My 3 mo X ray - Discs tilted all over the place

[steve55]

Here is the link that talks about why implants have to be removed once infection occurs on them. It explains how the bugs can defend themselves on implants! Amazing stuff

Lysostaphin Disrupts Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms on Artificial Surfaces -- Wu et al. 47 (11): 3407 -- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

[dshobbies]

Hey Steve,

Good to hear from you. I'm so glad you're doing OK. With only a week or so post op, I suppose you don't yet know how limited your movements are or will be because the surgery itself prohibits too much movement. I do know some cervical fusion patients and have been told after awhile, they hardly notice it. I hope that's true for you.

I'm pretty sure most of your hip area will regain feeling. It just takes time.

So rest as you must, move as you can and please, keep us posted. Though not what you would chosen, you just had your 15 minutes of fame

Wishing you an easy recovery, Dale

[Katie]

Steve, I'm glad you got a solid answer about the cause of your issues. The not knowing would cause a lot of stress.

Could you direct me to the article about the greater risk of adjacent level degeneration in the C 4-7 levels, as that's the area that my surgeon will be working on when we get the allergy issue sorted out. Thanks.

From what I've read, the ActivL disc is better when the space is limited, when distraction pain is going to be an issue. There's no sense in inducing more pain if it isn't necessary. It seems that so much new information is springing up, that could change our choices so dramatically.

You didn't have any dental work done after surgery did you? My dentist said that I had to take antibiotics just before treatment to avoid the very thing you describe above. It is so scary that such simple things can cause so much misery.

I'm glad that you are healing well, and wish you the very best in the upcoming weeks. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[mmglobal]

Katie,

The issue with antibiotics and dental work is the big blast of bacteria from our mouth that gets into the bloodstream when we have dental work. I'm 7 years out from my lumbar ADR and still do the prophylactic antibiotics when I have me teeth cleaned. I'm not sure I understand everything I think I know about this because everyone's gums bleed when they floss, but we don't take antibiotics prior to flossing. I used to work in sterile manufacturing (bacterilogical culture media) and was trained to understand that dealing with contamination is a numbers game. It may be the case that the amount of bacteria introduced by flossing is small compared to real dental work.

I believe that what Steve is eluding to with the discussion of psoriasis is that the sores caused by it may provide the entry point for a large amount of bacteria. I wonder if it's possible that there could be a secondary staph infection along with the psoriasis that would make it even worse?

I'd also like to discuss the distraction pain question, but can't write more now and perhaps we should start another thread for that?

I hope to hear that Steve's good recovery continues! (I wish I felt that good now.)

All the best,

Mark

[steve55]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

Today has been better. Im able to sit at he computer for hours with no worsening of symptoms or neck pain. I did some walking and noticed I was able to walk with less of a limp. IN fact, it seems to me that I could already go back to work at 10 days post op if necessary. BUt no need to rush it even if I am feeling well enough to do so.

Katy, here is one link:
Cervical Herniated Disc Symptoms and Treatment Options

The nuerosurgical nurse said the C1/2 & C2/3 discs are constructed differently thus they rarely ever have issues. Ill see if I can google some articles on that as I didnt save them.

Here is another one that really specifically says that the thoracic and the upper two cervicals are very rare anbd unlikely disc herniation candidates. I felty so much better after learning of this. I hope Im done with these disc issues for life since I have taken care of the most common culprits.

Wapedia - Wiki: Spinal disc herniation

You can just google "cervical levels most likely to degenerate" and you can read these type articles.

[trkdoc714]

Steve,

I'm glad to hear you came through your revision with flying colors! I hope all remains well with your recovery. Just remember one thing........DON'T OVERDO IT!!!!!

Best wishes,

Bob

[Bill1961]

Steve,

Glad to here your doing so well. Keep it up and take it easy. I mentioned some time ago that I met a couple of 4 level cervical fusion patients. Both of them where doing great no post op pain or problems. You could barely tell any left to right rotation issues. They did have a bit of limit up and down. But overall very happy and normal.

I hope that others will follow your story and learn. There is a place for fusion as well as ADR. There is also a place for less invasive techniques such as foraminotomies and partial discectomies which should be the first surgical choice if possible.