4 weeks after cervical osteotomy and fusion

[jsewell]

I saw my surgeon today for my 4 week post op apt.
He is not worried about the loose screws. He said they had very little purchase (learned that from Mark) He put them in there , but that level is already fused . It was just to help stabilize the lower levels that had not been fused. They have not moved from last imaging done 3 weeks ago.

I reported still having moderate pain in shoulders . Said to be expected at only 4 weeks.
Then i reported lower back pain and hip pain which is back with a vengence since i started walking. He showed me the fracture on my lower vertebrae . So the plan is for lumbar injections in 3 weeks when i have done some more healing. He does cover the offending area really well. General anesthesia. I am not sure if he was going to try to inject the bone cement in the fracture at the same time or later if still needed.
Then he is so sweet, he is going to call the neurosurgeon after i meet with him to talk about his plan. He will also try to get some info on him . That is the neurosurgeon who thinks he can help me with my breathing do to phrenic nerve injury.

[Hooch]

Hi Judy, great news about the screws being ok. Sounds like a really good doc, taking an interest in getting you back to the best you can be.

[Maria]

Sounds like an excellent visit with a really good doctor that's on top of things. What does it mean "very little purchase" .. exactly? I get the idea of what it means but never heard or seen it used before. I have no hardware in my spine so perhaps this is why I've never heard it stated before.

I'm sure you must feel very relieved with the news and the plan of upcoming treatment. Hope the fractured vertebrae pain will be an easy fix (or heal and go away soon enough).

[jsewell]

Thanks for your replies. Always good to hear from fellow spineys. He is a great personable doc that really does care. He told me before i do anything with this neurosurgeon he will talk to him because he cares about me. It was nice to hear. Even though he was not the surgeon when the injury happened, he feels responsible as he sent me to him.
Nice to have a plan that is for sure.
Very little purchase would be the screws are not doing a lot of holding on. Hard for me to describe. Say a little screw in a huge piece of bone. Maybe someone else can help with the answer.

[cherylstewart67]

How loose is the screw? I would have someone else take a look. A loose screw could lead to a looser screw. If that comes out, not all the way, but even a bit more, it could rub on soft tissues; could cause some pain. I would keep an eye on it for a while...Once you have fused, IF, it becomes any looser, you may want to have it removed. It's shouldn't cause any life threatening issues, but definately keep an eye on it.

[mmglobal]

If the level is already fused, there would be no stress on the screws holding the plate over the fused levels. What might have caused them to become loose of there is no load?

On second thought... don't ask your surgeon that. You'll only piss him off.

It sounds like there is so much going on, but it's very soon after surgery. I'm looking forward to hearing of the great progress you'll be making. (your phone is ringing!)

Mark

[Loucleve]

Hi sjewell:

Please tell me, is this osteotomy a reversal of a prior fusion? I had a 2 level cervical fusion done 10 years ago, and it seems the surgeon put in too much bone.............lots of problems I did not have before.

If this is correct, I'd llike to know where you had it done.

Thanks! Lou.

[jsewell]

Lou i first in Sept. last year had surgery for scoliosis and kyphosis correction which involved fusion from T2 thru L2. Shortly after that my neck just broke. I had already been fused from the front on C4thru C7. It was starting to give me some pain but not all the time and not too bad. But the neck fracture was the reason for the Osteotomy (breaking of bone) and the fusion down to T4. So now i am fused with laminotomies and foraminotomies (sp?) down the whole fused spine. My neck had fractured causing a head on chest deformity and pain of course. I had it done in Los Angeles (Pasaena, Ca.) by my wonderful spine surgeon, DrWilliam Costigan. I only found one such surgery on line and it had taken place in the UK. My doc also did some training there as well as in Germany. He had not done that surgery in quite a while he said, because it is a rare presentation. I am very lucky to have him.
Although i am still in a brace all is fine in the neck dept.
Ask any questions, i have been through the ringer!!!

Are you having an osteotomy? Do you have too much bone grown in?
let me know
judy

[mmglobal]

Judy, I think it's great that you are here answering questions... you rock! I hope that the reason you aren't posting updates on your spine is that things continue to go well and you are not even thinking about it. It's been 3 months since your last detailed update... please let us know how you are doing. You have been through such an amazing ordeal.... I am so looking forward to great news!

All the best,

Mark

[jsewell]

that is funny Mark as i just updated last night!!!!

Dog park anyone?
judy

[jsewell]

Thanks for the compliment , Mark, i love helping people any way i can. I have been through quite an ordeal . Glad it is over. My spine in the cervical and thoracic areas are fine. My neck had to be out of the brace (ok for 2 hours per day) for my dentist and oral surgeon appointments yesterday and i can tell, muscle complaints for sure.
but overall i would say those 2 major surgeries were a success.
judy