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1290319 tn?1275618398

I am wondering what my opions are for my neck and back issues

I had a MRI done back 2/18/10. My drs are having me go see a sugreon and I am in the process of seeing one. I just want to see what are the opions going to be for me. This is the report. At C3-C4 there is left unvocertebral hypertrophy and mild left foraminal stenosis. There is no central or right foraminal stenosis.  At C4-5 there is a moderate to large central disc protrusion causing mild indetation of the vertral aspect of the spinal cord. There is no cord edema. There is no cental or foraminal stenosis. At C5-6 and C6-7 There are minimal posterior osteophyte/disc complexes. there is no central or forminal stenosis.

At the other levels in the cervical spine, there is no disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Cervical spine alignment and signal intensities are normal. The cervical spinal cord is normal in position size and signal intensities. The cervicomedullary junction and the visualized upper thoracic spinal cord are normal

C4-C5 morderate to large central disc protrusion causing mild indentation of the ventral aspect of the spinal cord. No cord edema.

C5-6 and C6-7 minimal posterior osteophyte/disc complexes.

I also want to make sense of all. Thank you for ur time  
17 Responses
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Avatar universal
Good luck tomorrow.  I just got my MRI results a little over a week ago.....so just heading down this path........best wishes!!!
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Avatar universal
Your thread's become pretty popular. I guess tomorrow's the big day.
Hope everything goes well and our Thoughts and Prayers will be with you.
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Avatar universal
Yes mrsespada, I hope ur surgery is uneventful and u heal without much pain!! *hugs*
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Avatar universal
I too, was suppose to quit like 4-6 weeks before my surgery. It just wasn't happening despite my best efforts. I finally succeeded 3 1/2 weeks AFTER surgery. Last drag was Maech 19th. Been over 2 months now, and I ain't EVER gonna become enslaved again to the tobacco industry and willingly add to my own demise!!!! I wish u bothe the best:)
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1328256 tn?1275035895
Quitting  smoking is  absolutely  imperitive to the sucess  of  A Fusion surgery  HMM says  Fusion . I am  Going to offr one more  Alternative to old  Gave and  bone  Fusion its an Artificial Disk  you retain full * a bit motion of the spine  as anothr said the MRI oly hinted at one bad point .  MY Artificial  Disks at C 23 56 are   wonderfull  I have  more flexion than I had before and  the    safety factor is  far better than a cage  And  bone  .  


Best wishes peter
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Avatar universal
Its good to hear a positive story for change, I hope your recovery continues to go well.

Take Care
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Avatar universal
I too was scared prior to my surgery on May 13, 2010.  I had a c6/7 disc herniation subsequent to someone rearending my car on July 6, 2009.  Typical cervical radiculopathy issues with pain, weakness, atrophy, etc. in left arm.  All methods of conservative treatment didn't make my condition any better.

The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL did the ACDF procedure.  When in Pre-Op, I was sweating from fear so much that the nurse noted it.  I was in fear... because I was reading people's complaints on internet boards.  I guess it's one of those issues where people are quick to complain but not to praise.  I'm 47 but have been very active all of my life.  The accident caused me to stop exercising because of the pain I'd feel later on.

The day following surgery, I was able to stand up from a chair without saying, "Oy!" and was no longer walking around with a limp.  Yes, I have pain in my spine after the accident that wasn't there previously... but I'm told it's due to the trauma of the operation and will dissipate over time.  But the pain I feel now is NOTHING compared to what I had before the surgery.  It is a nuisance but is not crippling like before.

It's a bummer that I have a plate with 4 screws in my neck.  It's a bummer I wasn't a candidate for the ProDisc or Prestige Disc.  But I'm already VERY happy with the ACDF results and people can note my happiness in the tone of my voice.
My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner, and I'm looking forward to even less pain (like the surgeon stated) as the weeks and months go on.

Suggest you see this video from Mayo about a patient's ACDF procedure.  It also has my surgeon in it.  The patient was/is a member of the U.S. Waterskiing Team.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPakjgshiIw    Good things do come from an ACDF!

Mayo also uses the technique outlined in this news article entitled, "Mayo Discovers Safer Spinal Surgery Technique."   http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/12/08/daily23.html

I am thus far 100% convinced that the ACDF will make me stronger than otherwise possible.  It has already had a positive, and relatively immediate, result!

Best to all who read this.
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Avatar universal
It's normal to be scared, I was scared too and men aren't supposed to admit when their scared. Their not going to mess up don't worry about that. I know your still going to worry, but don't worry so much. One thing you have to realize is that its going to take a little while to feel better after you go through this, and your going to hurt and be sore, especially right after. But you will slowly begin to feel better, and eventually it will be a great improvement over the pain you're in now.

Take Care
Helpful - 0
1290319 tn?1275618398
I am so glad I found this site. It has helped me alot. And the more and more closer it gets to the D day I am getting alittle more scared. I am not sure what the accept out of the surgery. I do understand that the tech has gone up in medicine but still its scary they are working on the spine and if they mess that up I run a risk that I may not be able to walk agian. I know it me just being nevres and I will be ok. But those do come in mind. Thank you and i will keep you updated when I am to. June 1 a week and a day away. hopeful I  will be  pain free.

Thank you you Take care yourself.
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Avatar universal
You know, I just recently learned that you're supposed to stop smoking a little while before surgery. I didn't know that and no one bothered to tell me. When I had my back surgery 8 years ago, I smoked right up till that one too. I guess I'm lucky I fused in both cases. Sounds like you just about got it, and that you really want to quit. That makes a big difference, I really didn't want to stop, Its one of the few vices I have left. I just did it because I had to.

You don't have to thank me for anything, I'm here because I enjoy it and I'm always happy if I can help. I wish I would have found this board before my surgeries, I had so many questions. When a person wants to know about neck or back pain, I found that the best thing you could do is to talk to someone that's already been through it. Doctors can give you all the clinical info and that's important too, but its not the same as talking to someone that has experienced it. If you don't post before your surgery, I hope everthing goes well for you.

Take Care
Helpful - 0
1290319 tn?1275618398
Oh Man I hear ya. I doing ok with the quitting. So far Once a day I have a huge freak out. And my husband is doing his best too just finding some way of not quitting himself. I told him its only right you told me that you would and it not showing your support when you take a couple hull from someone and then just act like I am going to sit there and not feel hurt. I know its hard for the both of us. I have really cut down from 1/2 pack a day to couple hulls here and there in the last past two days. I do want to be smoke free by Tuesday so that way I have no problems with the surgery. I  Swear they only make it a 25% chance of the fusing not taking just to get people to quit lol. I am just hoping this time of quitting I stick with forever. I swear I AM TRYING. Never thought it was going to be this hard. Thanks for all you advice and encouragment. It really does help. Thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It like your already stressed from the pain and the upcoming surgery, and then you have to quit smoking on top of it. I smoked till the day before, I was just too stressed, I couldn't quit. And after surgery I quit till my neck fused which was about 3 months and then I started again. I hope you have better luck than me.

I hope your surgery goes well and keep in touch!
Helpful - 0
1290319 tn?1275618398
I just saw the surgeon on the 12th and he recommended surgery. now I have to quit smoking which is hard. but its for a good cause. I have to get an other MRI, blood work and Chest XRay before the first of June. We are on for the the first of June if everything goes well with my testing and I can stay smoke free. I been doing ok today but starting cavings up and trying to stay away from it. Plus with the prices of cigraettes going up its time to quit to save the pockets. Thank you agian.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you tried chiropractic care, acupuncture, physical therapy, cervical traction, cervical injections, etc? Like kalvin said, I would try everything under the sun first before attempting surgery. I wish you the best, I know neck pain can be debilitating!! Take care:)
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Avatar universal
If nothing has helped, then surgery might be your best option. I have a lot of neck problems too, so I know what you're going through. Has your surgeon recommended surgery?

Five years ago I had a neck procedure done that is probably very similar to the surgery they would be recommending to you. The recovery is rough, and it won't take away all your pain, but it will help. If you have any questions just let me know.

Take Care
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1290319 tn?1275618398
Thank you for your advice. I have severe pain in the neck. My arm and leg will go numb for a couple mins about 10x a day. I been on four different meds and they had me using some excrises to help and nothing is helping. I still try to do everything that they had me started back in Feb and until this day I am in severe pain and I deal the numbness everyday. I do not know what else to do.  Thank you agian
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Avatar universal
With exception of the mild cord compression at C4-5, your MRI report really isn't all that bad in my opinion. How severe is your pain?

If your Doctor's sending you to see a Surgeon, then he/she must feel that you might be a candidate for surgery. You didn't say anything in your post about the different treatments you have tried. Typical, patients generally exhaust all conservative treatments, such as P.T and injections, before considering surgery.

Take Care
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