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Surgical solutions to chronic cervical/back pain
Spine Health | Last Active: Jul 11, 2018 | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
Thank you porterhouse and Marie, a little more information. I'm 63, was very active, then neck is from injuries from a horseback riding accident, and a skiing accident that broke my right rib cage, my left shoulder, and twisted my pelvis on the right side. The right SI joint gives me problems, as does the mid back but I could live with those, the problem has my neck. I have gone from an extremely active person, ballet, yoga, tennis, etc. to lying on my back in bed on ice almost all the time. I know I have a really good doctor but I'm terrified of the surgeries. We are going to do an epidural on this Monday, the problem is this is been an ongoing issue that's been deteriorating. I've known about it since about 2010 at which point it wasn't bad enough to do anything. Now I had multiple surgeries to get my shoulder back together, five, and it's OK it hurts a little bit but it's all right. The only problem I have that is intolerable as my neck. Nothing really helps except opiates which I don't want to take for the rest of my life. I have every kind of physical therapy machine, tens machine, I go to physical therapy I go to chiropractic you name it I've done it. I'm kind of at the end of my rope but I don't want to make a mistake. Maybe that helps fill in a few blank's. I don't want to make this worse, but at this point I go to sleep with medicine and my head and neck on ice, when the ice melts I wake up two hours later and have to go get more. This is repeated all night long and all day long, not much of a life. I think I've handled it pretty well, but I'm hoping to be a grandma soon and I'd like to be able to participate in those type of activities which I couldn't do right now. Thanks for all your help, Jennifer
Replies to "Thank you porterhouse and Marie, a little more information. I'm 63, was very active, then neck..."
Sounds like you have had a tough time for sure...dr called it a cage. Actually is hard wear that replaced the disc..then two rodes to stabilize the neck...Surgery was front and back.., 14 screws....yours sounds anterior so that's good...I've also had a l4-5 fusion 4 years ago...bunch of old injuries as it appears you've had... I'm 8 years your senior and to top it off had bypass surgery in June...sounds like you need to get things going..good luck...
Jen, this is Marie (Marield65). Have you tried a physiatrist (NOT PSYCHIATRIST)?? Go to http://www.hss.edu/what-is-phsysiatry (spelling phsysiatry or physiatrist). Get back to me if this spelling is incorrect.
Do you mean psychologist as in someone you go talk to once a week, or a psychiatrist which is a doctor M.D. that can prescribe medication and deals with mental illness? I have seen psychologist to talk about my pain and how it affects my life, but after a while you've gotten all you can get out of that. I am not going to anyone at this point. As far as a psychiatrist is concerned, I've never had any reason to see one. Anything I've needed my pain management doctors have handled or my internal medicine doctor. Now neurosurgeons are in the picture. Jennifer
Jen, this is Marie again. You can always google this word. PHYSIATRIST
They are trained in Physical Medicine & Rehab (PM&R), also known as Physiatrist. And certified by the board of PM&R after completing their residency and other requirements. There are about 6700 in the states and I am lucky enough to have one about 7 miles from me. I am waiting to get an appointment with the physical therapist that work under him. I already had my appointment with the Dr. who is the PHYSIATRIST and he will send the order to the PT of what he thinks will work for my spine besides my going for the epidurals for 2 pinched nerves at L-5. I will be learning how to strengthen my spine (core) and multiple problems with my spine. Arthritis,discs, fusion that I had and other things they found about my discs. What my goal is, is to put off spine surgery for as long as I can and get back some quality of my life. This they help you to do. I am not trying to set myself up to a goal I cannot reach, but am trying to be positive and make sure I am covering all my bases because when it comes down to it, I will have done everything that I could to have the knowledge to myself to make the best decision.
Whew. Now I am tired. This was hard to explain and I hope I haven't confused you.
The best to you,
Marield65 (Marie)
Marie, you are so sweet, thank you. I honestly have never heard of that type of doctor. But I now have learned about it from you and I will definitely look it up around where I live. It sounds like somebody that could definitely help me and I am so grateful to you for taking the time to explain to me what it is. There is so much I'm learning about what's happening to me, I greatly appreciate you sharing that with me. Maybe they'll help both of us, we can always hope, wish, and pray, right. Thank you, Jennifer
Jen, that is right, and my best wishes to you. I will let you know how I make out, and vice-versa. Marie
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In February I had a spacer put in. They still call it a fusion I believe. At least on my paperwork it was. Its just a spacer with a plate and screws to hold it in. I can say for me it was a much better surgery than the lumbar fusion. Yes still have issues but not like low back. Recovery was easier after the intial 2 weeks. Maybe a spacer could be an option for you.
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I didn't answer this, there is already nerve damage that goes down my arms and in my neck. I drop things with my left hand, because it doesn't have a lot of strength.
I read about and was curious about the cage that was mentioned. Is that still used? I don't see it mentioned in the surgeries that are currently described?