advice for the future

[theax]

may i just start by thanking everyone who contributes to this forum, the advice and help has been invaluable. I had my single level ( i was down for 2 level but my surgeon was to decide during the op) on 08/06/08. The surgery went fantastic and i was awake about 6 hrs later with no more pain in my rt shoulder (this was my major symptom for the last 3+1/2 years). i used the morphine pump approx six times, my back felt like id been hit by a bat but otherwise i was fine and relieved. i left hospital 24 hours after the op having walked up + down stairs and told my surgeon (mr papastefanou - who is a fantastic surgeon and man) that my pain had ceased. unfortunately the pain has returned (approx 2 days later)but i am hoping it is just part of the recovery as i am sore all round my back and both arm/shoulders. if anyone has any concerns about a upcoming op i would say that my pain has been a lot worse before the op and if your surgeon is as good as mine then you will be fine - honestly no one has done more to avoid surgery than myself.
My question is has anyone had similar issues with the shoulder pain returning following the op and if so has it eventually eased or disappeared. And also for over a year i have had intermittent bouts of lower back pain where my back feels folded or twisted i had an mri done and was told this would be looked at later and was of no concern but it is driving me potty and together with my other concerns i am finding it difficult to cope with the pain. i find stretching laid flat can ease it but i was/am an active 38 year old and dont want to live like this. If anyone has had similar issues (could it be due to posture or the progression of my problem - myelopathy) i would greatly appreciate any advice. Again thankyou to you all.
adr c4/c5 08/06/08

[annapurna]

Laura's had shoulder pain and C5-6 facet issues that we've had a hard time to deconvolute. It's been a few years since the surgery and still trying to figure out what the driving problem is, facets or shoulder. Her pain level is low, as it was prior to surgery, but no one is quite sure of why she's in pain.

[Jessica]

I am almost 2 years postop, with pain remaining from my neck all the way to my pinky and ring finger, and also interscapular pain. It was there preop and never went away. I had other pain that did go away and stay away (bicep, forearm and fingers).

It is now being considered symptoms from another level, C6/C7 or C6/T1, and I have been recommended for discogram and possible 2nd ADR surgery. Also mention of facet injections.

[steelskyway]

Hi Ax!

I was curious is the pain EXACTLY like what you had prior to surgery or is it located in the same vicinity but different. My original pain is gone but i just have a different feeling now.

[theax]

hello steelskyway
i have, - is it radicular pain - around my back neck shoulder, i hope im wrong but the pain in my rt shoulder feels the same as pre-op but early days yet.

[Terry]

You are so new out of surgery that this should be the least of your concerns right now. You need to give your recovery time to heal. Cervical surgery is a much better tolerated surgery as your neck does not carry as much weight as your lumbar area. You've got swelling going on post surgery and your new neck is going to take awhile to adjust. My neck hurt for a couple of months after the surgery. It still hurts occasionally if I overdo it and it's been 20 months ago for me. I have fabulous range of motion compared to pre-surgery and overall feel much better.

Hang in there and give yourself time to recover. You don't need any added stress thinking that something went wrong.

Terry Newton

[Toebin]

Originally posted by Terry:
You are so new out of surgery that this should be the least of your concerns right now. You need to give your recovery time to heal. Cervical surgery is a much better tolerated surgery as your neck does not carry as much weight as your lumbar area. You've got swelling going on post surgery and your new neck is going to take awhile to adjust. My neck hurt for a couple of months after the surgery. It still hurts occasionally if I overdo it and it's been 20 months ago for me. I have fabulous range of motion compared to pre-surgery and overall feel much better.

Hang in there and give yourself time to recover. You don't need any added stress thinking that something went wrong.

Terry Newton

Hi Theax,

I totally agree with Terry here. You've still got a lot of stuff going on being fresh from the surgery. Give it a bit of time before you start worrying about the pain not going away. Your nerves have to get used to not being pinched and all the muscles are adjusting as well.

Think of the positive side of things, the surgery went well, you tolerated it great and the healing has just begun !!

If you continue to have the pain a few months down the road I'm sure your docs will look into it more.

[theax]

Thanks for the advice - i know i am probably a born worrier but with the lower back problem i just cant get comfortable and guess i add to the problems by worrying.
i see the problems other people have and consider myself lucky. Good luck to each and every one of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
If anyone has advice for lower back problems it would be appreciated, i would like to avoid more surgery if at all possible. Thankyou.

[mmarsh]

Theax

Do you do any stretches to keep the lower back loose? If not you should start them ASAP. You need to stretch your hamstrings and quads and also you calves. A side to side stretch would also be good. Try to remain as calm as you can, these stretches should loosen you up enough to sleep. Best to you.

Missy

[Toebin]

Originally posted by theax:
Thanks for the advice - i know i am probably a born worrier but with the lower back problem i just cant get comfortable and guess i add to the problems by worrying.
i see the problems other people have and consider myself lucky. Good luck to each and every one of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
If anyone has advice for lower back problems it would be appreciated, i would like to avoid more surgery if at all possible. Thankyou.

Agreed, stretching helps a lot as does just walking. One of the best things you can do with the lower back it to just walk.

theax, I am a year post op on a cervical fusion C5/6-C6/7 but I also have 3 bad disks in my lower back that I have not had surgery on and don't intend to. Walking is the thing that keeps everything in order with my low back. When I don't stretch and walk is when I run in to trouble. I've had 2 bouts of significant pain from the lower back and each time an epidural injection has solved the issue, and each time I had slacked off on walking prior to the pain coming back. I've seen my pattern there , lol.. so I try to keep up with things now

The important thing for you right now is to heal from your surgery and listen to your body.. I wish you all the best !!