Cervical 5/6

JudyW · #1 07-23-2008, 11:46 PM

I am now an unhappy member of the cervical club. I am seven days from my one year ADR L4-5, which I consider to have been successful. I have been having trouble with my neck and finally saw a pain mgmt doctor. Never thought it was anything big. Think again. Guess I have spondylosis at C5-6 (sound familiar, I have it at L5-S1 also). On the xray it was a very small disc space also and my spine at the neck from the side was completely straight...guess it's suppose to have a curve. Great!!! I tried two weeks of PT-traction but it didn't really help. He wants to do an injection now. This is ridiculous. A whole new topic I have to become an expert of.

Toebin · #2 07-24-2008, 12:56 AM

Judy,

Ya know our goal is to have this cervical club get so small that the last member turns out the lights when they leave.. Honest, you don't need to join the group to make us happy..

On a serious note I hope they get to the bottom of it all and you feel better very soon. I know you've already gone through the gambit with your lower back and have paid all the dues you should ever have to...

God Speed and Blessings

cathydownunder · #3 07-25-2008, 12:52 AM

Oh dear Judy, you seem to following the same path as me. Don't go there!!
I agree that if we.ve got DDD in the lumbar it's not surprising that it'll be elsewhere.
My cervical issues also seem to have materialised since surgery or maybe they're just more noticeable now.?
I'm having bilateral C3/4 facet injections next Thurs after an MRI Mon. I'll let you know how it goes.
Just a thought.....my cervical X rays didn't show much wrong yet the C.T.scan tells a different story. I'm expecting the MRI to really let us know what's going on with the discs. I recommend you have at least a C.T. if you can and not rely solely on the X ray, or the radiologist's interpretation, as I've also found the reports to be sometimes a bit hazy.
Cathy

JudyW · #4 07-25-2008, 08:37 PM

Since this isn't workers comp on my neck everything is moving SO much smoother. My doctor did ask if I wanted to have the MRI first or go ahead with the injections. I've had so many MRI's recently, back/shoulder and just had a CT scan on my abdomen. I said to go ahead with the injections. He also wants to do an EMG since I have some pain down my right arm only to my elbow. Could be from my shoulder tear or my neck. I guess we'll see

maz · #5 08-11-2008, 12:47 PM

Hi Judy I am sorry to hear that you are having cervical trouble after such success with your lumar ADR. I fell in June 06 onto my shoulder really badly and couldnt use my arms properly for a year. I got Xrayed but only my shoulde and arm/wrist. Then started having trapezius pain left side which then moved to right etc etc/ The 1st MRI report was I had DDD but the consultant thought it wasnt significant. 18 months later pain on right side agony really too and the pain clinic consultant said "who told you your 1st MRI was ok" he said it wasnt my neck not only is poker straight but has a forward angulation. He told me I would be in agony for the rest of my life and to wait to the last minute to have a fusiion when my arms didnt work anymore! I was devastated, still am but saw another spinal surgeon who said again there was nothing wrong with me surgery would be ill advised. I knew this was wrong because I have a winged scapular which he said is "normal" and contracted trapezius all the time and these were reported on by one of his colleagues a year ago. Anyway I had a 2nd spinal surgeon opinion and he says I am a candidate for 2 level cervial ADR C5/6 , C6/7 and he is confident I will recover my lordosis and get back to work!! I cant belive it I have read so much conflicting evidence on surgical outcomes for ahoulder and neck pain being uslesss to being totally fantastic and ADR's do seem to have evidence of restoring the lordosis in the neck. Furthermore my friend has had a 2 level ADR with this surgeon and is now symtom free and totally ok. She like you had lumbar ADR with great success too 6 years ago and is doing great. I am not scared of the surgery just scared it wont take the pain away its booked for 18th Sept. I wish you all the best and hope you can have an ADR in your neck if thats what you want and that if it happens it will be a total success like my freinds best wishes Maz

JudyW · #6 08-24-2008, 12:44 AM

I'm really hoping not to have any surgery in my neck. The MRI shows moderate DDD at C5-6 with a 2mm disc bulge, no spinal stenosis and the x-ray showed spondylosis. So his new recommendation is accupuncture. He is one of very few medical doctors that does accupuncture. I'm not going the workers comp route on this so I can actually get treatment and not wait years for help. After my shoulder surgery on Tuesday I will wait a few weeks until I can comfortably lay on my stomach and get the accupuncture and hope it works. He doesn't think this a surgery issue yet. Guess we'll see.

#7 08-30-2008, 01:40 AM

Judy,

I have heard from Regina that you have had your shoulder surgery (unrelated, I hope, from your cervical problems). I hope all is going well in that regard.
I also read your reply to my post regarding Tyler's 5 year EOW. I will be anxious to hear what plans are being made. Thanks for keeping me in the loop!
Sharon