I'm having kind of a bad day and can't see the doc again until Monday. If anybody knows about this stuff firsthand, it's probably one of you. It's from the injury that ended my military career 12 years ago. Things have finally progressed to a breaking point and I've been referred to neurosurgery. Three herniated discs with arthritic central protrusions, did not respond to direct steroidal injection nor three months of PT.
Yeah, I know a bit about them. If it is bad enough for a whack, you don't have much choice there. Find a neurosurgeon and get the whack. ACDF, y0.
Aquatic therapy as opposed to standard PT is needed. I have a decent amount of bones mass from my T1, T2 and T3 removed and need to manage to get into the pool at least 5 times a week for it not to be a mess.
They've come a long way with back surgery nowadays. Wouldn't wait too long as the longer you put it off the less chance of recovery. Injured spine will never be the same as before injury but a good surgeon can make life easier. SWMBO learned the hard way about waiting too long before she had lumbar back surgery last year. She has less pain and able to do more than before the surgery but has some lingering effects in her legs. Before surgery she couldn't walk to the end of the driveway without pain. Now she's walking a mile. Leg issues are sporadic pain or numbness in spots on her legs but doesn't really interfere with movement, just annoying.
I fought for a surgical option when the injury happened and was told that the risks for the surgery outweighed the risks of not. About every 2 years since then it's been a round of injections and PT and MRI's, always only showing 1 herniated disc. Within the last year it progressed to 3 discs and no relief at all from anything. Tried medications, PT, massage, and injections.
Follow up with the MRI doc Monday morning, neurosurgery consult already approved by insurance. Just need to hook up with the right neuro doc and get the ball rolling. I already have permanent damage (left ulnar nerve release was done too late to save all of the feeling in my left pinky and ring fingers, carpal tunnel in both wrists).
Any idea of downtime for something like this?
What do you mean by "downtime"? Car racing with a helmet is going to be out for a LONG TIME. Football, out permanently. It's probably out already, but I'm just using it as an example. You will be at a minimum weeks before you're moving around somewhat better. A 3 level cervical fusion is not a small procedure. It is a big one. One level is a big job. Not super big, but pretty big.
Also, as I tell anyone getting a whack, a surgeon can't put you back together as good as God did. The best a surgeon can do is to make you not as berkeleyed up as you are now.
In reply to Dr. Hess:
And cue the atheists in 3, 2, 1...
Dang, Jav, best of luck to you. We need you healthy and in the garage turning out AMC content! :-)
I have had 2 cervical fusions done. 1st was in 1995 at c5-6. Doctor told me I was ready to race after 6 weeks. 2nd was done in January 2016 after I was rear ended and herniated the disc @ c4-5. I am now fused from c4-6. Recovery was 8 weeks until cleared to race again. I had a huge crash in the race car in July with absolutely no problems. I was wearing my Defender H&N restraint. Don't procrastinate on getting the surgery, the longer you wait the more damage is done.
"Just go to any old chiropractor".
-----worst advice ever!
Seriously, find a good surgeon. Follow his advice. Follow up with PT and do what they tell you, the whittling is only half the battle. Good luck man!
Man that is not one you want to hear. My brother is a neurosurgeon in Louisiana. I can get him look at the films if you want some additional advise based on someone who is not going to do the surgery.
I might know a thing or two about this.
If an artificial disc is an option, do it.
Everyone I've met who has been fused has been furiously jealous of the functionality I've retained.
Dr. Wohns is the best in the business.
And happens to practice in Puyallup.
Neospine
I heard a surgeon say that the only time you should do surgery on your back or neck is when the injury is in danger of causing paralysis. He said all other conditions are made worse in most cases. Aside from this, I know nothing, but this guy is someone who's opinion I respect. You can always decide to do surgery, you can never undo it. Good luck, sorry to hear that you're uncomfortable, back and neck stuff is a nightmare. I was hit by a dd while parked and was absolutely in agony for years. When I reached the end of my rope, I tried yoga, which helped immensely, I went from constant 6+Pain for several years, with 7-8 2-3 days a week to 0-2 most days with 5+ maybe monthly. In other words unmanageable to quite manageable. I thought it wasn't for me, but neither was excruciating pain so...
SnowMongoose wrote: I might know a thing or two about this.
I had no idea such an option existed. Thank you!
Everyone, thank you for all of the advice. Add I said, this is from my military injury 13 years ago. Normally I can get back to a livable place with some combination of physical therapy, injections, medication, and massage. I already do yoga and have shed a ton of weight (vegan). This go round I got no relief from anything and the MRI results were much worse. It's the first time it showed three discs with the problems. Follow up with the MRI doc is tomorrow morning.
Good luck. I had to have a "cleanout" on 3x discs in my lower back about 10 years ago. Recovery time for me was 8 weeks to get back to where I could return to work. (This was when I was about 35 and relatively healthy otherwise.) Feeling like I could move freely without fear of pulling/reinjuring something was another month/month and a half. Some activities are still a "no go" (go-karts, wave runners, moving heavy furniture, etc). I'm about 90% back to where I was pre-surgery. If you have lost feeling/nerve damage anywhere, get in ASAP. The longer you wait, the longer/more incomplete the healing will be.
I hear good stuff about synthetic discs as opposed to fusions. I have a former co-worker who broke a disc fusion twice with a couple of fairly routine falls on ice/snow. Given the long term prognosis from my surgeon, I'll probably need another round somewhere later in life. The availability of synthetic discs will be my first question at that point.
I'm in a similar boat. If you'd continue to share your experience with it, I'd be happy to read about it. I'm not sure where I want to head with mine, L4, L5 disc issues. PT doesn't seem to work long term despite home stretching. Just can't seem to maintain it. Modified behavior has prevented recurrences, but my flexibility is horrid.
I got nothing to relate with, but just to hope the docs figure out something to get you some relief.
Until you get healed up enough to race again, this may be a great excuse to build simulator: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/
Doc got snowed in until tomorrow. I'm considering just going to the VA and having them take over, but you know, it's the VA...
sesto elemento wrote: I heard a surgeon say that the only time you should do surgery on your back or neck is when the injury is in danger of causing paralysis. He said all other conditions are made worse in most cases....
I worked with one of the world's greatest spine surgeons. He told me: "I can teach a monkey how to operate. I can not teach a man not to operate."
My 1st fusion was done through the VA. The surgical team was from Hershey Med Center, basically as contractors to the VA. The surgery was done at the Lebanon, Pa. VA hospital. I was in the hospital from Thursday to the following Monday, surgery was on Friday. At my request the fusion was secured with a plate. I was able to do limited work within 10 days ( my doctor was unaware of this ) and actually repaired and painted a damaged racecar 15 days after the surgery. I wouldn't necessarily recommend that level of immediate activity, but at 6 weeks the surgeoh tol me I was completely healed. I was 50 yo at the time.
Doc put in an urgent referral to neurosurgery at OHSU, which is good.
Yesterday all the snow and ice melted so I drove the Cobra today. I am now literally laying on the floor with an ice pack on my neck and numbing out on medication. Apparently I can't drive stick anymore???
In reply to Javelin:
It's likely more of an "at this moment" problem than an "anymore" problem.
In reply to MrJoshua:
I really hope so because right now I'm hurting like crazy and am not in a good place.
Yeah, rest that neck. Let's get a NSGY Consult here and see what they say. HINT: Bring copies of your MRI with you. Or at very least, a day or two before, call up the NSGY clinic and make sure your MRI is there or they have access to it.
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