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Laminectomy cervical, with fusion and Instrumentation , 1-4 levels

Posted by janagain @janagain, 4 days ago

I'm scheduled to have a Laminectomy cervical with fusion and instrumentation, 1-4 levels posterior. I've had 2 cervical surgeries to correct pinched nerves and the last surgery was suppose to take away my pain and almost parlyzed arm according to my EMG report. The last doctor was a well known orthopedist/neurologist in the area. I should never have assumed but then again I put all my trust in him to listen to my complaints and fix the problem. My arm was beginning to lose muscle tone and strength at that time. After the surgery I started right away with physical therapy. PT ended up doing nothing at all. I finally called UCSD and got an appt with a Neurologist who after a year of weakness, tells me he is going to do all he can to get my strength back. I'm scheduled for surgery on Weds, July 16th. This time it will be more involved. First of all, it's done posterior not anterior. That means the muscles are going to be cut and there's a lot of pain in the recovery. I'll be in the hospital for 3 days. There are 2 things that could happen. 1. he lifts the pinch off of the part of the spine that is causing me weakness in both arms. I wake up and can start moving again or at least I might have to wait for it to heal. And #2- It doesn't relieve the weakness but no more damage can happen since it has been corrected and the nerve is free of blockage. It's been a long journey and I want off this train ride! I will be 68 the day I come home from the hospital and hope to have a Happy Birthday starting a new life free from pain and gain my strength back. I sometimes wonder what I understand and what I don't understand about what the purpose of the surgery is. I clearly told the fist doctor that I was having muscle loss in my arms. I've searched it all on Google and found info about the surgery and recovery. I feel frustrated that the dr that fused my neck less than a year ago, didn't correct the right area. At the appt he told me he could " NOT help me anymore". Why would a doctor say something like that? Did he feel he wasn't highly experienced enough to do the surgery I am now scheduled for in 2 days?

I have a new Neurologist, here we go again. If anyone has any thing to mention to me , please do. If you have been through this and especially having posterior , how did it go? Did you feel restriction when turning your head or looking up/down. How long was the recovery before you started to feel better with less pain?
Shout out to Jessica here on the board, Hello Jessica!
Thankyou, Jan

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | 1 day ago
In reply to @janagain "Hi Jennifer! It was canceled due to some high lab results. Going to take a round..." + (show)
@janagain

Hi Jennifer!
It was canceled due to some high lab results. Going to take a round of antibiotics and try again in 10 days.
This surgery is a biggie, especially when they go through the back of the neck. I just never regained the strength back in my arms after the last surgery that was done almost a year ago. So tonight, I'm just doing what I enjoy since everything has been cleaned and organized with all my energy/nerves. I'm joking but I have been finishing up piles of this and piles of that and getting them put away. I just want to come home and peacefully rest! My arm is to the point where it's almost useless. I sure hope it's not too late. I'm just so puzzled as to how I got here when I assumed the previous doctor was going to fix the problem. I'm not kidding ...at the first appt back to his office he said, " I can't help you anymore" And I got very uncomfortable with that statement. I should have asked him why he can't help me anymore. The good news is I have a new Neurologist out of UCSD and he's going to have to work a miracle.
Thank you so much for the good thoughts

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@janagain I have had situations where surgeons dismissed me. The surgeon who did my carpal tunnel surgery missed that I had thoracic outlet syndrome. I still had tingling and pain in my hand and my hand was turning purple. He took my pulse, told me I was fine and accused me of malingering in his records. When I got a TOS diagnosis from another doctor and went back to him, he wouldn't authorize physical therapy and said he wouldn't be able to judge if I was improving. At least that part was true.

With spine surgeons who wouldn't help, I was told they didn't know if surgery would make me better or worse and that my symptoms could be an inflammatory problem like MS.

It is definitely an uncomfortable situation, and if the doctor has any responsibility for an unfavorable outcome, they want to make sure not to increase their liability in the event of a possible law suit. Even when they just miss the diagnosis, you're at a dead end, and really just need to start over with another doctor.

REPLY
chrisanon | @chrisanon | 1 day ago

Hi Jen, EGD stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It's a procedure where a thin, flexible tube with a camera (an endoscope) is inserted into the upper digestive tract, specifically the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), to examine their linings. I have an auto immune disease called Esophageal Lichen Planus and Lichen Sclerosus.

I was in the past, involved in body work- well aware of MFR, and it's great! I just wasn't sure if you meant bodywork, chiro, or possibly EGD. Very painful condition and the treatment causes other complications.

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