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Laminectomy cervical, with fusion and Instrumentation , 1-4 levels
Spine Health | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
I did have an EMG/nerve conduction study. It showed that I have lost 90% of 3 muscles in my left arm. I am unable to raise my left hand over my head. Extremly weak to the point I am unable to open a new jar lid. I'm losing dexterity in my fingers. It's difficult to get dressed because everything you put on bunches up and my arm won't reach behind me to straighten it out. I drop everything all the time. It's a very frustrating feeling and just want it repaired.
I did have a DEXA bone scan and it was normal. I've never been on steroids and I hope I never have to. When I had the EMG/nerve conduction study, the technician told me they are able to repair nerves by grafting a part of a healthy nerve and cutting the bad nerve open and placing it inbetween and stitch it up. Well ... that sounds dreadful. I'm going to the UCSD doctors and I won't be contacting other doctors at this time. Thank you for your leads in the medical field of Neurology. You have great knowledge, I'm impressed with your information, thank you.
Jessica, I just found out about the thyroid nodule and I'm not sure if I'm going to have time to deal with that prior to the surgery. Is that a mistake on my part? Do they always put you on thyroid meds if you have a benign nodule?
The sized is 1.2cm. I'm experiencing a bit of a raspy voice. I would just say I'm ready to move forward and get beyond this if possible. Surgeons want to know everything about my health. If I tell him I had a biopsy, he may want to wait even longer to do the surgery. If I call an Endocrinologist, how soon will I get an appointment? Thanks for your information Jennifer. That's amazing you physical therapist was able to realign your spine to stop the muscle spasms.
Hugs, Jan
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@janagain
I also had a thyroid nodule accidentally found on ct scan when preparing for my first ACDF cervical spine surgery in 2022. I found it on the report when paying a surgery bill. My sister had thyroid cancer at age 26 and a full thyroidectomy and radiation. My ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy showed suspicious cells/characteristics so I decided to get a lobectomy of my right lobe later that year. At the time, I was having difficulty swallowing, even liquids, and would choke. Sometimes it affected my speech. The nodule was 2.5 cm and high on the right side so it may have been contributing to my symptoms. Luckily, the large nodule was benign but they found a micro cancer during pathology. Now, I need to have my left lobe monitored due to calcifications as well as my full neck checked regularly for regrowth of thyroid tissue. My mom and cousin had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and now, so do I along with hypothyroidism (take 100 mcg levothyroxine daily).
You may be able to delay addressing your thyroid until you address your other pressing/higher priority issues. You can have your doctor check your blood with a full thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4, TPO) to see how your thyroid is functioning with the nodule. They do not usually treat with medication unless thyroid function is too high or low and if nodules get so large they cause breathing, swallowing and speaking issues.