Aa
R-arm pain returning after C4-5 & C5-6 diskectomy/fusion.
Howdy! On July 09, 2009, I had C4-5 and C5-6 fused and all 4 vertebras had foraminal canal stenosis secondary to uncovertebral joint hypertrophies (bone spurs, I guess) that were "cleaned out" according to my surgeon's P.A.. Prior to surgery I spent a couple of months with severe right arm pain (lightning bolt pain and burning, felt like started between the bicep and bone, extending beyond my fingers). Post surgery, I've felt GREAT! The pain was completely gone for about 4 months.
I'm in physical therapy twice a week, and over the past 4 visits I'm starting to feel a burning sensation along the back of my right arm, covering most of the tricepts, down to my elbow. This pain is becoming fairly steady and constant, after about 2 weeks of being intermittent. One of the exercises they have me doing is "radial nerve flossing," where I'm rotating my right hand palm out, raising my arm a little bit, and tilting my head to the left. I feel pain in my forearm and along my triceps during the movement, and it takes several minutes to fade afterwards. All the therapists were surprised at how little motion it took to elicit the pain, and keep telling me that the fusion can take about a year to "settle down." I am also using a device, an Orthofix Cervical-Stim, to electromagnetically stimulate bone growth in the fusions, for 4 hours a day.
My concern is this: After being pain-free for almost 4 months after surgery (aside from typical surgery-site pain that's almost totally gone now), should I be expecting the pain to begin building back? Am I rubbing the nerves and possibly damaging them by doing the exercises from my therapist? Is it possible that the Cervical-Stim device is encouraging the bone spurs to grow back faster, too? I do have an appointment with the P.A. who assisted in surgery, on Nov. 25. I would appreciate any info so I could have an intelligent discussion with him about this. Thank you!
I'm in physical therapy twice a week, and over the past 4 visits I'm starting to feel a burning sensation along the back of my right arm, covering most of the tricepts, down to my elbow. This pain is becoming fairly steady and constant, after about 2 weeks of being intermittent. One of the exercises they have me doing is "radial nerve flossing," where I'm rotating my right hand palm out, raising my arm a little bit, and tilting my head to the left. I feel pain in my forearm and along my triceps during the movement, and it takes several minutes to fade afterwards. All the therapists were surprised at how little motion it took to elicit the pain, and keep telling me that the fusion can take about a year to "settle down." I am also using a device, an Orthofix Cervical-Stim, to electromagnetically stimulate bone growth in the fusions, for 4 hours a day.
My concern is this: After being pain-free for almost 4 months after surgery (aside from typical surgery-site pain that's almost totally gone now), should I be expecting the pain to begin building back? Am I rubbing the nerves and possibly damaging them by doing the exercises from my therapist? Is it possible that the Cervical-Stim device is encouraging the bone spurs to grow back faster, too? I do have an appointment with the P.A. who assisted in surgery, on Nov. 25. I would appreciate any info so I could have an intelligent discussion with him about this. Thank you!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Back & Neck Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
