cervical and lumbar problems

[careermom1]

I will be seeing a neuro surgeon soon.  My recent MRI revealed degenerative changes with neural foraminal stenosis @ c4/c5 bilaterally but worse on the right side and neural foraminal stenosis at c6/c7 on the left.  Also there is disc bulging atL2-3, L4-5 and anterior disc protrusion L5-S1.  I am an active 42 y.o female.  I have had my share of physical therapy.  I also had 2 spinal epidural injections. To be honest, I am ready for surgery if this will help my numbness, tingling and pain!  Any one out there with a history like mine or has anyone had surgery for these problems?  If so, I would appreciate any feedback!

[noneck]

Hi;
I am fused from C3 thru T2 in the neck. 8 weeks ago they removed the back of my neck and replaced it with rods. I have had L5/S1 fusion also, it took almost 9 months to feel better from the back surgery. Neck surgeries are different than back surgeries. Usually with surgeries like these in the neck or back should clear up the arm or leg problems but as the writer above said sometimes they need time to heel. All together 10 spine fusion have been done on me, so maybe the 10th is the charm I'm looking for. so far the major neck reconstruction surgery has reduced my pain and my neck doesn't feel out of place anymore, that's big! It's been only 8 weeks and couldn't feel better considering what was done to me. Yes I have my bad days and just get through them the best I can and hope tomorrow is better, one day at a time. Sounds like you should start with your neck and wait for results from surgery and how you liked or how the dr. performed the surgery. Did he listen to you after surgery? If none of this occurred find another surgeon who will listen, remember they will all listen to you while selling (yes surgeons are salesmen also) their surgery, then all listening stops, that seems to be normal with surgeons. You seem to have tried conservative treatments, that is a plus when seeing surgeons. Remember that these kinds of surgery can require up to 12 month for recovery, During this time dr. will not listen to problems they will say wait and see it's too soon to tell. If you do decide to have surgery ask if they are going to fuse the front or back of the spine, for multiple levels I would not do it unless the doctor will perform both front and back fusions. I started to feel better when they did both, If you do only the front or back then you will have a half a fusion. Above all remember that fusion cause more fusions!

Hope I Help

[sworks04]

I've been through them all.  My first lumbar laminectomy as in 2000 at L3/L4, my second was in 2002 at L4/L5.  Both gave instant relief to pain & numbness.  It was an amazing turnaround - both were outpatient surgeries.

I'm two weeks out of an anterior discectomy at C6/C7.  The neurosurgeon fused the 2.  So far, the instant relief has not been like the lumbar surgeries.  I still have significant numbness & tingling (mostly right side) and the nerve pain comes & goes.  Today it was relatively uncomfortable.  Dr. says it may take 6-12 mos. for the nerves to recover.

I did begin each episode with weeks of PT/ Epidural injections/ Pain Killers, Accupuncture, etc...none of these brought any relief.  I recommend the surgery, hopefully 3rd times a charm in my case.