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Does anyone have DISH and/or OPLL?
After a recent MRI and CT, I have been diagnosed with DISH and OPLL of the cervical spine. These conditions mean that I have large flowing osephytes on one side of my spine and tendons turning into abnormal bone on the other side of my spine. The doctor wants to complete a multi-level fusion from C-3 to T-1 in a few days. Could anyone comment on the recover from multi-level fusions of the cervical spine? I worry about becoming disabled or paralyzed. I am a schoolteacher and deal with 13 yr old students.
Thank you for any advice.
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Sorry. That was supposed to be were you told.
Hi, I hope you don't mind if I put myself into your conversation. I was diagnosed a bit over 4 years ago, by accident. I had x rays for something else and the radiologist noted DISH. I am surprised about so many doctors not knowing what it is. I think they just bounce over it at appointments because they don't know how to treat it. I'm in pain and spasms nearly every day, and can't get into a pain management program. If anyone sees a particular type of doctor for DISH, what kind? How do you cope with the pain? I've done a lot of PT which strengthens my muscles but increases pain and spasms. I get a muscle relaxer, but the Dr. gets upset if I use it every day. Any help or advice would be welcome.
My wife had DISH of her anterior cervical vertebrae. A board certified spine surgeon removed it & fused the three vertebrae due to the poor quality of her disc.
Her pain was difficult with the DISH & resolved with the removal of the excess bone. Of course she had post operative pain, but it was manageable.
I see pain management. I get many injections throughout the year. Currently they are separate doing injections in my back and rotating the types of injections and also just started injections in my shoulders this year. I also get massages every three weeks- they help with blood flow and relaxing muscles. I was seeing my massage therapist long before I was ever diagnosed with dish but I believe I have had it for a very long time. I’m in my mid-50s and when I was in my late 20s early 30s I had bone spurs in the back and bottom of both feet.
My suggestion is to keep moving as much as possible. But you’ll find out if you do too much it hurts a lot more. So it’s like life, balance is important. Everyone is different and you will find what best suits you. I also see rheumatology once a year. Keep reading as much as you can.
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1 ReactionThank you for the information. I will try to get my insurance on board to help pay for some of these things. My rheumatologist says DISH isn't a problem they take care of.
Even though the rheumatologist does not take care of my dish, he knows a lot more about it than many of the physicians I have encountered.
My insurance has paid for some of this stuff, but I have paid coinsurance as well. It does get expensive. But my pain may not have allowed me to continue working and doing other things in my life.
I wish you the best!
I was recently diagnosed with DISH, post accident a year ago. It wasn’t present with first X-rays but showed up a few weeks ago. Not sure what my path will be. My pain is what I call a screwdriver in my mid thoracic area and whiplash leftovers. It was the dear’s fault…
Sorry for your recent diagnosis. I totally know what you’re feeling. In fact, a am getting injections in my T5-8 this Wednesday and the following Wednesday.
I see that you are in the medical field, so I am hoping that you have good access to good information. Read as much as you can find in reputable sites. Hopefully the doctor will have some words of wisdom for you, but read what you can on this website. There are a lot of people who have it and have a very different experience than what a lot of doctors know about it. But if you find the right doctors, they can help you. Good luck. And may all of you have a happy Thanksgiving with your families.🦃
Being in the medical field doesn’t always help. I’m a holistic RN so do all I can with natural remedies. I had a car accident that presumably got this going.
What kind of shots? Most of my pain is in one area, so that’s a consideration.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Actually, they are what they call RFA’s. Radio frequency ablation’s. Basically they’re going into burn the nerve. They put steroids in to reduce the inflammation. This procedure basically kills the pain. Unfortunately, sometimes the nerves regenerate. So the procedure may need to be repeated as it is my case. I really have been waiting for this since August when things started to act up again. It was last done in November. But because of insurance, they only allow it to be done twice a year and they consider right side of back and left side of back as two procedures in that area. Sneaky if you ask me. I am hoping that it lasts at least as long as that again.