freeze or other md's--medical question

[just cover]

Freeze I don't actually know if you are finished with school yet or what field you are in but wanted to ask this question to you or any other madjacker about a neck fusion problem. Here it is...

I had my neck fused in nov. of 2001 and still had some numbness and pain in my left arm that I had prior to the surgery, so had a second surgery in March of 2002. Well things had gone pretty well since then up until March of this year. I had some tightness, sore problems since the surgery in 2002 nothing that doesn't happen when you have a major surgery. The problem now is that I have the same swelling in my neck and pain in my left arm along with numbness and tingling in both hands. I went back to my surgeon last Friday and had a regular xray and he said there might be something wrong with one of the screws in my neck. HE schedules a CT Scan on Monday and a MRI on Tues. I get there today for the MRI and they bump me up in front of 2 people and get me in right away. Iwas suppose to have an EMG late next week but was told to get it done tomorrow morning and see him on Friday when I wasn't suppose to see him until a few more weeks. His nurse calls me today with this info about moving everything up and I asked her what the hell is the deal. She tells me that I have a broken screw in my neck where the plate is at the fusion. All this is making me real nervous. I am definetly getting a second opinion ..

So the big guestion is how serious is this? Will this screw come out and get caught in a vertebrae(sp) and cause even more problems? What can cause a titanium screw to break? Should I be getting in touch with a different doctor immediately or wait to see what he says on Friday? I am thinking this guy screwed me up and no matter what he says Friday I am going to a different doctor. I just wanted somebody elses side on the whole thing. Also I have had my back fused about 5 years ago. I am only 35 years old and have 3 different discs fused in my spine. Is there any disease that could cause discs to blow out that early in life. The work I do is not easy. It is not alot of heavy lifting but it is line work in an auto plant where there is alot of twisting, bending, etc.

Thanks to any who reply and help...

just cover

 

[SixFive]

u need to have confidence in your surgeon, and if u don't I wouldn't let him cut on me again. Also, I wouldn't be seeing an orthopedic surgeon for this, I would ONLY let a neurosurgeon do it. It's been my experience that the neuro guys do better jobs with fewer complications than the ortho guys. Laminectomies and fusions are a neuro guys bread and butter. Knee arthroscopes, femur ORIFs, and fracture setting is an ortho guys bread and butter. It's probably not his fault that the screw came out/broke, it happens sometimes, and maybe your surgeon is good. I would guess the surgery to correct would not be too bad compared to the others u have had. Usually, people have much more success with neck fusions than back fusions, at least that's my experience with having hundreds of each to take care of over my career. I would expect your problem to be with your back, but with your line of work, u might be irritating the neck repeatedly.

I think the EMG is a waste of time, and they hurt like hell. It's just going to reveal that u have a loss of conduction in your nerves which u already obviously know if u are having numbness and tingling all the time. I see no benefit to having that expensive, painful procedure done if there is already a MRI showing the problem.

I would be concerned that u have involvement in both hands. That suggests to me that this dislodged screw is in a bad spot, and that's why he is bumping u up in my opinion.

Some people are prone to early disc degeneration, yes, and u are probably one of those people just like me, and yes it does suck! Physical therapy after your surgeries that continues on the rest of your life is important. It's hard to do and keep up as it's not fun, but it is key to maintaining stability and strength in the muscles that support these discs and your spine. The physical therapists should also be working with you on back mechanics and proper lifting techniques which will also help u not to irritate further your problems at work.

Lastly, about a second opinion, I'm not sure how big a place Normal, Ill. is or what big cities u are close to, but oftentimes it's rather hard to get a second opinion, especially somebody that will see u on short notice. These surgeons stick together a lot, so be prepared to "get in some faces" if u have trouble getting in to see somebody else. Call the neuro floor at the local hospitals and ask to speak with a nurse. Tell him/her u greatly respect his opinion, and ask him if he had to have a neck fusion, who would he/she get to do it. Nurses know who is good and who sucks, because they take care of the patients, and that's who u need to go to if u can, the doctor that the nurses recommend. Usually they will give u a name. Don't ask opinions on your surgeon, or they will likely clam up as they won't want to badmouth anybody. They will, however, tell u who is good.

My job is at times labor intensive as well, and I know I do things I shouldn't because I don't feel like asking for help (I guess kind of a "macho" thing for me, maybe the same for you?). Keep us informed about what is going on.

 

[just cover]

sixfive-

Thanks for the reply. The doctor who did my neck surgeries is a neuro guy. The guy is pretty cool but when he told me he had to go back in the second time I had some questions for him and I don't think he liked it. In his complex there is 6 or 7 docs that all they do is neuro surgeries and one of his partners a female fused my back and I have not had a problem with it since.

The population here is around 100,000 and then through in the Ill. St. Univ. so its not to big but not a small country town. We are located about 50 miles from Peoria and about 2 hours from Chicago. So there are other doctors I could get a second opinion from that are relatively close.

I am constantly trying to stay on top of the physical rehab exercises. I get up 2-2 1/2 hours before the 6:00 a.m. start time for work and do 1.5 miles of a quick walk and do all the stretching and strengthening exercises for my back and my neck. It is a big pain in the ass but the consequences are alot worse.

I quess the reason that I am worried is that I have never heard of a screw breaking like that and I really don't like the idea of it possibly moving around in my neck. Also when I was having a myleogram (which sucks the big one big time) there was a nurse in the room that had assisted on taking the hardware out that had infection of a back.She said it was very hard to do because the bone grows all over and around the hardware and it has to be chiseled out. I really don't like that idea either of someone chiseling bone out aroung my spinal cord. It's not like I am afraid of surgeries or any thing like that all. Becuase I like watching when they do IVs or any needle work.

There is a group of doctors that come from Peoria a couple of times a week to their offices here in Bloomington/Normal and I don't think getting a second opinion wouldn't be a bad idea.

Anyway thanks for the reply and you seem to be pretty knowledgeable in the medical field.

just cover

 

[dr. freeze]

sorry i really cant help you much....only a second year....and one thing if i tried to give advice and not knowing much about stuff yet that is against oaths we take...if i DID know i could help you...might research it a little for you and ask around for you....

if your doctor doesnt like you asking questions get the heck out of there and find a better one....

this sounds like a serious situation....65 knows much more than i do about this from the sounds of things....i will let you know if i find anything out though...

hope you get better!!!!

 

[StevieD]

Just Cover, I am afraid I do not have any answers for you but just wanted to add my support. I also have had two neck fusions, the first when I was 37. I would ask them why they are waiting at all. It sounds to me like it is something that should be taken care of immediately. I am sure they know what they are doing but just for your peace of mind I think you should ask.

 

[just cover]

Freeze & StevieD-

Thanks for the replies guys. Any info will help. I am just sick and tired of being cut on. The last 6 years has been hell with a total of 3 back and 2 neck surgeries also now probably another neck. I am going to see what the doc says friday. I had an EMG this morning(real fun-not) and he was saying that there is definetly something going on in my neck and I do have some mild carpal tunnel which I already knew pretty much.

I have an uncle in Cal. that lives in LA and wants me to fly out there and get a second opinion. He is in oncology(sp) but has alot of friends in neurosurgery at UCLA. I think he said it was UCLA. My dad called him yesterday and he called me right away. I told him I don't know if my insurance would cover it. He said he would cover anything they didn't so that is an option. I usually wouldn't want a family member to pay stuff like that but the guy is loaded. He has a big chain of labs in and around LA. Some of his labs did testing for the 84 olympics for drugs and stuff. So you can see what I am talking about.

If you any of you guys can find anything out about why this is all happening at an early age I would appreciate it. If you happen to ask a colleague or somebody who knows. I am going to do research all day today and see what I can find since I am off work right now.

Thanks again guys

just cover

 

[SixFive]

oh, man, I told u that EMG would be awful! They hurt like a u know what now The doctor that did it said, "there is definetly something going on in my neck and I do have some mild carpal tunnel .." I bet u felt like saying, "NO SH!T, SHERLOCK!!" I'm sure carpal tunnel is the least of your worries too.

I'm glad u have been dealing with a neurosurgeon, just sorry u are having so many problems. Might be a good idea to take up your relative's offer!! Maybe u will learn some more Friday. Sounds like u are doing everything in your power to stay on top of it with your exercises. I know that takes mega dedication!! Keep us posted.