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Topic: Also a New Member Here!!! (Read 29 times) |
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KMRMforever
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Also a New Member Here!!!
« Thread started on: Sep 14th, 2008, 3:34pm » |
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I have nhot thought much about my previous 2 surgeries on cervical spine, but, I am starting to have some issues again!! My 1st surgery was Aug. 1997, I had 2 ruptured discs, C5-6 & C6-7. Unsure of how & when it happened. I have been a nurse for 23 years, never alot of pulling, tugging, always worked L & D or homehealth, but anyways, it hit me like a ton of bricks!! They did Posterior repair, 3 weeks later, I was back in the hospital with a "raging MRSA infection!!!!'" I kept calling my Neuro & he kept calling in antibiotics. Finally, my husband drove me back to Nashville & demanded that they do something, this area was still gaping open & my muscles were terrible! They put me in the hospital, inserted a PIC line & sent me home on IV antibiotics for 4 weeks. Believe it or not, the place did not close for 3 months (and is a ugly scar!!!) Atleast my hair covers it now! I continued on Soma for the muscle spasms that I am still plagued with today. Fast forward to Nov. 2002, started having the same symptoms, "a feeling of a toothache in my right elbow, numbness, etc. The Neuro put me through rigourous tests, to make sure it was my neck, not Carpel Tunnel, etc. HELLO- been here done this & not looking forward to any other procedures!!! FINALLY in June of 2003, I went in for ACDF of the C5-6 area with donor bone, titanium plate & screws. I went in at 6:30AM & they "booted" me out & on my way home by noon! Luckily no infections, BUT 4 weeks post op I started having some slurred speech, short-term memory loss & I lost my peripheral vision for 2 weeks. That is scary!!!! I called the neuro & he told his nurse that it had nothing to do with the surgery & no reason for me to come in. I saw a Neuro-Opthamologist at the cancer center, since these symptoms could have been an optic nerve tumor. The brain MRI was clear, I slowly recupperated. Here we are now in 2008 & for the last 2 weeks I can't hardly move my neck, it is hurting all the time & my right shoulder is starting to act up. I WILL not go back to that Neuro. I am just curious, has any one ever heard of the screws they use backing out at any point? The spasms are all the time, I still take Soma as needed, but if I really took it like I felt, I might as well have an IV drip of it!!!! It does not help, no anti-inflammatory meds work either. I am so tired of being like this, I am 44 yrs. old!! When this all started, a good friend of mine & my husband's who is a chiropractor took an x-ray & was like "If I didn't know this was your x-ray I would think it was a 70 yr. olds! GEE, Thanks! But I know I have DDD(Degenerative Disc Disease) I am 5'9" & not overweight at all. My bone desity that was done in April showed Osteopenia in the Dual Femur & my Vitamin D level was 7!!! (norm 34-100!!!) I am out in the sun, etc. I am sorry to vent but, I am curious if anyone else has ever had any complications like this ? Thanks for taking the time to read!!!!!
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admin
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Re: Also a New Member Here!!!
« Reply #1 on: Sep 15th, 2008, 8:11pm » |
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KMRM,
Thank you for posting your story to my board...It is so good to hear from you....I too have a cervical fusion much like yours....C 4-5, 5-6, 6-7....I have a 360....I am starting to have more pain....shoulder, elbow...and fingers....I see my surgeon in a few weeks and hope he can shed some light on the new symptoms....I sometimes think we are never to be pain free....I too like you have been told that my MRI looks like that of a 70 year old...I was only in my late 40's when I was told that....now in my 50's....  I pray that the pain will soon go away....
Gloria
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KMRMforever
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Re: Also a New Member Here!!!
« Reply #2 on: Oct 5th, 2008, 3:43pm » |
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Not really glad to hear someone else has the same pain!!! I am a nurse & am, hearing more "horror" stories of fusions! I wish it would just subside! But I guess we are just destined to put up with it huh? I know you have already made your doctor's appt. How did it go?
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