active: 18 hours ago | Replies (9)Comment receiving replies
@cheryl46
I understand your concern. When I had my ACDF anterior discectomy/fusion, I was also dealing with swallowing and speaking issues but wasn’t sure at the time what was causing these symptoms. I ended finding out I had a large, suspicious nodule (2.5 cm) on my thyroid and believe that plus my spinal cord compression caused my symptoms. After my ACDF and later thyroid lobectomy surgery, my swallowing and speaking improved.
When they go through the front, they move the muscles rather than cut anything and navigate around esophagus/trachea/thyroid, etc. to get to your spine. They were able to remove bone spurs and my disc to fuse my C5-C6 and they put in hardware. My recovery was much easier than I expected and definitely not as painful as my lumbar spine surgery. My swallowing and speaking improved, and headaches and neck/shoulder pain improved.
What causes your Achalasia? Do you know? I wonder if it is tied to your cervical issues and compression of spinal cord/nerve roots that connect your esophagus to your brain to help you swallow. Hopefully, the surgery helps you with this. What type of doctor diagnosed your Achalasia?
I’ll pray for you to have a successful surgery and recovery and relief of your pain. Your children and grandchildren are such a blessing and you definitely want to fully be there for all of them! 🙂
Replies to "@cheryl46 I understand your concern. When I had my ACDF anterior discectomy/fusion, I was also dealing..."
Connect
It's funny because in the last year I have had a vallcula cyst and epiglottis cyst removed but never considered any correlation.
I have had 2 GI doctors diagnose me with Achalasia and recommended surgery (Poems procedure), went to Mayo in Minnesota who said all my tests were inconclusive 🤷♀️.
I actually go in tomorrow morning to discuss my MRI results which now shows that I have multiple hemangioma's throughout my spine that were not there last year.
I honestly believe all my symptoms are due to some type of autoimmune disorder but no one wants to listen to the overall issues. It's really frustrating how patient care is nonexistent nowadays.
Thank you for your response
I've asked my ENT, Speech Therapist, spine specialist, neurosurgeon and my GI doctor if my esophageal issues could be related to my spinal degenerative disc disease and everyone said no.