Welcome! iSpine is online!

[sunrisa61]

Sure hope I am doing this right. I am RN 27 years now.
Back in May 2014, I started to have severe shoulder pain in the left arm that brought me to tears. I was working at the time, and pain was interfering with my work. I went to the ER and they did a xray sent me home with flexeril and tramadol. I continued to work. Couldn't function. At work I noticed that my left hand was having tremors and uncontrolled movements. So I went to the walk in clinic. The doctor there tried to say it was carpal tunnel. He referred me to a regular MD for primary care. I didn't have a doctor as I had just moved to Iowa, from Florida. I showed my hand movement to this MD she ordered an EMG. That's where my life began to change. The EMG showed nerve conduction issues in left arm and hand. None in the right side. The neurologist that performed the EMG, sent me for an MRI. There they found that I had severe stenosis @ C5, C6. C7 and T1. Referred to a neurosurgeon. She told me permanent paralysis would occur if I did not have the surgery. I didn't want to do it. My Dad was with me and he had a successful cervical fusion and encouraged me to do it. I was working towards my masters in nursing to be a nurse practitioner so I decided I would do the surgery, thinking my life would get back to almost normal. The cervical fusion was done in september, post op 10-12 hours I started having numbness in my feet. My hand uncontrolled movements became far worse. My balance became terrible. Walking was so hard as was going up and down 2 flights of stairs to walk my dogs. Post op follow up the surgeon said she had never seen anything like this and even made me feel like I was being somewhat deceptive. She ordered another MRI and there it was still severe stenosis.
Since then I now have dytonia (uncontrolled movements) in both hands and it has spread to my toes, clonus like. The last few weeks the pain in my legs has become unbearable at time. I walk so slow now, after a short time I am so worn out. I have pain management that does indeed help but leaves me groggy constantly. My restless leg sydrome occurs all the time now, if it is that. What I want to know has any of you had these issues post surgery and if so, have you been able to resolve them. The neurosurgeon says there is nothing she can do for me. Thanks for reading.

[dshobbies]

My first thought is to get another opinion, possibly a couple of them. The skill of the doctor matters more than you might think. If you're in worse shape than prior to surgery and your doctor claims there is nothing they can do for you - I'd say, dump the doctor.

I don't know where you live but ask this forum if they know of someone great in your area - or perhaps you can travel to one of the heavy hitters already recommended on this forum.

To keep it short, my nerve to my left leg was somehow disrupted (for a lack of a better word) during my surgery and other than extreme pain, I had no feeling in my leg and could not move it. They started me on neurontin and slowly it began to come back. After physical therapy, I'd say my leg is now about 60-65%. The time span was almost 2 years of healing. However, though limiting, it's nothing compared to my life prior to surgery and it does not sound similar to your symptoms.

I'm not a doctor and certainly no expert but it sounds like your doctor didn't do something right - or even worse, did something wrong. A second opinion is very definitely your next step. Good Luck - Dale

[Maria]

I too think you need to see someone else and maybe several other doctors. Have you tried a University setting where you might get a multi discipline type of work up?

I've had cervical issues tho thus far not severe enough for surgery and have had 2 discectomies on my low back and recommended for further surgery on low back but never did any thing else. Have been on low dose opioid pain management therapy for 13 years re chronic pain (trying to wean off still) and was taking Neurontin 1800mg/day for 12 years re nerve related pain (plus 5 years of Elavil before that for same thing) which I stopped back in 2009 I believe.

I was an RN when originally injured. Went back to school and got my NP and had to go out on permanent disability in 2000 due to the degree of pain I was dealing with and inability to function in a work setting (back then barely in a home setting).

Sending you good thoughts and hope that you will find the doctors you need to give you better answers. Please keep us posted if you feel so inclined and let us know how you're doing and what you're doing. Maria