Spinal Problems Archives

Nerve damage from Bulging Cervical Disk

I had a Cervical Fusion (C4 & C5)with plate on 10/18//02. In August of 02 I has falled quite hard on a wet floor then in 09/02 I notice a walking imbalance and left arm pain. Original primary Dr. diagonsis was torn shoulder cuff. After falling a couple times and a visit to ER on 10/09/03 it was diagonsised as a bulging disk. Surgery was scheduled 10/18/02 which by that time I was not able to walk at all, leg weakness & stiffness and also left arm stiff. Surgery went fine, hospital stay was 5 days. I was walking 1 week after surgery, slow but with daily improvements. I returned to work (office type) 4 weeks after surgery. Physical Therapy for arm started in Dec 02, after a couple of weeks a tremendous pain in arm with more stiffness. Collar was removed 01/11/03 and more physical therapy which resulted in arm movement but after a couple of weeks balance and walking movement were declining. March Dr had x-rays taken, he thought the fusion looked fine but sent me to a nueroligist because of the plating finish and clearness of film. This Dr is scheduling EMG in a week. Now it is 05/03/03 and I am unable to walk again and having spasms, primary physician wants to call this permanent damage from prior nerve damage - Can this be happening ... what do you suggest.. (MRI in Jan 03 had some blockage of C4 & C5, yet physicial thought this was normal and that PT would help)..

Follow Ups:

• Re: Nerve damage from Bulging Cervical Disk (Urgent!) Archive in spinal. Walt Stoll 06:42:10 5/04/03 (0)

In Reply to: Nerve damage from Bulging Cervical Disk posted by Linda M. on May 03, 2003 at 17:28:54:

Hi, Linda M.

In my opinion, the original primary physician that diagnosed this as a "torn shoulder cuff" should not be practicing medicine. The simplest neurological examination at the time would have shown what this really was.

In my opinion, it is likely that the delay in diagnosis helped produce the permanent nerve damage that has likely occurred.

Christopher Reeves situation is what might have happened if this had progressed just a little longer. You are lucky. Now you have to do what you can to preserve what you have left and do the most you can with that. Reeves would be overjoyed to have what you have left.

I would ask for another neurologist to be called in consultation. The more minds you have working on this the more function you will have left when this is over. Every day now is important.

Let us know what you learn and how you do.

WEalt