Cervical laminoplasty surgery for balance: I'm scared

@lilyteddy33 Hi Judy. I'm sorry you are suffering balance issues and are alone, but you're not alone here. I'm sorry about your dogs. I know that is hard to loose them. My mom is 94 and she just lost one of her 2 little dogs that keep her company. I have had a lot of pets, and I currently have cats adopted from the shelter.

Cervical laminoplasty is a procedure that makes more room for the spinal cord inside the spinal canal by cutting through bone at the back side of the vertebrae and removing it. It's kind of like when they want to add a second floor to a one story house, and they raise the roof to make a second story. If your surgeon s recommending this, you probably have some spinal cord compression. Is that right?

This is Mayo's information about Laminoplasty.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-stenosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352966
No surgery is fun. I had spinal cord compression because I had a ruptured disc that grew bone spurs next to it and all of it pushed into my spinal cord in my neck. Having spinal cord compression causes some strange symptoms and can cause pain anywhere in your body. I had dizziness and vertigo because I was getting muscle spasms that along with the compression on the cord were rotating my C1 & C2 vertebrae on their own, and I did loose my balance and fall when that came on suddenly.

May I ask why this is traumatic? Is this because of an injury causing this problem or is it just the thought of surgery and recovery and worries how you would manage on your own? Are you a member of a church that may have members who would be willing to help you? I was scared too... really scared of spine surgery, but I found a way to get through it. Some of that comes from really understanding the problem and how they need to fix it.

Here is a discussion about confronting the fear and you can find out some of my secrets.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-can-i-defeat-my-anxiety-about-medical-tests-and-surgery/
Please tell me how I can help you.
Jennifer

Dear @lilyteddy33

xxx LOSING BALANCE xxx
I’m sorry losing your balance, but I’m there… cause I have the same losing-balance & falling-down & hitting on the back of my head & hurting my legs & arms.

xxx THE NEED OF OUR SAFETY xxx
Falling-down is too easy and doing the worst problems like: hitting my back-head, for problems of our losing-balance. Add a new hat of a motorcycle type helmet that - even falling-down of our brain & head. Add the strap that keeps our brain-injury.

Thx,
Greg D. @greg56xx

Thank you❤️🙏

thank you Jennifer. so sweet to take time to reply. No, I do not belong to any groups nor do I have anybody left in terms of "support system". I'm almost 82 & my entire body is at war. I can't begin to put words to my symptoms. Many new one's began after I caught covid early this year & my medicines which were a miracle & gave me hrs of relief, suddenly stopped working. My receptors in my brain were affected badly. New pain began in my legs after covid. Freezing as if inside a frig full time & layers of clothing can't help. It is so deep inside. I am not responding to any medicines at all. I'm also burning & freezing in my feet & legs. My face nerve damage began 18 yrs ago after undiagnosed shingles which destroyed right side of facial nerves. it's excruciating. The meds I was taking prior to covid kept my facial pain manageable, my neuropathy manageable & in the last 6 yrs I've gotten arthritis & osteo everywhere. I've had severe emotional trauma for the last 18 yrs which I can't put into writing. I'm really frightened to undergo surgery as my entire body is at war in pain. And now I can't take any pain meds as my receptors went through something that the medical world can't explain for post covid people. My circulation is not working properly. How could I get thru the cervical surgery or recover? Something unexplainable happened to my neurotransmitters after covid & I'm in unbearable pain. I am flammable everywhere & I am fighting to stay alive, Today is worse than yesterday. Each day it grows like a forest fire. It sounds like you had the surgery? How old are you? What other painful symptoms did you have prior to surgery? It sounds like you have a support system in place? How long did it take you to recover? And I'm sure you could take something for pain relief during your recovery? What pain went away after your cervical surgery. I know I'm full of questions. Did your neuropathy go away? My list is long so I apologize. I'm grateful I got one response so Blessings. I cannot find the right words to describe my condition but I can't bear another day of these horrible symptoms. Thank you truly. judy

@lilyteddy33
Have you seen a pain management specialist to try new medications and treatments (like spinal injections) for your pain? What medications were you on before Covid and are you still on them even though they are not helping? Have they tried anything new to see if it helps you? I have read that Covid has caused neurological damage for many.

You should find out exactly what is going on in your cervical spine and what levels are affected. Is your spinal cord flattened/compressed? Do you have disc bulges or herniations and bone spurs? What levels would the surgery be done?

I have small fiber polyneuropathy, congenital spinal stenosis, myelopathy spinal cord compression injury and degenerative disc disease and had cervical and lumbar spine surgeries plus have a history of trauma. The cervical spine surgery was much less painful than lumbar surgery. I am 55 and female and a single parent of a teen son. Not easy to deal with daily pain, weakness and numbness so I empathize with you. I also do not have family or a support system which makes all of this scary. My pets do provide comfort and I am so sorry for your loss of your dogs.

I have been seeing pain management for years which started in my face 18 years ago. After trying 10 medication’s over 4 yrs and dropping down to 82 pounds, they finally put me on Percocet. It worked wonders. Up until six years ago, I was very active, and did yoga walked many miles a day even played golf, volunteered at my animal shelter for many years. The only thing in the world I love and care most about are animals and I’ve had my fair share of losing dogs and cats, but they have always brought me comfort as well.
When I was 63, my husband 57 , married 25 years, lost his job. He became a full-time prescription drug addict and remains that way. We lost our home., lost everything and I have spent the better part of 17 years, giving him CPR and calling 911. He also steals my medication, no matter where I hide it he finds it & always denies stealing! I’ve been trapped in this horrible relationship. As far as my body, I don’t have all the medical terminology that you have but yes, my spine is compressed, I don’t remember the levels of the cervical surgery because it all happened so fast, but I know there’s about five levels, I don’t have numbness. I have acute burning. in my legs and feet. Since Covid, I also have acute freezing in my legs. I have developed stenosis, scoliosis, disc compression, and my nervous system is completely shot. I shake and even Xanax can’t help anymore. I have no pain in my neck, but I saw the x-rays and they are all black with no white space. I also now have Osteo, extremely low bone density so the neurosurgeon would not touch my back. which is OK with me. I’ve seen too many people in wheelchairs after back surgery. Living in LA is a nightmare for a senior, trying to get an appointment is months in the waiting.
Since Covid, my pain receptors are blocked and I am not able to get any medication’s to work. Especially for pain. My circulation is gone.
Pain mgmt now has me on buprenorphine, which is ghastly and seems to be making my symptoms worse. Every day the pain is worse, my legs are worse, and my feet are burning as if in hot coals. I don’t feel I am seeing the right doctors, but I know I have neurological damage. I think my vagus nerve was greatly affected, but I can only evaluate myself since the doctors know nothing about long haul. I only can base it on how I feel. I never stop crying and I’m scared to death that I will not be able to adopt a senior dog, and I cannot live without an animal. I also have something wrong with my large toe, left foot. I went to at least seven different doctors and finally ended up at a wound Doctor who told me I have a neurological problem which cannot be resolved as it requires cutting bone and I would not recover so every day I treat it and change bandages and just as the pain was subsiding it is now all the way back up again. You are blessed you have a son and a reason to fight and that is your support along with your dogs. I never thought I would want to kill myself, especially as I want to do so much to help Animals. But my husband is not a comfort nor does he care about animals. He does not know how to show compassion or empathy. And I have lost the few people that I loved and there is nobody left. My crying is never ending and there isn’t even anyone to give me a hug. Finding THERAPY has proven impossible. Someone to talk to. My medication’s prior to Covid were working, and I could get hours of relief for my neuropathy and the pain in my face. They just suddenly stopped working. This new medication is a nightmare and I think it causes my symptoms to be worse and the side effects or devastating. Trying to get another appointment with the neurosurgeon is a six month wait & my surgery is scheduled for latter February which I have to cancel The doctor doesn’t seem to care that my body is at war or that I have all these post Covid symptoms. She makes it sound as though the surgery is my only obstacle and that I have to do it.
My environment is toxic. My husband is toxic, and he has bled me dry. Because of my compassion and my heart, I stuck around all these years to save his life, which he is completely ungrateful for and claims he has no memory of any of it and has never once even said thank you For being there!
In March, I will be 82 and have more pain, and so many post Covid, and a broken heart. And no dogs.
I never sleep, which would give me a break in the pain, but my legs keep me up as does my raging mouth and burning feet!
You are young at 55, blessed to have a child and dogs. My guess is you do not have Osteo. I don’t know if your body is at war, I don’t know what you did to survive the cervical surgery or how you manage to get help or support. But I am almost 30 years older and chances are I will end up in a wheelchair.I or worse. I went from a physically healthy, active, productive person in spite of losing everything & forced to take care of drug addiction partner to a crippled in pain woman. My nervous system is shattered!
I want a divorce & made a terrible mistake staying to keep him alive. I would not survive a divorce-not sure I’d live long enuff. It takes 12-15 mos in California & I wouldn’t get a penny til final signatures. I keep thinking if I could get away from him maybe I could heal or find peace. But my pain will grow worse getting there, if I got there.
I have no place to run. I’m in extreme pain physically, emotionally. I want to die.
But then he will have enough $$ to hire help & live on & be the winner.
I don’t know where u are but how lucky you have medical professionals that understand your condition, didn’t have added complications w/covid & had success w/surgery.
Did the cervical surgery take your symptoms away? How long was your recovery? And you probably didn’t have my numerous symptoms?
Where are you?
What should I do?

@lilyteddy33
I’m so sorry you are dealing with so much physical and emotionally. That is a heavy burden and not having a healthy marriage relationship makes everything so much more difficult. Are you getting support from a therapist or counselor? It would definitely help you manage your chronic pain and lack of a support system.

I do have many symptoms and feel like I am 85, not 55. I do have chronic pain and osteoarthritis on top of all of my other spine and neurological problems. Not fun.

Have you been on Cymbalta (generic duloxetine) for nerve/osteoarthritis/anxiety and depression? It helps some. Does Lyrica or gabapentin not help you with pain? Have you ever tried alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements? They help nerve pain. Have you tried topical creams with capsaicin or lidocaine in them to help calm the burning sensations? When my feet were burning (at the beginning of of my small fiber neuropathy symptoms), the supplements and topical nerve pain creams helped me. Have you iced your feet when burning?

It took over 5 years to get properly diagnosed for cervical stenosis and myelopathy. I have some permanent spinal cord injury as a result but the decompression surgery helped relieve my daily headaches, neck/shoulder pain, improved bladder control and walking (didn’t feel like I was wearing cement boots anymore). I have a new herniated disc in my c6-c7 which is pressing on my spinal cord and causing new symptoms of pain/numbness in neck and both hands plus weakness (some may be residual symptoms from my injured spinal cord at c5-c6). I am glad I got the surgery because it helped stop the progression of injury but because I have degenerative disc disease, new disc and arthritis issues will continue to be a problem for me. Not good because I am fairly young and have a future of spine surgeries in front of me.

I pray you can get some help and relief from the right doctors. It sounds like many things have been tried but the right mix of medication or treatments has not been found.

Apparently, I can only respond on my cell phone and not on a computer. I do not understand all the computer requirements that are in place in order for me to attempt to write you back. This whole computer world drives me nuts but keep in mind that I’m very much older than you And never really learned about computers so I am relying on my speaker and all the mistakes it seems to make.
I’m so sorry you have so much to deal with and you are so young. And I wish you did not have to have further surgeries going forward. Not to be negative, but I have seen people that I’ve had too many surgeries and it is not good.
I have tried pretty much all the medication’s you mentioned and I have tried so many creams. As far as the burning, I cannot use ice. It makes me totally crazy and worse. I find that a heating pad is more soothing.
I’m really not in good care from my point of view since I feel like I’ve basically been pushed over to the side of the road being a senior. This is not important to anybody including doctors. I have not been able to find a therapist unless I can pay out-of-pocket, which is extremely expensive. And of course you’re right if I could find someone to talk to, that is a form of support. Also not having a dog anymore is a killer. I want a little senior dog and although there’s places that specialize in senior rescue, they are not Close to me. There’s a great one in San Francisco but I need to be there in person and they have mostly little dogs, which is what I want. There’s another place in San Diego, again. I cannot get there in person. My driving is limited and even at that it’s very painful since my feet carry 70% of my pain. The Neurosurgeon office tells me that she does surgery, but they cannot help me in terms of answering any of my questions about my physical battle, my inability to take pain medication.(which of course I would need with surgery). It’s all rather cold and without much concern.
I do have spinal compression, cervical compression which she said is causing my balance problems. I know in my heart that I would not be able to recover and even if I could, it would take several years so at age 82 it’s not something I feel I should even attempt.. I have so little time left to be here, to be alive, even though I can’t really call what I am alive. The pain just consumes as I’m sure it must for you.
But for your son and for your dog, you have incentive and love.
I never was fortunate to have children. Just a stepdaughter from hell.
And I am married to a man who has not been my partner for 18 years. A man without empathy or compassion. As much as this sounds terrible I am jealous that he has no pain and sleeps through the night. Other than that, he does nothing productive. He was once a very vital, active working man in a very top golfer. We actually had a life although I know now he is a narcissist. I regret that I stayed to keep saving his life. In truth, I had nowhere to run to! My family consisted of my mother who had a terrible life, and I was fortunate enough to be able to be her caretaker, her friend, until she left. I did not grow up in a family, and only started living with my mother at age 12. Long story but Will hold back.
By the way, some of the creams you mentioned have pepper and if it’s anywhere near my feet, I go insane so I’m careful not to make that mistake again
I think that is something for people who have numbness and it gives sensation to the nerves. My nerves are overactive.
My nerve damage is widespread and now coupled with back pain, balance, tremendous physical pain, I’m scared. I won’t have another dog because I question if I can take care of anything.
My husband is my biggest disappointment and my heart is forever broken. He doesn’t even try to imagine what I am going through.
I know your dog knows and probably your son and because they love you, they feel you.
I will pray for you because you are kind. And because you love animals.
I am trying to find the courage to keep going, but I want it all to end.
There is no moment in the day or night that my body is at peace. The nights are even harder because I can’t sleep at all, and my legs are desperately painful.
I will remember that I cannot use the computer to reply because even though it tells me to verify my email which I do, I cannot logon to comments except on my phone. I know there’s a way, but there is no one to ask for help.
God bless, and I wish you so much love on your most difficult journey.
If I hear from you again, I will respond. Computer wise I am not literate.
Blessings ❤️🙏🐕

One last thing
I have cervical cord compression in my neck
My back is a colossal mess, and no surgeon can touch me❤️🙏🐕

@lilyteddy33
Your cervical spinal cord compression disrupts sensory and motor signals from brain to body/body to brain at the level of compression. Compression equals spinal cord injury and myelopathy when you have symptoms caused by the cord compression. This injury and resulting symptoms can become permanent. That may be the main reason surgery is recommended.

Here is a link of a Mayo Connect discussion about cervical stenosis/cord compression/balance issues. It has some helpful information to consider. I also added additional links.

1 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cervical-stenosis-and-leg-weaknesd/

2 https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/feeling-off-balance-a-nerve-condition-may-be-to-blame

3 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17499-spinal-stenosis

4 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21966-myelopathy

5 https://www.verywellhealth.com/spinal-cord-compression-4706467

We are both animal lovers and I do miss fostering pregnant mama cats and delivering kittens and caring for them. I also fostered mama dogs and their puppies. My pain, weakness, low energy and depression makes daily tasks difficult for me. I also have a lot to manage for my son, 2 rescue dogs and 8 cats either adopted from shelters or “foster failure” kittens I fell in love with due to bottle feeding and taking care of them after they were rescued/found very sick.
❤️🙏🐶🐱🐾