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Avatar universal

should I go ahead with the op?

I am 31. I've had a neck problem for 5 months: experiencing varying symptoms & pain. From severe pain when muscles in spasm, to mild pain, burning, pins & needles, numbness, loss of ability in my right hand at times, headaches, blurred vision. I am unable to work at present & am very limited in what I can do at present.

I have had physio 2-3 times per week for 5 months, no change.

MRI revealed that C5 needs replacing & is currently trapping a nerve & impacting on surrounding discs. I want to get better but am fearful of making it worse through surgery & at the risk of paralysis. I would appreciate some info on the risks of a dics replacement & weather or not I should go ahead with the surgery

thankyou
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Avatar universal
well here is the night mare of this surgery. I had my first on aug 5 06 and woke up feeling like i wanted to die, jerking, pain pain pain, so i would not see that dr again as he said nothing was wrong, hum the second Doctor did find alot wrong he had to remove all the first dr did and file down more bone and put it all back in on sept 11 06 like 5 weeks later. I am still dealing with the electrical shock feeling, numbness in arms and legs i feels so weak, i feel like i am going crazy with the feeling in my head and have been to numerous DR's as the surgon that did the second surgery said theres nothing further he ccan do for me, it is so they say nuropothy pain nurve pain... and i am not the only one the pain management clinic are full full of people. so are these surgeries worth it NO NO NO I would rather have the pain I had before cause now It is worse, i don't feel like living, i can not stop fucusing on this and trying to control this pain caused me to lose 3 jobs now, I was making 65,000.00 a yr before this surgery no 0000.00 nothing, no insurance, so they treat  me like i am after pain meds that i never took before the surgeries and they threw at me for 2 yrs, what a mess my life has become .... please if you do DR YAZDI is the Dr that messed me up he was thrown out of Toledo Hospital and his practice I don't know where you live but last i heard he went to Arizona but god knows where that mutilater is he left distroyed alot of lives here in toledo, ohio. good luck and check your surgon out completly before having this surgery. it can make your life hell.... it is a serious surgery.
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Avatar universal
I just had the pro disc replacement surgery for c5-c6 last friday. I am still in pain post surgical but my numbness and burning in my right arm is completely gone.  I do however still have the center area pain in my spine.  If you decide to have the surgery post- make sure you only eat soft foods after for at least 5 days.  The surgery makes you feel as though you have a knot in your throat from the swelling and gets very uncomfortable on post day 4-5.  ICe it on the outside as well as eating ice and popcycles.  This helped me tremdously.  I have Aetna and your right they pay for one replacement- also there are surgeons that do multi replacements mine does--depending on case to case basis relating to the discs above and below the bad discs to see if they can compensate.  Hope this info is helpful. Good luck to you all...
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Avatar universal
Thankyou so much for your reply, all the information & opinions I can gather before I make my decision is greatly recieved.

I suspect I will go ahead with it as I have a poor quality of life at present & I have no hope of getting better unless I do.

It's great to hear that you have recovered so well & that you are back at work. Brave person. Shocking that your injuries should occur after helping someone else. I am a midwife. Nursing & midwifery don't bode well for back and neck problems hey?!

Thanks again
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
crk
I had cervical surgery 11 months ago. I was in a car accident ,hit rom the back by a person having a cardiac arrest.  I got out and did CPR ON HIM AND HE LIVED 6 WEEKS I am a cardiac surgical RN.

I HAD ALOT OF  PAIN AFTER SURGERY, A PRETY ROUGH 6 WEEKS.  AFTER 8 WEEKS , I WAS  BACK AT WORK AND WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I HAD C3/4 C5/6 REPLACED WITH DONOR DISK AND FUSED WITHA PLATE IN PLACE. I HAVE FULL MOBILITY AND NO PAIN. I USED DR. MAYER IN SARASOTA FL. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LET DO IT. I HAVE HEARD HORROR STORIES.  I WOULD DO IT AGAIN WITH MY SURGEON, HE IS WONDERFUL.  GOOD LUCK
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