It’s always something

smoochy · ‎03-10-2010

I'm learning not to be surprised at the medical things that keep popping up. My seventies have been marked by these. Today's news is that I need neck surgery. Specifically a cervical discectomy and vertebral fusion. Aug 24. Doc says the relentless shoulder and arm pain I've had for six months will be relieved. I'm greatly looking forward to being pain free once I've recovered from surgery. Have any of you had this surgery and what was your experience?

SPARTY FAN

KittySoftPaws · ‎07-21-2020

You didn't mention, and my question is, do your Doctor's know what is causing that constant arm and shoulder pain? I am always wary, because so many just treat the symptoms and not the cause which can then bring with it it's own set of problems. And surgery in that area, and in general is nothing to approach lightly, which I'm sure you are not.

arizona babe · ‎05-05-2010

@smoochy I sure do know what you are talking about, I too am in my 70's just got over covid and now on antibiotics for pneumonia- as for your neck I had that surgery at C5-C6 because the disc was blown however he did not fuse it as he said it would do that on its own- hopefully you have had an MRI that shows the disc is blown, if it is just herniated that its not a reason to remove the vertebrae- I saw a neurosurgeon instead of an ortho guy- as a former RN I know that the older you get surgery is not always the best route to take unless it is an emergency- have you tried a chiropractor? acupuncture? or even physical therapy- proceed with caution that is all I can say

spumoni99 · ‎02-16-2019

Years ago I had shoulder/arm pain with numb finger tips, it was a pinched nerve, it was horrible pain. I finally was referred to physical therapy and he had me stretch my neck with a contraption I put on a door knob and layed down next to, I finally got relief.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I had all of my cervical spine vertebrae bones removed (from the base of my skull to the top of my shoulders) and reconstructed with bone replacements made from a special sea coral they used in a type of moldable clay where they hand-formed the individual cervical bones into their natural shapes, placed them into my neck and secured them with lots of screws. I was in surgery for about 13 hours.

I had to have that surgery done b/c there was a mass found along my cervical spine that was causing bone destruction and collapse. The cause was not known but I was in grave danger of becoming paralyzed from my neck down if not for surgery. The pain was so unbearable for several months prior to the surgery. I thought of suicide to end my suffering. But TG I found a doctor to help me. I really don't know what I would have done if not for that doctor...no, I do know what I would have done and it's not good.

I am pain free today but I have limited mobility in my neck. I would rather die than to have to live with the pain I went through prior to the surgery...and I'm not lying.

ETA-

As for recovery, there really wasn't any. I was out the day after surgery and went home with pain meds they gave me but I never took them b/c I had no pain to speak of. The worst part was the back of my head was shaved and it looked awful back there.

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@SilleeMee May I ask how long ago that surgery was?

Goodie2shoes · ‎04-30-2012

Well I will be 74 next month if I'm blessed to see it but I've never had any cervical or lumbar surgery. My issues have been knees! Left knee replacement ( I was 65) but 2 right knee replacements ( first one at 69 got infected due to diabetes and I was 70 for the redo) I wish you a speedy recovery with minimal discomfort.

smoochy · ‎03-10-2010

@KittySoftPaws wrote:
You didn't mention, and my question is, do your Doctor's know what is causing that constant arm and shoulder pain? I am always wary, because so many just treat the symptoms and not the cause which can then bring with it it's own set of problems. And surgery in that area, and in general is nothing to approach lightly, which I'm sure you are not.

my MRI shows severe stenosis and a bulging disc

SPARTY FAN

smoochy · ‎03-10-2010

@arizona babe wrote:
@smoochy I sure do know what you are talking about, I too am in my 70's just got over covid and now on antibiotics for pneumonia- as for your neck I had that surgery at C5-C6 because the disc was blown however he did not fuse it as he said it would do that on its own- hopefully you have had an MRI that shows the disc is blown, if it is just herniated that its not a reason to remove the vertebrae- I saw a neurosurgeon instead of an ortho guy- as a former RN I know that the older you get surgery is not always the best route to take unless it is an emergency- have you tried a chiropractor? acupuncture? or even physical therapy- proceed with caution that is all I can say

all conservative measures have been tried and failed. I don't believe in chiropractic or acupuncture. PT was tried without success. My doctor also said we are past the point of an epidural steroid injection. My condition is quite advanced.

SPARTY FAN