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Post surgery burning pain
Hi everyone,
I have been suffering left C6/C7 nerve pain for 12 months as well as degenerated facet joints in the neck which were adding to the pain.
I didn't want a fusion, therefore I opted for the minimally invasive laser surgery.
Last week I have had laser neck surgery in the US for:
Laser Disc Repair Left C5-C6, C6-C7;
Bi-Lateral Approach Rhizotomy C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1
After the the surgery I felt a massive increase of pain.
Where they burned the Facet joints nerves I feel hard lumps in my neck, extreme 24/7 burning pain in the left end side but not as bad in the right. 2 weeks have gone past but still feeling a lot of burning pain. Before the surgery I didn't have this left sided burning pain.
The surgeon told me that this has to do with the tissues and muscles in the neck being inflamed and deconditioned by the procedures.
I am finding it extremely hard to sleep despite medication, walking is painful and the neck muscles have become weak.
I am doing daily gentle neck exercises to strengthen the SCMs and trapezius.
I would appreciate some comments in regard to this.
Thank you
Best regards
Alfred
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Photos of my neck
Hi
I have been suffering from cervical spine pain, impingment since Aug 2022. I had minimally invasive disc repair laser surgery in Florida in Aug 2023 to remove impingement on left C6/C7 nerves.
I also had facet joint nerve ablations bilaterally at C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1. This was the neurosurgeon recommendation
After surgery I have been gradually getting worse with excruciating on both sides of the neck.
The surgeon mention that it caused by spasms. I tried acupuncture and physiotherapy which did not help so far.
When I went back to my country on 5 Sep 2023 that latest MRI report still showed impingment at C6/C7 and damage to the paraspinal muscles after surgery.
I was told by the suregeon to allow time. Now it has been 3 months with no improvement.
2 days ago I woke up in the middle of the night with burning, sting pain in both sides of the neck. I self massaged my self trying to ease the pain, but I made it worse.
Since then I have had more intense pain in my neck, pain referring to my arm, hands, fingers and feet (bad pins and needles).
Now when I turn my head I feel very stiff. There are also snapping, clicking sounds at times. When rotating neck left and right.
I can still walk and use my arms, hands despite the increased symptoms, no loss in strength, Sleep is very difficult now.
Could I have damaged my discs further by massaging on both sides of my cervical spine?
Or did I justs flare up my issues?
Will this resolve in time?
I did not think I used a lot of pressure but the symptoms now are a lots worse than last week?
I am asking because I can see my physio till next Thursday and every other physio is booked out.
Thanks
Alfred
Alfred, I am only guessing but I think it was the position of your neck and shoulder muscles when giving yourself the massage that enhanced the symptoms. I would see a chiropractor because usually you can get same day appointments. The clicking sounds like tendons trying to adjust to slight changes in vertebral alignment.
Middle of the night can be from the activities of the day, but try with neck pillows or rolled towel to get your neck in the most relaxed position before sleeping. Heat or ice 20 min, can help as can easy neck stretches.
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1 ReactionI have dealt with cervical pain since 2001, I underwent2 cervical surgeries last one removed discs and was replaced with cages and a titanium bar. My condition is caused by severe arthritis that effects my total spine. After surgeries I had some relief compared to original pain. To date I've had seven joint relacements, but the arthritis goes on causing pain. I've become inoperable and in 2012 received a morphine pumps that go directly into my spine every disc is damaged. It offers great relief for my back but does little for my neck. I'm numb in my arms and hands every day, it usually wakes me from my sleep. I use Voltaran gel on my neck and heat to help with the pain. I feel I'm in end stage arthritis and not much can be done. Have you tried Gabapentin or Celebrex? It might give some relief,
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2 ReactionsHi Morkat,
how are you?
I am sorry to hear about your condition and your bad pain.
I already tried Gabapentin and Lyrica but I am allergic to this stuff.
I have taken Celebrex intermittently because it can cause damage to the gut. Currently I am using Nortriptyline 10mg nightly. I am trying to use the minimum medication to avoid the bad side effects.
I have used opiods before but after a while they stop working.
Nortriptyline still gives me bad constipation despite drink lots of water and fibre.
This morning I woke up and I felt a stabbing pain in to lower part of the cervical spine on the left around C6/C7.
There is a massive hump there. The pain is also referring to my legs and feet with pins and needle and tightness.
There are also 2 lumps on both sides of C6/C7 near the central spinous process that, if touched or massaged they send pain, tighness signals to the legs and the feet. 2 weeks ago when my physio was massaging my neck muscles, he hit the lump on the right which caused my right leg to jerk automatically.
My neck muscles are very stiff, spasmodic.
In August 2023 I went to the Deukspine Institute in Melbourne Florida from Melbourne Australia. I was operated by DR Ara Deukmedjian who has ruined my neck. He decompressed C5-C6, C6-C7 discs to give space to the left C6/C7 nerves and bilaterally performed rhizotomies C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1.
When I woke up from the surgery I had a dropped head, very stiff neck and atrocious pain 24/7 which I still have to this day after 3 months, He told that the pain was caused by neck cramps. After 2 and half months of trying to relieve these spasms the acupunturist and the physiotherapist haven't been able to release the tension. I would not recommend this neurosurgeon to anyone. I still feel pain at C6/C7 and at the facet joints that he ablated. Dr Deukmedjian took 72k from me which was my life saving and destroyed me. He won't admit any liability.
When I got back to Australia I had another MRI which showed inflammation/burning of my paraspinal muscles and lots of oedema inflammation throughout the cervical spine. There is a sizeable hump between C6 and C7 after surgery that wasn't there before surgery.
Here in Melbourne I had 2 appointments with a neurosurgeon and orthopaedic surgeon who did not recommend fusion because it would not resolve my pain problems. They told me to do pain management which means "DRUGS".
I tried to strenghten the extensor muscles of the neck by doing appropriate excercises and gentle stretches but my head is still heavy and can't tilt it back like before surgery. There us also a problem with rotation which is more limited on the left. There is something that blocks the movement.
I daily walk around 1.5 km despite the pain, because I have been told that gentle physical activity can help.
Currently, while I am writing this message, I am feeling deep left stab in the neck, pain in the foot, massive tightness spreading through trapezius muscles, shoulders and shoulder blades. It feels as if someone is squeezing my neck from the rear and pushingme forward.
As the time passes my pain is getting worse despite self care,
I have been thinking to see a chiropractor . I am wondering hecould help better than the physiotherapist.
I have attached 2 images of my neck. The first shows my neck after surgery with a hump on it, the second image shows my neck before surgery, no hump.
Before surgery I was able to keep my head upright with a horizontal gaze.
Thank you
Best regards
Alfred
Alfred's Nov 2023 cervical thoracic MRI. Nerve sheath tumor benign and insignificant (AB-Nov-2023-cervical-thoracic-MRI.pdf)
AlfredB what your doctor meant by “it will take time” is up to conjecture but with cervical surgery I’d think more like a year or more. Consider how long it took for your neck ailment to develop? Surgery is not a quick fix and our bodies need time to heal and grow back together following the insult of surgery. You may have done something to your neck and seeing your doctor again is most likely a good thing. Take your foreign MRI report with you and better if you have the actual films for the surgeon to view is better.
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3 ReactionsThank you dear Jules for your reply.
How are you?
All MRIs were done in Australia, before and after surgery. Deukspine never provided me a discharge report with detailed operation information. I was provided just this short letter which doesn't explain much:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 31, 2023
RE: xxxxxx, Alfred `
DOB: xx/xx/1956
Diagnosis: M48.02, M54.12, M54.2,
Surgical Recommendation: Deuk Laser Disc Repair C5-C6, C6-C7; Deuk Plasma
Rhizotomy C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1; RT L4-L5, L5-S1; BL SI Joints
CPT: 22899
Treating Provider: Ara Deukmedjian- 1619079662
Outpatient Surgery Center: Surgery Center of Viera (Tax ID: 27-5172677)
Surgery Date: August 29th, 2023; August 30th, 2023
Above Patient has successfully completed their treatment plan and has been cleared for
Travel. Patient is under a 25lb lifting restriction and may require assistance with lifting
and walking or standing for extended periods.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My neck laser surgery on 08/29/23
DLDR C5-C7
Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy (DPR) B/L C5-T1
Back rhizotomies for RT L4-L5, L5-S1; BL SI Joints video not available, never published,
I had a virtual meeting with a Pain Management goup in Melbourne Australia on 12/05/23. They replied yesterday saying that they can't help me with managing my pain therefore they would refer me back to a neurosurgeon.
I already had a virtual meeting with a top neurosurgeon in Melbourne on 10/26/23. He recommended to me that a fusion surgery would not help me with the pain. This was also confirmed by an orthopaedic surgeon from the Alfred Hospital. They both told me to pursue pain management. It is like a merry go around. Pain management tells me to see a neurosurgeon who tells me to go to pain management. It is a never ending loop, it is almost hilarious.
As far as the lump goes someone told me that looks like seroma.
This is my latest cervical spine ultrasound on 16 November 2023:
Procedure Date: 16 November 2023
Report Date: 20 November 2023
Report: NECK ULTRASOUND
Clinical History:
Left posterior side stiffness and oedema, restriction of movement.
Findings:
Examination of region of interest demonstrates red and swollen area on the posterior aspect at the level of C6/7 on left side. Deep through the subcutaneous tissue in the region of interest a heterogeneous hyperechoic irregular area measuring 10 x 7 x 13mm noted. No
increased vascularity. A 2mm superficial tract is noted.
Impression:
Ultrasound appearance of the region of interest is nonspecific and could possibly reflect sequela of some low-grade infective inflammatory process. Possible small collapsed/resolving sebaceous cyst is in differential. No discrete collection or abscess.
I had a blood test to check for infection but nine was found.
Thank you
Best regards
Alfred
Since I’m not familiar with Aussie laws regarding health records but I cannot imagine the Aussie folks couldn’t send the electronic pics of MRI to the U.S. docs. I suggest you get a fax number and secure email address for the medical record department of your doctor in U.S. Either obtain a formal request for medical record from Aussie hospital where tests were performed or send them a certified letter requesting that the info be sent to the docs with the contact info you obtained. Sharing of medical X-rays is the simplest thing to do when all the paperwork is correct.
You also need to give your neck more time to heal too and yes see a pain doc to get your pain under control. Do not expect to be in no pain. Consider it a reminder that you’ve got a bad neck and had surgery so treat your neck kindly.
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4 ReactionsThank you Jules,
I have all the MRI records including the images and the reports.
I can also provide the login credentials for anyone that wants to review them.
Who should I be sending these records to? I am a little bit confused.
Thank you again.
Alfred
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1 ReactionWhom ever is going to see you for pain management should see them. I found a rehabilitation doctor who was also a pain specialist which is a perfect combination.
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