C3-T2 PCDF Recovery observations

Hi, @davidh71. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

All you described with your recovery - the breaking your nose when you went to scratch it, plus your inability to write, tie shoes, use a knife and fork or a cup without a handle sound rough.

Did the surgeons comment on whether all you've experienced in your recovery falls within the normal range for postsurgical status following your November surgery?

@lisalucier
Thus far of the (3) surgeonns no one has defined a "Normal recovery period". The common reply is "patience"

Wow. Sorry to hear this. The thing I learned from my experience after a spinal cord injury during surgery is to get another opinion from a surgeon who has nothing to do with the surgeons you’ve been dealing with. There are experts out there. Maybe if you contact a lawyer, she/he could put you in touch with that kind of a surgeon.
I was so engrossed in recovery that I didn’t do this, and I regret it.

@mpritch
Excellent suggestion. Thank you

Is it standard conduct of neurosurgeons to take zero responsibility for patient care other than their cutting skills?

I had a “perfect” cervical C5-6 fusion in March. My experience is the same. More pain and weakness post surgery, vertigo (per RN not related), and when I inquire about suspicious issues such as itchy spots, random needle-like pain in my legs, arms, back - the “team” dismisses this as normal, takes time, and shows no concern to provide me with coping measures or other things to expect.

What should I expect after cervical fusion surgery? What is causing these strange issues that come and go?

My journey has been a direct go to surgery, no alternatives or a specialist I can talk with specific to Spinal Stenosis.

Ideas?

Hi @michc56 - sorry to hear you are not feeling concern from your neurosurgical team or being provided coping measures or what to expect.

Having suspicious issues such as itchy spots, random needle-like pain in my legs, arms and back would be disconcerting to me.

Fellow members in this discussion such as @mpritch @davidh71 may have input for you on whether they've experienced something similar with their surgical teams. If so, they may have ideas on how they've navigated it. @jenniferhunter also may have insights for you.

Which of the suspicious symptoms you mentioned are bothering you today?

@michc56 I believe that I'll go the "acceptance/litigation" route and rely on the settlement from litigation to provde the abilty to hire/contract all those things I can no longer do for myself. Surgeons are just that.

@lisalucier No feeling below the waist. Parathesia and lack of manual dexterity R&L hand loss of strength in R. Arm/Shoulder. Thank God I am not Fecal or Urinary incontinent.

@davidh71 I want to clarify that I was not suggesting litigation. I was saying that maybe a lawyer could give you the name of an expert not connected in any way to the people you were working with medically and that expert could answer your questions.
You have to prove negligence in order to win a malpractice case and there is a two-year statute of limitations

@lisalucier
Today is sore upper right arm, and general fatique. Yesterday it was sharp quick pains in my upper thigh - at different times in each leg, I keep reading what I can find on the internet. These seem to be common enough post surgery.

My point is that I would expect the surgeon's team of RNs and PAs to provide more information on what I might experience. They take 5-10 minutes to review X-Rays for hardward positioning, measure my arm strength (press against their hands - so precise ha ha). Physical Therapy helped me over removal of neck brace to regain strength in neck and shoulder muscles so I could turn more freely. That was it!

I would like to know more about how nerves rejuvenate and how to maximize the recovery. Nadda.