Several months ago I started getting numbness in my left hand fingers - the pinky and next two fingers. After a few months my right forearm started getting numb and my right hand weakened.
My research and medical views may be that I had something going on at C 5-6-7. I lean forward on my job all day with neck strain.
Nerve conduction is still good, so says the neurologist. Any thoughts on what might be happenning.
In Reply to: numbness posted by Bob on July 17, 1998 at 09:54:37:
From the information given there is good indication that there is at least one cervical disc that is buldging.
Of course my advice is to seek a chiropractic evaluation and possible treatment prior to anything more invasive. The biomechanics, on a segmental level, in the cervical spine can be corrected to resolve the abnormal forces on the disc. Discs are not capable of acting alone and require forces from the vertebrae above and below to create a problem. When the biomechanics are correct, any force of the disc to the posterior will usually be stopped by what is known as the posterior longitudinal ligament. With a "lateral tipping" and/or rotation in one segment, as it relates to another, the groundwork is laid for that disc to protrude to one side or the other of that ligament and put pressure on the nerves that emit.
Other things that will help conditions like this are orthopedic pillows, skilled relaxtion to some degree, and obviously not flexing the cervical spine any more than necessary.
There is another condition called thoracic outlet syndrome which involves the throacic spine and the shoulder girdle. As the nerves make their way down through areas of little tolerance a change in the musculoskeletal funtion of that region can cause entrapment of neural and/or vascular structures.
Through the orthopedic and neurlogic tests that chiropractor use, we can determine where the dysfunction is and begin to actively correct it and give you ways to help it along. If you need help finding someone in your area to see I will be more than glad to give you a few names of chiropractors who appear to me to be most likely to help you resolve this problem.
In Reply to: numbness posted by Bob on July 17, 1998 at 09:54:37:
Dear Bob,
Listen to Doc Dave. If you do not get relief quickly, use the archives & read everything you can find about spinal conditions frequently surgerized.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
Last September I fractured/compressed three vertebrae when an apartment patio bannister gave way. I was unconscious until after surgery had been performed, when they told me they'd fused T11:L2. It turns out there are actually 5 fused together (the surgeon's explanation is that he "lost count"). There are two bars and four pins in my back now. I recovered fairly well and went back to work after three months, but the past three weeks have become more and more painful. I'm having spasms every ten minutes or so and the muscles around the rib cage and under the shoulder blade are driving me crazy. What options do I have? I see an spinal specialist, who has told me it isn't a good idea to have the surgery, but it scares me to think the pain is this bad only 9 months after the original accident. They're still not sure if I can carry a baby to term (I'm 24 and miscarried in January). I've read all of the archives relating to spinal injury, and it scares me even more. Any help would be sincerely appreciated.
In Reply to: Spinal fusion hardware posted by Carolyn on July 17, 1998 at 19:03:36:
Dear Carolyn,
You still have a lot of years to live with this back! i would suggest you consider learning about the things you read in the archives. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get this under control.
The first thing I would do is learn an effective skilled relaxation technique (as described on the FAQ page) and find a close Certified Rolfer for temporary relief.
If you need more background, read the references recomended in all of your archive reading.
Youa re likely going to have to have your hardware removed. Any healing of the fusions has surely already taken place. I would not consider removal till you have accomplished reversing WHY you are still having trouble (archives).
Doc Dave may have some suggestions for you for temporary relief. If you have not heard from him in a few days, you might reenter your note, including his name in the title to attract his attention.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Spinal fusion hardware posted by Walt Stoll on July 18, 1998 at 08:43:32:
Thanks for your advice. This has been a frightening experience, especially waking up with an extra couple of pieces of metal that are now part of me. I appreciate your taking time to respond to questions you've heard 10K times.
Carolyn
i am generaly in good healh , however recently have developed severe pains over the low back with radiation to both battocks , i have also been admitted to Hospital for about two weeks A CT Scan was done and was found to have " Disc prolapse at L4 - L5"
MRI showed sequastrated disc prolapse at L4-L5 with sub ligamentous migration. the hospital here advised f me to undergo a disectomy, this worry me a lot i wonder weather there could be other treatment that are probably based on physiotherapy?
In Reply to: Re: Disc prolapse posted by sulaiman al harthy on July 22, 1998 at 11:02:53:
Dear Sulaiman,
Go to the link: spinal archives and read everything you can find there about spinal conditions frequently surgerized.
Not only is the information you need there but I personally, early in my practice, had 5 bulging or ruptured discs (one of which was the same one you have) & was told I desperately needed surgery. I learned about diet & skilled relaxation and my symptoms disappeared within 6 months. I have had no back problems since & that was 25 years ago.
Since then, I saw the same results with my patients! Before that, all I knew was to offer pain pills, tranquilizers, braces & surgery. You DO have a choice!
Walt
Hi. Had L-3,4&5 fused ion 1/15 1991. Of course, pain brutal post-op, but like only half as bad each day after. Had the hardware - 2 rods, 6 screws, internal fixation - ... supposedly a better heal, more stability while healing with that. 5 days in hospital. Have to do the stretches and walk EVERYDAY without fail. No sitting for 3 months and full chair back brace for that time... tough to get used to.
Was certainly depressing at times, but with the hope of relief, I managed. There was burning, etc. Also came to a passing phase where I could only stand or lie for a couple hours each. Went back to work after 4 months, BUT I must say the heal wasn't finished for a year or more! Certainly not like a new back after 7 years, but can walk without pain. Slouthing aggrevates. Somewhat stiff and bending is somewhat limited... I'm careful about not bending too quickly or forcing any movement. It was a must for me.. couldn't live with the pain before the surgery. I'll certainly take what I have now over previous condition. Recuperation takes patience. Good luck.
Regards,
Harry
Can someone tell me how long a spinal fusion is expected to last under normal wear and tear?
In Reply to: spinal fusion posted by Bud on July 29, 1998 at 16:56:19:
This isn't the answer to your question but may be of some interest to you.
The effect of postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration on spinal fusion.(example: aspirin, tylenol, advil, etc..)
Glassman SD, Rose SM, Dimar JR, Puno RM, Campbell MJ, Johnson JR
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky, USA.
"CONCLUSION: These data suggest that nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs significantly inhibit spinal fusion at doses typically used for postoperative pain control. The authors recommend that these drugs be avoided in the early postoperative period."
5-year reoperation rates after different types of lumbar spine surgery.
Malter AD, McNeney B, Loeser JD, Deyo RA
Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
"Unadjusted reoperation rates over the 5-year period were greater for patients who underwent fusion than for patients who underwent nonfusion surgery (18% vs. 15%, respectively.."
CONCLUSION: As in previous studies, complications
in the current study occurred more frequently among patients who underwent lumbar spine fusion than among those who underwent laminectomy or discectomy alone. Reoperations were at least as frequent after fusion, but the authors could not assess treatment efficacy in terms of pain relief or improved function. Although the characteristics of patients undergoing fusion differed from those undergoing a laminectomy or discectomy alone, there appeared to be sufficient overlap in the clinical populations to warrant closer scrutiny of the safety, efficacy, and indications for spinal fusions, preferably in randomized trials.
Back Muscle Injury After Posterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
Kawaguchi Y., Spine 1996 21:8;941-944
"Conclusions. Back muscle injury occurs in all patients who underwent posterior lumbar surgery, and these injuries are related to the retraction pressure, time, and extent of exposure."
Obviously the success of surgery is dependent on many things such as the surgeon, type of surgery, patient compliance, diet, bad habits like smoking, etc.. Especially a change in stress. I think the longer you can go with the fusion staying fused and the body not reabsorbing the bone that the more likely it will just stay that way. The real question is how much stress does it put on the joints directly above and below due to the complete lack of motion at that level and what are the surgery rates for those levels. Just something to think about.
Here is some more unsolicited information that I felt compelled to tag on.
"Nobody in America should be allowed to have back surgery unless they have
seen a Chiropractor first"
Robert Mendelsohn, M.D.
Former Chairman of the Medical Licensing Committee for the state of
Illinois, Associate Professor of Preventive medicine and Community Health in
the School of Medicine of the University of Illinois and the recipient of
numerous awards for excellence in medicine and medical instruction.
Dr. Mendelsohn stated, "My feeling is that somewhere around ninety percent
of surgery is a waste of time, energy, money and life." His conclusions in
this matter are supported by the recent publication of the Government
Guidelines by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), a
division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and by the
Independent Health Research Group, who say the number of unneccessary
operations total more than three million.
In Reply to: Re: spinal fusion posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on July 29, 1998 at 20:20:16:
Thanks, Doc Dave!
Once again, wonderful stuff. Your contributions need to be "required reading".
NSAIDS also aggravate LGS so as to increase some of the causes for these problems.
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: spinal fusion posted by Bud on July 29, 1998 at 16:56:19:
Dear Bud,
First of all, nearly ALL people who get a fusion have common causes that are not addressed by the surgery. All the surgery does is try to deal with the effects of those causes.
If you do not know what I mean about these causes, go to the archives for this 'site and read everything you can find about spinal conditions frequently surgerized.
What I am saying is that you likely do not have anything like "normal wear & tear" or you wouldn't have ever had the original condition.
A successful fusion, in the absence of the usual causes, should last forever (just as your original spine should have--
in the absence of detrimental causes). In thre presence of those causes, the average time is what the national statistics show for repeat surgery.
Walt