Cervical disc surgery
Discussion
Hi all
I have a prolapsed disc in my c-spine at the c5-6 level which is causing me all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms, starting from the top I have pain in my neck radiating into my shoulder, someone keeps inserting red hot needles into my shoulder blade, if I cough or laugh I get a another needle along my clavicle, my biceps feels like it is being stabbed, my triceps feel odd and someone has got my forearm in a vice and is squeezing it. I also get my a feeing like my wrist is on fire, my hand and fingers have pins and needles and my thumb feels like it belongs to someone else.
I know these are all due to the compression of the nerve roots supplying my arm, the thing I am worried about is that I think I will need surgery, I have never had any form of surgery at all and jumping straight in to neurosurgery is a tad worrying. Has any one had a cervical discectomy? The other thing I am worried about is that on my MRI there are other abnormalities including a spondylolisthesis, I have lost the normal lordosis and have another smaller disc prolapse at c3/4.
It is helpful being an MRI radiographer though, managed to get a scan within 3 days of the symptoms starting!
I have a prolapsed disc in my c-spine at the c5-6 level which is causing me all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms, starting from the top I have pain in my neck radiating into my shoulder, someone keeps inserting red hot needles into my shoulder blade, if I cough or laugh I get a another needle along my clavicle, my biceps feels like it is being stabbed, my triceps feel odd and someone has got my forearm in a vice and is squeezing it. I also get my a feeing like my wrist is on fire, my hand and fingers have pins and needles and my thumb feels like it belongs to someone else.
I know these are all due to the compression of the nerve roots supplying my arm, the thing I am worried about is that I think I will need surgery, I have never had any form of surgery at all and jumping straight in to neurosurgery is a tad worrying. Has any one had a cervical discectomy? The other thing I am worried about is that on my MRI there are other abnormalities including a spondylolisthesis, I have lost the normal lordosis and have another smaller disc prolapse at c3/4.
It is helpful being an MRI radiographer though, managed to get a scan within 3 days of the symptoms starting!
GOG440 said:
Hi all
I have a prolapsed disc in my c-spine at the c5-6 level which is causing me all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms, starting from the top I have pain in my neck radiating into my shoulder, someone keeps inserting red hot needles into my shoulder blade, if I cough or laugh I get a another needle along my clavicle, my biceps feels like it is being stabbed, my triceps feel odd and someone has got my forearm in a vice and is squeezing it. I also get my a feeing like my wrist is on fire, my hand and fingers have pins and needles and my thumb feels like it belongs to someone else.
I know these are all due to the compression of the nerve roots supplying my arm, the thing I am worried about is that I think I will need surgery, I have never had any form of surgery at all and jumping straight in to neurosurgery is a tad worrying. Has any one had a cervical discectomy? The other thing I am worried about is that on my MRI there are other abnormalities including a spondylolisthesis, I have lost the normal lordosis and have another smaller disc prolapse at c3/4.
It is helpful being an MRI radiographer though, managed to get a scan within 3 days of the symptoms starting!
Hi, I can't say anything to ease your worry but will watch with interest, I too have just been diagnosed with a lose of normal lordosis and spondylothesis , I have an MRI on Sunday the 28th. I had never heard of either of those terms until now! Oh and apparently I have an extra vertebrae?I have a prolapsed disc in my c-spine at the c5-6 level which is causing me all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms, starting from the top I have pain in my neck radiating into my shoulder, someone keeps inserting red hot needles into my shoulder blade, if I cough or laugh I get a another needle along my clavicle, my biceps feels like it is being stabbed, my triceps feel odd and someone has got my forearm in a vice and is squeezing it. I also get my a feeing like my wrist is on fire, my hand and fingers have pins and needles and my thumb feels like it belongs to someone else.
I know these are all due to the compression of the nerve roots supplying my arm, the thing I am worried about is that I think I will need surgery, I have never had any form of surgery at all and jumping straight in to neurosurgery is a tad worrying. Has any one had a cervical discectomy? The other thing I am worried about is that on my MRI there are other abnormalities including a spondylolisthesis, I have lost the normal lordosis and have another smaller disc prolapse at c3/4.
It is helpful being an MRI radiographer though, managed to get a scan within 3 days of the symptoms starting!
I do however know someone who has had disc surgery and has been fully pain and symptom free since.
mark.c said:
GOG440 said:
Hi all
I have a prolapsed disc in my c-spine at the c5-6 level which is causing me all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms, starting from the top I have pain in my neck radiating into my shoulder, someone keeps inserting red hot needles into my shoulder blade, if I cough or laugh I get a another needle along my clavicle, my biceps feels like it is being stabbed, my triceps feel odd and someone has got my forearm in a vice and is squeezing it. I also get my a feeing like my wrist is on fire, my hand and fingers have pins and needles and my thumb feels like it belongs to someone else.
I know these are all due to the compression of the nerve roots supplying my arm, the thing I am worried about is that I think I will need surgery, I have never had any form of surgery at all and jumping straight in to neurosurgery is a tad worrying. Has any one had a cervical discectomy? The other thing I am worried about is that on my MRI there are other abnormalities including a spondylolisthesis, I have lost the normal lordosis and have another smaller disc prolapse at c3/4.
It is helpful being an MRI radiographer though, managed to get a scan within 3 days of the symptoms starting!
Hi, I can't say anything to ease your worry but will watch with interest, I too have just been diagnosed with a lose of normal lordosis and spondylothesis , I have an MRI on Sunday the 28th. I had never heard of either of those terms until now! Oh and apparently I have an extra vertebrae?I have a prolapsed disc in my c-spine at the c5-6 level which is causing me all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms, starting from the top I have pain in my neck radiating into my shoulder, someone keeps inserting red hot needles into my shoulder blade, if I cough or laugh I get a another needle along my clavicle, my biceps feels like it is being stabbed, my triceps feel odd and someone has got my forearm in a vice and is squeezing it. I also get my a feeing like my wrist is on fire, my hand and fingers have pins and needles and my thumb feels like it belongs to someone else.
I know these are all due to the compression of the nerve roots supplying my arm, the thing I am worried about is that I think I will need surgery, I have never had any form of surgery at all and jumping straight in to neurosurgery is a tad worrying. Has any one had a cervical discectomy? The other thing I am worried about is that on my MRI there are other abnormalities including a spondylolisthesis, I have lost the normal lordosis and have another smaller disc prolapse at c3/4.
It is helpful being an MRI radiographer though, managed to get a scan within 3 days of the symptoms starting!
I do however know someone who has had disc surgery and has been fully pain and symptom free since.
The loss of lordosis means that instead of your neck having a nice curve it is dead straight, the spondylolisthesis is the vertebrae are slipping forwards. An extra vertebra is a normal variant, so nowt to worry about.
Very glad to hear that your friend has been pain and symptom free, good to know that they had a good outcome and I hope mine is as good.(and yours obviously)
GOG440 said:
The MRI scan is dead easy, a lot of scanners will allow you to listen to music, just shut your eyes, chill out as much as possible and you will be fine.
The loss of lordosis means that instead of your neck having a nice curve it is dead straight, the spondylolisthesis is the vertebrae are slipping forwards. An extra vertebra is a normal variant, so nowt to worry about.
Very glad to hear that your friend has been pain and symptom free, good to know that they had a good outcome and I hope mine is as good.(and yours obviously)
I had heard that you can listen to music but wondered if the lads were just winding me up The loss of lordosis means that instead of your neck having a nice curve it is dead straight, the spondylolisthesis is the vertebrae are slipping forwards. An extra vertebra is a normal variant, so nowt to worry about.
Very glad to hear that your friend has been pain and symptom free, good to know that they had a good outcome and I hope mine is as good.(and yours obviously)
. The loss of lordosis is in my lower spine which is also where the slippage seems to be occuring. Im hoping the MRI will detail exactly what is going so that I can head in the right direction (have had physio, chiro for several months with little effect)We shall wait and see.Yep my friend is doing fine so fingers crossed for you, I have the greatest of sympathy for anyone with real backpain.
I'm on the waiting list too. C5/C6 and C6/7
I'm not overly concerned about surgery, all that I've read elsewhere seems really positive. I'm sure it's quite sensible to be concerned about any kind of surgery around the spinal column but I'm confident they know what they're doing.
I'm not overly concerned about surgery, all that I've read elsewhere seems really positive. I'm sure it's quite sensible to be concerned about any kind of surgery around the spinal column but I'm confident they know what they're doing.
Edited by RichieSlow on Friday 19th June 12:23
The other half had a C5-C6 ceramic disc replacement surgery. All the symptoms went away immediately & that was a couple of years ago. Touch wood all has been well since.
Of course cases & possible treatments vary, but it seems the fairly new ceramic replacement discs are a far better option than fusing vertebrae together, which just moves the problem elsewhere.
Of course cases & possible treatments vary, but it seems the fairly new ceramic replacement discs are a far better option than fusing vertebrae together, which just moves the problem elsewhere.
I had 2 lumbar discs explode 10 years ago so ended up having an L5/S1 fusion and L4/5 Artificial Disc Replacement. The ADR option was relatively new at the time...and was much better than the possible double fusion option!!
Due to the severity of the injury I was in a bad way prior to surgery, could hardly walk etc.. The surgery was done anteriorally (through the front), and after a few months recovery my symptoms improved significantly to what they were. I have some restricted movement due to the fusion, but the ADR has been fine.
I thought I'd add my post op scan image.
Due to the severity of the injury I was in a bad way prior to surgery, could hardly walk etc.. The surgery was done anteriorally (through the front), and after a few months recovery my symptoms improved significantly to what they were. I have some restricted movement due to the fusion, but the ADR has been fine.
I thought I'd add my post op scan image.
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