So, I had my telehealth with Dr. Fox from Mayo/ Jax. It went about how I expected with the exception that he prefers going in from the back using rods instead of from the front (ACDF) and using plates. Also, I would end up being fused from C3 through T1 which doesn’t sound so great but if that is what it takes, I guess. Now for the hard decisions… That is an additional level from what other docs have said but Dr. Fox thinks that this will position best to not have to have more surgeries so I am all for that even if the initial surgery and recovery may not be as easy.
PT kicked me out after 7 or 8 sessions because I wasn’t showing any improvement, however, I stuck with the home exercises and the day before my appt. I woke up virtually pain free for the first time in about 6 months! So far, I am still a lot more pain free then I was before PT but now the question is, will it last? I still have cervicogenic headaches, stiffness and numbness in the back of the arm and fingers of my left hand but for now it is way more manageable. I know I will need to ask my surgeon this question but wanted to get others input as well based on their experience/things they have been told by their docs.
At what point should the numbness and tingling start to worry me? Or is it mainly whether I can manage the associated pain or not? I don’t want to get surgery again unless other things aren’t helping but I also don’t want to risk permanent damage.
In my pea brain, I think that it is the vertebrae above and below slipping out of place (noted in the xray/mri summary) that is causing the most issues rather than the bulging discs and osteophyte complexes. And, if that is correct then I’ll just have to wait and see how often that happens and how long it lasts when it does happen.
Thanks for any input or “food for thought” anyone can provide and I hope you all have a great day without pain! (Or at least manageable… )