Cervical Discectomy - Opinions and Prayers Needed

[VaNurse]

I will be undergoing a cervical discectomy on Jan.4th. I've been in pain throughout my shoulders and arms since October and started experiencing numbness in my left hand and forearm in late November after 5 sessions of physical therapy. An MRI on Dec.4th revealed an extruded disc with annular tear that was putting pressure on my spinal cord.

I've always heard that surgery is the last resort for a back problem and, to my doctor's credit, he suggested that I could continue to medicate with Vicoden for another month to see if it would resolve on its own. I've been out of work for a month already and fear the dependency on the narcs. I opted for surgery.

The doctor minimized the procedure, saying that he'd rather do the cervical fusions anytime over those in the lumbar region because they are minimally invasive and have 90-95% success. The recovery will be 6 weeks during which I will be in a collar to maintain stability while the bone graft "takes". He cannot predict whether or not the numbness will resolve but he says the pain should once the pressure is off the spinal cord.

My questions are: Has anyone here at MJ's had this procedure? Is the recovery time quoted accurately? How successful was yours?

Your thoughts, opinions and prayers are appreciated!

 

[dr. freeze]

how old are you

 

[VaNurse]

I just turned 48. I am perimenopausal and have smoked 1 ppd X 33 years. I have a history of 4 specific neck injuries going back to when I was 17. I experienced a period of mid/upper back pain about 4 years ago which resolved with physical therapy X 1 month with Skelaxin. At that time, x-rays were indicative of degeneration.

This time Skelaxin nor Ultram would touch it and, at one point, I ended up in unrelenting spasm of the trapezius that resulted in an ER visit and injections of Norflex and Toradol. I have been on Flexaril and Voltaren t.i.d. and Ultram or Vicoden 5/500 1-2 tablets q4-6 hrs prn. I have only been able to get through one day on the Ultram (sans Vicoden) and was having to take 2 tabs q4h the next day. Most days I am taking Vicoden 1 tab q6h around the clock along with the Flexaril and Voltaren and am still alternating moist heat and cold therapies every day.

 

[RexBudler]

I hope everything works out well for you

 

[dr. freeze]

you have youth going for you and smoking big time against you

surgery is better tolerated while young....smoking hurts healing time

i would try to quit smoking before doing anything

 

[yyz]

I sure wish you well.

 

[LuckyIrish]

GL Nurse...Im sure all will turn out fine.

Keep your chin out...it could always be worse.

 

[VaNurse]

Thanks for the good wishes. Dr. Freeze, I am well aware of complications of smoking but frankly this isn't the time. I'm under enough stress without adding to it by going through nicotine withdrawal. I was actually hoping to hear anecdotally about the procedure from those who are familiar with it or have experienced it themselves.

As a nurse I am, perhaps, more aware of the potential for complications in all surgical procedures as compared to the layperson. With this one involving my spinal cord and the potential of permanent disability, I am, understandably, apprehensive. Thank you all for your good thoughts sent my way!

 

[trolln4walii]

Nurse....

No medical advice but certainly thoughts and prayers are with you. Wish you the best

 

[Agent 0659]

GL you hottie! My Aunt had back surgery years ago, Im not sure what it was but when I was in California visiting her, she was in tremendous pain all the time. Once in the grocery store, we had to clear off a shelf and she climbed up on the shelf to get horizontal for a little while to relieve the pain. I will ask her what type of surgery she had.

 

[BADTODABONE]

VA Nurse....

Had a back surg. early 90's after an MRI lowest disc BLOWN , options were, (1) increased pain (2) a 2nd opinion or (3) or surgerory.... my choice, #3.......4:30 that afternoon. Sure of advances since mine, the 'ol right leg, numb every so often. Have a 'zipper' on my lower back.....

Hope all works out for you!!!

 

[AR182]

vanurse....

thoughts are with you for a complete recovery....

 

[buddy]

Va nurse,

May God be with you and with the operating team.

My prayer is for total success!

Praise God!

 

[SixFive]

my experience in taking care of patients is that I agree that necks generally do better than backs. Hopefully it will be a piece of cake for you. I also agree with freeze on what you do and don't have going for you. I wish the best, and I really think you'll do fine!

 

[loophole]

va nurse

had a double cervical fusion done about three years ago. neck injuries suffered playing ball in college had degenerrated to the point where i had complete numbness in the left arm and severe pain down my back. my surgery was performed by a neurosurgeon and done without bone grafts - instead he used a kind of titanium screw that fuses with the bone as it heals together. i have been completely happy with the results, only aftereffects have been some stiffness from time to time and maybe a 10-15% loss of range of motion (backing a car is more difficult).

that being said, i'm also going to tell you what you don't want to hear - quit smoking before your surgery, anxiety or not. my neurosurgeon insisted that i quit before he operated and gave me journals to read that clearly showed how smoking interfered with bone's ability to fuse and greatly magnified the risk of postsurgical complications. when compared to the misery that i was going through, the discomfort from quitting smoking seemed inconsequential. nothing could be worse that going through the surgery and then having problems with the vertebrae fusing because of smoking. in that event there aren't any pleasant options.

good luck with the surgery and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[IntenseOperator]

GL VaNurse

My gf is a nurse also, but she is in telemetry and was in family planning for quite some time.

I know a couple people that get their backs "straightened out" every couple months or so by a hands on back specialist. One gentleman that is in the business that I am has to retire earlier than planned due to his back getting worse every day. He played very competitive softball five days a week for twenty years or so and is now paying for it in his late forties. Another gentleman is a bit on the larger side and probably has created most of his own problems by not pushing away from the table a little sooner. My brother's goes out every now and then from spending so much time sitting in the shit seats of city vehicles for prolonged time (squad/tac cars).

You know what they say, nurses make the WORST patients

 

[Eddie Haskell]

VA Nurse, I've personally never undergone the procedure but many of my clients have with positive results. ACDF is pretty common these days around here. You gain pain relief but give up some range of motion. Like all things in life, you get used to the loss of range of motion.

I would find the best neuro around your area, really follow through with the pt post surgery as you want the best elasticity and strength of muscle tissue, give up the smoking pre-surgery and you'll be back in front of your computer typing away in no time.

What level? C5-6? Good luck.

Ed

 

[Blazer]

Good Luck nurse, my prayers are with you.

 

[Jake DeNiro]

VaNurse haven't any advice, wishing you well though. Everything will work out.

 

[VaNurse]

Many thanks to all of you for the good wishes and prayers you sent my way. I had my surgery on Wednesday and all seems to be well. I had some initial problems with n&v with the patient controlled analgesia but those went away once I could tolerate the oral meds. I was discharged yesterday evening and am feeling unbelievably better than I was a week ago! Yes, I have incisional discomfort and a snug neckbrace but the numbness in my hand is pretty much gone and the pain in my neck that I've known so intimately for the last two months is also gone. Now I just have to behave for the next 6 weeks and let everything mesh.

Again, I want to thank the MadJackers for their their support and advice! You folks really are the best!