HI and welcome to the Chiari forum.
U mentioned u had disk degeneration and had a fusion, but do u also have Chiari? I am wondering as that is what this forum is for, and we tend to deal with all the issues we encounter along with it.
With ur disk issues, and allergies, I would suggest looking into Ehlers-Danlos*...as it can affect the disks and cause us to have allergies to meds and even latex, and other substances.
EDS* is a related condition to Chiari, but some can have it and not have Chiari....so I am just wondering if u have had ne other DX's?
I have been fused from C3-T2 with plates, screws, and rods. After the surgery, I thought things were fixed and I was feeling pretty good. I had three separate surgeries (long story!!), the final one being from the back going down into and including T2. The original problem fixed, I believe, however, in the past 6 months or so, I have experienced teh EXACT same things you're talking about. Grinding, cracking, feeling like bone on bone, crunching, (I like the way you put it about the sand).....my neurosurgeon says my xrays look perfect and it's fusing just fine. He does not seem to want to address the crunching, grinding questions I have. I also see a pain dr. He says whenever he has heard those complaints after a fusion like mine, it has always turned out to be a loose screw or a screw that has shifted. So I've made another appt with the neurosurgeon and am going to demand the type of xrays the pain guy told me to get. So, I guess we'll see. I just know after 3 neck surgeries, I'm NOT exactly open to the idea of another. Not sure what else can be done, except to continue seeing the pain guy. To make matter worse, in MY situation, I am HIGHLY allergic to injectable steroids. Full blown anaphylactic reaction. So I cannot have any steroids injected to calm things down. It's a mess that I wish I'd have never started in the first place. Except that my discs were so degenerated (at age 36) that they HAD to be removed. So, I feel your pain, literally, and can only advise you check with your doctor for a COMPLETE set of xrays to make sure your hardware is all where it should be and in tact. Good luck to you!
Not knowing from my own experience I have no idea ....but I have not heard of this happening.Could be u have some calcium deposits building up.
"selma"
I am not in contact with TCI, so I plan to call my GP, who has kept me together for years. I have also considered the scar tissue issue. If it didn't sound like grinding bone so much, I wouldn't be so concerned. I just wonder if, over time. and wear and tear, if the vertebrae bones around the screw hole could break and leave the screw just floating and moving incorrectly. It feels very odd, compared to anything else that has happened in there. I have had scar tissue issues before, but this is different.
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
I am not too familiar with Sjogren's Syndrome except I know it can cause dryness of the nose, eyes and other areas of the body...it makes me wonder if it has dried out the cushion btwn the vertebra and that is what u hear.
Have u talked with ur Dr in regards to this?...I have not had the fusion, but it was advised and I also have EDS.....
Since u have EDS, I also wonder if it could be scar tissue that has built up since the surgery.....
"selma"