Go Back   ISPINE.ORG Forum > Main forums > iSpine
FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

iSpine Discuss Subsidence in my C5/6 Prodisc in the Main forums forums; I'll be posting much more later. I don't know if this is good news or bad news, but ...

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 09-30-2014, 06:43 PM
mmglobal's Avatar
Administrator
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,511
Default Subsidence in my C5/6 Prodisc

I'll be posting much more later.

I don't know if this is good news or bad news, but I have a structural problem in my neck. The second prosthesis, at C5/6, has the superior plate very substantially subsided up into the C5 vertebral body.

This is good news if the structural issue is causing my pain syndrome because then we have something to fix. It would be benign news, if this structural issue is asymptomatic, and does not need to be addressed. This will be bad news, if this is also symptomatic but is in addition to my long standing thoracic problem. At this point I have no idea. It could be all, nothing, or something in the middle.

Obviously, i'm talking to all the right guys. We shall see what the next round of diagnostics bring. I'll keep you posted.

Take a look at the image below. I have added the yellow lines to demonstrate where the plates should be sitting. The top one at C3/4 is normal, but you can see from the very oblique view of the top plate at C5/6 that it has really moved.

__________________
1997 MVA
2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy
2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami
2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS!
2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova
Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs!
Life After Surgery Website
President: Global Patient Network, Inc.
Founder: www.iSpine.org

Last edited by mmglobal; 09-30-2014 at 06:48 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 10-01-2014, 05:14 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,405
Default re upwards subsidence

Mark,
So will you be getting a discogram to see if this structural occurrence could be the cause of pain? What would the repair options be if it were?

Are there many documented cases like this or have the surgeons you're in contact with seen this very much with cervical cases?

Good luck.. sounds kind of scary to me though you do know all the right people re getting answers, etc.~ that part is good news.

Maria
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 10-04-2014, 06:02 PM
vnf vnf is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 43
Default Sorry Mark

I got a headache just looking at those pictures!
Mark, you have a big advantage and that's knowing many
expert doctor's and you are very educated when it comes to this topic.
Still sucks!
Please keep us posted as to what happens next.
BTW: I guess this means it wasn't your thoracic after all
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 10-04-2014, 07:59 PM
mmglobal's Avatar
Administrator
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,511
Default

Maria... no discogram planned.... that would be for suspected discogenic pain, but there is no disc there to be painful. I did have a discogram at the degenerated thoracic level but it was negative.

Vicki, yes it is good news IF AND ONLY IF this structural issue we see is responsible for my pain syndrome. Could be it... could be a distraction... could be another problem that is in addition to what we have thought of as "my thoracic issue".

The only new news is that I have not done much yet. I'm shocked that I'm not pinging everyone... I still feel like my head is spinning (yay, preserved motion) and have not effectively addressed it. My pain has been so much worse over the last few months... it's been tough to get anything done. We recently upped my meds and I'm starting to enjoy a slight honeymoon at the new med level, but unfortunately, that is only translating into feeling OK for a few hours at a time. I still can't figure out the, "OK, I feel better... what can I get away with doing?" issues. I'd like to sneak up on a feeling good time and go sneak a few skydives in!!!

Mark
__________________
1997 MVA
2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy
2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami
2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS!
2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova
Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs!
Life After Surgery Website
President: Global Patient Network, Inc.
Founder: www.iSpine.org
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 10-05-2014, 09:24 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,405
Default hmmm

Ok Mark.. didn't know if maybe a different cervical level (non ADR) might be the cause of your symptoms/pain hence the discogram question. I realize that the subsidence area is what I guess needs to be further checked out re pain related to this though hadn't thought about distraction pain as I guess I thought that was more of a recent post op phenomenon.

I'm sorry to read that you're experiencing more pain and needed to up the dose of your pain meds. I don't know what you symptoms or what type of pain you're experiencing or how your extremities might be affected (other than I recall difficulty typing re supposedly thoracic related pain?). Anyway I'm sure with all the specialists you know when you're ready to ring people up you'll have lots of input/ideas/possible answers.

Still pain sucks and increased pain and decreased mobility sucks too. Don't wish that on anyone for any reason.

I just thought of Taffy.. how she's doing? I'll be getting Lola back soon. I couldn't walk her for the last year re the posterior tibial tendonitis I have in both ankles however I just graduated from wearing an orthotic brace combination bilaterally for 9 months to just orthotics so Edgar will be returning Miss Lola to me shortly. She's got CHF and been on two cardiac meds twice/day plus Lasix twice/day so she's slowed down greatly.

** editing now.. don't bother to answer what I asked about Taffy.. don't want to cause you any additional pain typing. If you've ever a free moment and feel like catching up please call.. I know your schedule is more full than mine so if you feel like calling some time that'd be cool. take care Mark and my best to you~
ok bye for now!

Last edited by Maria; 10-06-2014 at 06:46 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 10-06-2014, 10:27 PM
henry4956's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 48
Default

Mark, my thoughts and prayers go out. That does not look good, but I'm sure you will get this figured out.

Your friend,
Henry
__________________
2001 bad fall on ice playing hockey
Apr 2001 lami/discectomy L4/L5 (large rupture)
Aug 2001 lami/discectomy L5/S1
Coccyx dislocated / same fall (Cannot sit)
Aug 2011 pull-start generator - unrelenting low back pain - can only stand for 30 min
Nov 2011 -rhizotomy - makes things worse
22 hours/day in bed
June 2012 - present receiving facet injections every 4 months, only last one helped somewhat
L3-L5 ActivL Surgery w/Dr Zeegers April 16th
Doing great!!!!!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 10-07-2014, 05:40 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: arizona
Posts: 256
Default

I've read this thread several times without being able to respond because it is upsetting and anxiety-producing (since I also have a C5/C6 artificial disk).

Mark, I am so sorry. As you suggest, this finding may provide some answers. Are you having problems swallowing? Have you checked your bone density?

From your knowledge of the literature, what is the frequency of subsidence with cervical ADR's?

Please keep us updated.

Maria: It's great that you've improved enough to take care of Lola again. Unfortunately, cardiac problems are common in mini schnauzers, which is why they've been used in cardiac research. My mini schnauzer, Ziggy, is now 13 1/2 and despite some loss of hearing and what looks like some arthritis, can be very frisky and energetic; sometimes he has his old puppy look; other times, he looks old and tired.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 10-08-2014, 12:16 AM
vnf vnf is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 43
Default a good article to read

Need to remove for personal reasons

Last edited by vnf; 11-04-2014 at 05:46 AM. Reason: Need to remove for personal reasons
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 10-08-2014, 02:41 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: N. San Diego
Posts: 255
Default

Mark, I hope you can get it sorted out and find the smoking guns.
__________________
Jim

2003 L5S1 Charite
1981 L5S1 Discectomy
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT. The time now is 09:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.