1. < Spine Health
Profile picture for hmcski

Smart to Wait? ACDF

Posted by hmcski @hmcski, May 22 1:47pm

I have radiculopathy left shoulder and arm. It is painful but I could live with it. Can not having the ACDF done in a timely manner (not knowing what timely is) lead to permanent damage? Thoughts please.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Profile picture for ga29
ga29 | @ga29 | Sep 3 8:08am
In reply to @amereagle "I have radiculopathy compression of C5 and C6 cervical nerves. Was in extreme pain went to..." + (show)
Profile picture for amereagle @amereagle

I have radiculopathy compression of C5 and C6 cervical nerves. Was in extreme pain went to visit Mayo in June what a mistake was expecting to get scheduled for surgery after my surgical consult I had already given them clear MRIs that showed the issue.but instead they said they had to run a bunch more of imaging and emr tests that were superfluous and then I had to call and finagle a teleconference weeks later to discuss the results and was given the bombshell that in the opinion of the consulting surgeon, my bone density is too low even though the DEXA results were normal they wanted to schedule me with endocrinology and do drug treatment for minimum 3 to 6 months maybe a one to two years to see if they can increase cervical bone density meantime, I’m screaming in pain suffering more muscle atrophy by the week with new nerve symptoms developing. One thing I learned about Mayo is they don’t treat patients as human beings with problems that need to be cured and to ease of suffering,

Rather they see patients as a statistical number to pad your research reports and publications

Jump to this post

I had the same results from my visit in June, after tests and Spect CT scan, MRI’s. They wanted more tests. I went for a consultation at my local neurosurgeon’s office who has terrific reviews and is highly respected here. They scheduled my 3 level acdf a week after my visit. I was in such pain by then, could not walk more than a short distance. I’m healing now, 5 weeks in. I do have poor bone density results, I’m sure that was a concern for them. But my health should be the primary concern.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.