Dear Cheri, I was astounded to find your page as this is virtually my own story! I too am a social worker, and also sustained a cervical spine injury [ C6/7 - C5-6 - C4-5 prolapses] following an assault by a substance intoxicated client during a crisis home visit. I was sufing the net for the first time to try to find outcome stats for cervical spine surgery as I have had several conflicting opinions regarding this option from both neuro. & orthopod. surgeons. I have chronic referred pain down both arms - severely restricted neck - shoulder & above shoulder movement + some sensory loss & sensory changes in both arms/hands.
The best info I can find so far is the 1/3rd stat for the lumbar spine. Most surgeons state cervical surgery is 'generally successful' (whatever that means!) for resolving referred pain - but far less successful for resolving neck pain. There is also the question of the level of residual internal scarring which such surgery leaves - which some say may cause as much pressure on the nerve root or spinal cord as the original disc material did.
It seems your position leaves you less choice in this decion than perhaps mine does - however I'd be very interested in hearing how you went. All the best, regards - Lin.
Follow Ups:
Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis
Posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on January 27, 1999 at 07:57:28:
In Reply to: C5-C7 & Paralysis posted by Lin Monash on January 27, 1999 at 00:37:37:
By very definition, "referred" pain is NOT successful with surgery. "Referred" pain(in this type of case) means that instead of actual nerve compression that there are spinal dysfunctions and/or muscular dysfunctions that are causing the pain and parasthesia(tingling).
Commonly, thoracic problems and lower cervical problems create a condition where all of the symptoms you describe occur. Generally there is increased pain with poor posture, driving, working with the hands raised, etc.. The back portion of the pain is usually located in the mid back, radiating out to the shoulder blades(one or both), radiating up into the neck, and sending referred pain into the arms which usually results in arm pain which is achey, but hand pain that is usally of the tingling/numbness type.
I know of NO case that this type of problem was EVER been helped by surgery.
Chiropractic, skilled relaxation, and maybe some rolfing.
These are the answers to the above problem.
There are many people who have BOTH disc prolapse and this problem. There are also many people who have disc problems that are NOT the cause of their pain. Hence, the large number of failed surgeries because the wrong parts are being treated.