Forthcoming 3 level cervical fusion

[LC in UK]

Thanks a lot Maria!
Have plenty of "sorting-out" to do at home to get ready for this so time will fly, hope you are well?
Best wishes
Lynette

[Maria]

Lynette,
thank you for asking! We have had a rain storm and everything that is injured on me has been hurting big time!

My neck, my low back and my knees have been really pitiful! I had to spend all day yesterday in bed due to multiple aching body parts. This is so unusal for me to get it *all* at one time. Oh yes, my elbows even hurt!!!!

Top that off, even tho I slept most of the afternoon and night, I woke up in awful aching pain, had a big monster of a migraine so I let the dogs out to do their thing, fed dogs and cats, scooped litter which was as challenging as trying to get food into bowls (bending and squatting) and then took drugs and hit the sack again for a few hours.

I'm waiting for our rain storm weather to be OVER!!!! I'm such a freaking weather vane.

Other than this~ I'm doing GREAT! Sure enough tho if I lived where it was damp, cold and rainy I'd have been having the low back surgery authorized for me and thinking I better have a better consultation re my neck cuz when it''s a hurtin'~ that ain't pretty!

Hope you are well ~ and wishing you my best! Hope I haven't scared you off with the little details of my arthritic degenerative life! Really, when the weather is nice, warm, sunny and such, my body feels oh so very much better!

[LC in UK]

Sorry to hear you're in the grip of flare-up Maria, poor you.
Hope the rainstorm has passed by now and perhaps there's less humidity in the air? Best thing is to take it easy when you're going through a rough patch, give in, rest up and settle down with the animals for company!
I hope you're feeling better by now.
I'm finding it tough to get going in the mornings right now, 6 months of not being able to walk properly and so much restricted movement is pushing me right to the edge.
Haven't find much on the forum from people with cord compression having the walking problems that I have. Lots of stuff about pain and painkillers but not leg weakness. Perhaps thats cos my neck and arm pains burnt out long ago and now the focus has shifted!! Just hope its not too late!
We do need to talk about our various symptoms , it's not really a morbid fascination but strangely comforting to identify with others who are unfortunately in the same boat as us. Just means we're all normal!! If you see what I mean!!
Wishing you better days,
Best wishes
Lynette

[LC in UK]

Have been told by the GI Physiology doctor this week that I've suffered irreparable nerve damage largely caused by lumbar surgery. I suspect the Anterior Fusion is responsible but at least I won't now be expecting an improvement following the ACDF . Incredible that it's taken 13 years to finally learn what's caused these problems. I suppose it's impossible to have so much instrumentation put in without damaging the pudendal nerve?
C'est la vie..............

[mmglobal]

LC... what makes him say it's already permanent? I've seen many people who've been told this by their doctors and discover that the doctors were wrong. Please see JackH on the GPN page... he had been told that for many, many years.

Could be permanent, but the doctors who are saying that... how do they know. It is my understanding that EMG results give a different 'signature' if the nerve irritation is due to compression, versus a lesion on the nerve (which is more likely to be permanent.)

All the best,

Mark

[LC in UK]

Thankyou for that advice Mark, will indeed check out the GPN posting.
I hope the guy's wrong, although he did do extensive testing.
Will pm
Lynette

[LC in UK]

Was called to Kings last week to see Mr Kulkarni who has taken my case over from Mr Gullan who has left. Had an hour and a half consultation with him which included going over the MRI scans together.
Mr Kulkarni says I probably need a 2 level cervical fusion and that the leg weakness is caused by compression of L1/2 and he showed me the critical point on my spine. How come my orthopaedic consultant didn't see this last November??
EMG tests are lined up for arms and legs (4 week wait ) and will see Mr K again after the neurologist has reported on the results.
Thereafter cervical fusion and lumbar decompression will be carried out at Kings.
I appreciate the time Mr Kulkarni spent with me in discussion and explanation but feel angry again about wasted time and more delay.
Sorry that you're C-spine is giving you trouble Mark, it certainly takes the shine off life doesn't it?
Will be in touch
Lynette