1. < Spine Health

Cervical disk replacement surgery: What helps with the pain?

Posted by grandmaR @grandmar, Jun 4, 2022

Hi All!
About 4 years ago, I have disk replacement surgery.
C5/6 was replaced and the recovery was very easy (certainly easier than L3/4 X-Lift Fusion).
I've been having pain issues over the last year (or so).
MRI has shown that other disks are not in great shape, I have arthritis and bone spurs.
To top it off, I am growing bones that are fusing by the replacements, something it shouldn't be doing.
Sadly, the 'representative' from the insurance company is NOT approving surgery to remove the artificial disks.
Only 1% of the people who have this surgery has issues, and I am one of them.
Anyway, just wondering if there is another 1% patient who has gone through the same thing.
Right now, I take injections and I'm in PT (something the insurance company insisted upon).
If anything, it hurts more, but what do I know??? lol
Here's to a pain-free weekend, all!
Ronnie
GRANDMAr

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Aug 29, 2022
In reply to @sheredwrds "Thanks so much for responding and please let me say that I’m so sorry to hear..." + (show)
@sheredwrds

Thanks so much for responding and please let me say that I’m so sorry to hear that you lost your husband. I hope you have a support system to help?

Well, so far I’ve gone a few days without a headache. I’ve read the results from my latest MRI and CT scan and there does not seem to be any issue with the discs. My neck is full of foraminal stenosis and severe arthrosis and some bulging of my C4 disc which I’m sure will need to be dealt with down the road. As for now I’m not experiencing any radiculopathy or extreme issues as I did before my 2 level disc replacement. I’ll speak with my surgeon tomorrow and get his take on my CT scan results and see if he sees anything weird with the disc that would be causing the notching I feel when turning my head. He also has suggested a neurologist to help with these headaches. When I see the condition of my neck the headaches could be coming from so many things, it was just weird that they started at the same time I started to feel the notching (clicking). My lumbar L4-5 is another issue and can be resolved with a disc clean up surgery. That area has caused numb toes, pain on the top of my feet and pain in what feels like every little bone in my feet. Occasional numbness down my leg.

This has all been a shock to me as I’m not someone who suffered for years with a bad back. I figured my neck was some arthritis coming on earlier than normal. Holy cow was I surprised when my MRI of cervical and lumbar came back in 2021. 😵‍💫

I hope you get an answer soon from your insurance co. Would injections help you at this point?

Jump to this post

Hi
Thanks for your condolences. I am very fortunate to have a terrific support system.
I've had issues for years and the surgeries did help.
My insurance company rejected my request for an MRI of my shoulder to see if the arm pain is coming from my cervical spine or a separate shoulder issue. They say I need 6 weeks PT. Each time I go for PT, I have worse pain than before. My doctor needs to do a peer to peer phone conference to fight their refusal.
I've been talking shots and they no longer help, that is why I am pursuing surgery, again. Time will tell.
Hope things are moving along well for you.
Ronnie

REPLY
1 reply
jojo58 | @jojo58 | Aug 30, 2022
In reply to @sheredwrds "Thanks so much for responding and please let me say that I’m so sorry to hear..." + (show)
@sheredwrds

Thanks so much for responding and please let me say that I’m so sorry to hear that you lost your husband. I hope you have a support system to help?

Well, so far I’ve gone a few days without a headache. I’ve read the results from my latest MRI and CT scan and there does not seem to be any issue with the discs. My neck is full of foraminal stenosis and severe arthrosis and some bulging of my C4 disc which I’m sure will need to be dealt with down the road. As for now I’m not experiencing any radiculopathy or extreme issues as I did before my 2 level disc replacement. I’ll speak with my surgeon tomorrow and get his take on my CT scan results and see if he sees anything weird with the disc that would be causing the notching I feel when turning my head. He also has suggested a neurologist to help with these headaches. When I see the condition of my neck the headaches could be coming from so many things, it was just weird that they started at the same time I started to feel the notching (clicking). My lumbar L4-5 is another issue and can be resolved with a disc clean up surgery. That area has caused numb toes, pain on the top of my feet and pain in what feels like every little bone in my feet. Occasional numbness down my leg.

This has all been a shock to me as I’m not someone who suffered for years with a bad back. I figured my neck was some arthritis coming on earlier than normal. Holy cow was I surprised when my MRI of cervical and lumbar came back in 2021. 😵‍💫

I hope you get an answer soon from your insurance co. Would injections help you at this point?

Jump to this post

The only injection that works at this point is in the occipital nerve. It lasts about 3 months. The stenosis is very severe and should be dealt with soon. If not I could wind up in a wheelchair miserable with severe head pain. I go to a neurologist/head Dr on the 19th of September. I’ve already seen a note from them in my online portal to stop taking my Duloxitine. This is one med that has actually helped. I will keep taking it till I find out why. Seems both of us are in a fix. My cervical spine is compressed with pinched nerves, occipital neuralgia, severe stenosis, bulging disc C2-C-3. I never knew there was anything wrong with my neck until a car accident. Yes, I have a lawyer and lawsuit against the lawn company driver hit me. But I won’t see anything from that until surgery is done and basically finished with what I need.

REPLY
1 reply
Sherri | @sheredwrds | Aug 30, 2022
In reply to @grandmar "Hi Thanks for your condolences. I am very fortunate to have a terrific support system. I've..." + (show)
@grandmar

Hi
Thanks for your condolences. I am very fortunate to have a terrific support system.
I've had issues for years and the surgeries did help.
My insurance company rejected my request for an MRI of my shoulder to see if the arm pain is coming from my cervical spine or a separate shoulder issue. They say I need 6 weeks PT. Each time I go for PT, I have worse pain than before. My doctor needs to do a peer to peer phone conference to fight their refusal.
I've been talking shots and they no longer help, that is why I am pursuing surgery, again. Time will tell.
Hope things are moving along well for you.
Ronnie

Jump to this post

It’s very odd that they make you go through PT before an MRI. How ridiculous! Although they did do that with me when I needed another steroid shot for my neck several years ago. Thankfully this Ins co. didn’t pull that when it was time for surgery or MRI’s and scans I’ve gotten in the last few weeks.
Insurance companies cause unnecessary pain and suffering.

REPLY
Sherri | @sheredwrds | Aug 30, 2022
In reply to @jojo58 "The only injection that works at this point is in the occipital nerve. It lasts about..." + (show)
@jojo58

The only injection that works at this point is in the occipital nerve. It lasts about 3 months. The stenosis is very severe and should be dealt with soon. If not I could wind up in a wheelchair miserable with severe head pain. I go to a neurologist/head Dr on the 19th of September. I’ve already seen a note from them in my online portal to stop taking my Duloxitine. This is one med that has actually helped. I will keep taking it till I find out why. Seems both of us are in a fix. My cervical spine is compressed with pinched nerves, occipital neuralgia, severe stenosis, bulging disc C2-C-3. I never knew there was anything wrong with my neck until a car accident. Yes, I have a lawyer and lawsuit against the lawn company driver hit me. But I won’t see anything from that until surgery is done and basically finished with what I need.

Jump to this post

You’ve never had disc replacement or surgery yet?

REPLY
1 reply
jojo58 | @jojo58 | Aug 31, 2022
In reply to @sheredwrds "You’ve never had disc replacement or surgery yet?" + (show)
@sheredwrds

You’ve never had disc replacement or surgery yet?

Jump to this post

No I have not. I have company provided insurance but I have to pay for everything upfront or they won’t do. I also need some dental work done first which I also have to pay upfront. I don’t have that kind of money laying around. Here lately I’ve been losing my voice and feel like my throat is tight. I wonder if that’s part of it. It’s not a goiter, I have hypothyroidism and it’s gone with meds.

REPLY
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