Facing 2 Level Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement vs Fusion

[Maria]

Well re my back it's always touch and go.. like the week before last my back started giving me probs on a Weds, went out on Saturday and I was in bed for almost 3 days. Slowly but surely it started to improve and this weekend I managed to have a bit of fun tho while trying to do some very light yard work on Saturday my back was screaming at me. You know bending forward even if doing everything correctly. I didn't spend that long in this activity before going in and resting my back in bed for about an hour. Later in the evening went to a dance and yes I danced. I left very early to come home and put a Thermacare magnet wrap on and go to sleep hoping to wake up without any problems. Thankfully I have been fine!

Sometimes my back just goes.. sometimes it's super cranky and takes weeks on end to resolve. So it's pretty much the same only I feel I have lived with it all so long that I am used to what it's like. A strict departure from what it is and has been would definitely have me running to the doctor though (besides my twice annual OSS visit and my every 3 month PM visits). My neck is hanging in there. Seems not to bother me as much as it used to tho I can easily aggravate it by carrying a heavy package on my shoulder or holding the phone to my ear and shoulder while trying to multitask or falling asleep with my neck in a less than desirable position.

Thankfully I am hanging in there. I am reliable to do things on my own schedule pretty much that allows for all this (and my feet flare ups with bilateral posterior tibial tendonitis) so I feel good about that!

I do hope you're not in too much pain and I wish you the best with whatever the plan will be. I think you might have to give Mark a call as that is probably the best way to reach him. I have not spoken with him in a while now (months) and I too hope he is doing well.

take care!

[Poncho]

Maria,

I'm glad you are able to manage your pain well.

Anyways, here are the results of my cervical MRI:

Impression:
Bulging disc material with superimposed disc protrusions along the left lateral canal and left foramen at C5-C6, less so at C6-C7, resulting in significant left lateral canal and foraminal stenosis at both levels, possibly related to the stated complaints. No evidence of acute abnormality or convincing myelopathic signal.

[Maria]

Hi Sue,
Did the doctor who ordered the MRI have a plan re surgery for C5/6 and C6/7 based on results? Re the level of stenosis is it expected that your symptoms will progress/worsen? Just wondering what your pain level given the report findings.

Any luck reaching Mark?

Again wishing you the best with what's going on now and how you'll proceed. Would love to stay informed if you're so inclined..

take care~ Maria

[Poncho]

Thanks Maria, well where I live locally, I'm just looking for an opinion due for that date end of September. Now for the other neurosurgeon in Cincinnati, I sent my films to him. I have not seen him yet, though tentative speaking, he is recommending ADR at C5-6. No comment yet on C 6 - 7. I have a consultation with him October 20th - first thin in the morning. 0740 - I live in a rural area so will probably he hotel stay overnight the night before. In the interim, flexion / extension x- rays which we all know what those are for. Anyways, I'll see what ADR he recommends. Working through this and politics at work (yes, I'm considered administration now, but not liking the politics - eeewww!!! Sue.

[Poncho]

Well, I had a appointment with a neurosurgeon this past week. He has recommended a fusion or artificial disc at C5-C6 and C6-C7. He did admit to me though that he has not placed many artificial discs but would do it if I chose him. I really liked him and appreciated his transparency with this. I did admit that I was to have another appointment with a different neurosurgeon in a different market. That right now just looking at options/opinions.

I guess these levels must have been going south for some time because this neurosurgeon said that he did see spurs as well. First time that I had heard that. I don't recall that being on my MRI report. Interesting.

Now on to the next appointment in Cincinnati called the Mayfield Clinic. It appears that they do a lot of research / clinical trials. I will need to sit down and come up with a list of questions for him. That will be October 20th.

In the meantime so far, the medications I am on are helping me get through this waiting period. In the mornings, I don't feel so bad, but as the day goes on, the shoulder/shoulder blade / arm pain increases.

I will try to keep everyone up to date when I know more.

Wishing everyone on here less pain / pain free vibes.

Poncho

[Maria]

Thanks Sue for keeping us posted on your most recent consultation. I hope the next one will offer perhaps greater experience with ADR and/or hybrid surgeries as it sounds like from the consultation you posted about you're a candidate for either. Looking forward to reading how the next consultation goes!!!! take care! Maria

[Poncho]

Thanks Maria,

Ya know what's weird about this is my arm pain has settled down quite a bit over the last couple days (that's when I start thinking.....Am I bad enough for surgery yet?) However, the weather around here lately has been really nice and I do think that has something to do with it. I'm not completely pain free.

I will try to keep everyone posted on here. We'll see what happens between now and October 20th.

Take care,
Sue