ACDF C4-C7 (3 levels) 3 YEARS POST SURGERY *Follow up from being in the hospital over the weekend
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 тра 2023
- Thank you everyone for checking in on me
I spent the weekend in the hospital in terrible pain
Here's the update from the images and after speaking with the neurosurgeon
I’m sorry for being so grouchy.
Let me know if I can answer any questions
❤️
ACDF C4-C7 + issues and pain
So sorry for your pain.
I'm 8 weeks post surgery c3-c7. I've had that pain and it will suck the life out of you. Prayers for you!
No one should have dismissed you, I totally agree with you, sending prayers your way
So sorry for your situation. Drs need to listen to their patients. Now I'm very concerned about my upcoming C3-C7. I hope that you feel better soon.
Hi Kim, so sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I’m been watching your videos thanks so much for sharing. I pray you will find a good lasting resolution to your pain.
Sending you healing vibes and thanking you for continuing to share your journey. Don't let anyone make you feel invalidated due to their incapacity to treat you. Glad your looking into other opinions.
Sending positive thoughts and vibes!Also, I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Texas Back Institute and people having revisions done there.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Wow. Thank you for keeping us posted.
I'm serious
My heart goes out to you on the east coast. I just had 3 level fusion done on April 10th & I feel you. 😢After suffering for nine straight months of constant numbness and tingling in both arms…shoulders to fingers. And the pain that comes with it. Stay strong girl ! My surgery has helped, but I can only imagine three years from now. I’ve watched your videos because you stay straight up your funny & you have that tenacity to keep pushing forward. Like you said in your video “can’t stop”! I know that…posture and how we stand is a big factor in our pain management. Especially that fucking pain right where YOUR pain is on your spine.YES ! Marijuana does help. Whether you smoke the flower? Eat the edibles or smoke the wax. And I’ve been thinking about acupuncture. I really think it would help with those of us who do suffer with nerve damage/issues.
Keep up the fight !
Hi kim just found your videos and im sending lots of good vibes .im thinking of getting fusion but im in PT at moment but my life been a mess with my c4 to c7 crap. Pain and balance issue and a bundle of offer stuff. Keep strong and honestly your ranting sounds like me and its cool rant away any one going through this knows it .
Hope you’re healing soon I just have 15 days post C4-C7 I hear you and feel in your situation. Keep positive🙏 (Try cbd). Helps me before mine surgery a lot. Be bless. 🇵🇷🙏
I'm facing more surgery after my first ACDR C3-4, that went well so far so good but the rest of my spine, cervical thoracic lumbar is in really bad shape, so I feel your pain. Wishing you all the best. 🌴🌴
Sorry to hear what you passing through. I have extra neck collar
I wish you a speedy recovery. I think you are right in getting other doctors opinions because this is not a simple problem. Did you ask the doctor if your symptoms were from the abnormal alignment of the cervical vertebrae causing muscle strains which put pressure on the nerves? I hope you get well soon.
I think some doctors fall into a lull and forget that what they are offering is really scary to patients. You would think they are cashiers and we are items that they scan and load into a bag.
My surgeon consult was so cavalier that I did not "just make an appointment for the next week or two" as he recommended. I left there and haven't been back. I spoke to my ortho doc who referred me to him and she said she wasn't trying to push me into surgery but because I have balance issues and my MRI shows, blah blah blah. Ef that surgery.
I am living plant based and PT, neck decompression/traction, icing twice daily and using a soft collar for sleep.
I feel immediate relief. But since you have already had surgery, traction may not be recommended.
I really hope you find the right blend of things that work for you. You look amazing if that helps. Take good care
thank you, i also hope that you continue to do well !
I am so sorry 😢 I have all of your symptoms and thought I was nuts until I heard you. I had surgery just over twenty years ago and injured myself lifting at work 25 years ago. I also had my first surgery done by an orthopedic and my second by a neurologist. Now I am on nerve medication 6 5mg OxyContin botox and a lot of migraine medication and still have nerve pain, numbness and weakness . It is so hard to get help with the pain now. I hope you find a doctor who will help you because you are not crazy no matter what they see on the MRI.
i also hope you have more good days than not
I’m. So sorry to hear about your issues. My God this sounds awful!
I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. This is ridiculous. Something has to be compressing a nerve
I feel for your pain Kim because I know how painful that feels. For me has been happening for the last 18 months 24/7 pain even after cervical laser surgery in Florida back in Aug 2023.. I have been going crazy with the unstoppable pain. I went to hospital emergency too in October 2023. They kept me for 16 hours before they gave me Oxycodone for the pain. Then they dismissed me at 3AM. I am in Melbourne Australia and here the health care system really sucks. I tried acupuncture too. For me it was a waste of money. I did 10 sessions at $90 per hour and no pain relief. For people like us that have been in chronic pain, our central nervous system has brcome sensitised. There is a type of pain called nociplastic pain which means your CNS is triggering false pain alarms without a cause. The other types of pain are neuropathic IE nerve pain and nociceptive which is set off when there is damage, an injury to your body. I really hope that your going to get over this pain eventually but it won't be perfect.
that makes a lot of sense! i hope you're getting some relief
You are a inspiration Kim I think about you
Oh snap girl, i feel ur pain. I was watching ur videos cuz im thinking about doing either 3 or 4 level fusion. Waiting on updated MRI to determine how many to do. I related to ur anxiety in ur 1st video. As i followed u, i thought it was gona be all good. But. Now that ur having issues 3 years down the road im freaking out again. im in a lot of pain right now and have constant headaches and the nerve pain going down mainly my right arm into my fingers. Im glad that u had a real good run for a few years there and u were so happy. Maybe this is just a flare up. U said ur tired and ur thoughts are just running. I think u should def rest urself. Try epsom salt bath and then put some cryoderm on ur neck. Heat is good and alternate with cold too. Stay positive. Ur such a beautiful lady. I totally have all the same anxiety as u do especially when i have a bad flare up.Ur not alone. Thanks for the videos, they are so raw and so real. My thoughts get all messed up too and I just tell people that my brain is on pain mode and i cant think straight. Im sorry ur not doing well. It will get better i know it will. U got this, girl!! I believe in you😊 Rest up and recoup. Then take deep breaths and focus on getting better again. Sending healing vibes ur way. Take care.
I also have headaches a lot as well as pulsatile (sp) tinnitus. I hope it's just a flare up, but its been almost 3 weeks now. It really seems to be my ulnar nerve and anything that makes it stretch or move - irritates the hell out of it..
Thank you for the well wishes. I think about you getting the surgery, thats something only you can say yes or no to. Not the best answer, but it seems most ppl who get multilevel spine surgery have some sort of issues after.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 I am getting ready for a C2 to T2 laminectomy/fusion. C3,4,5 have good anterior fusions but screws broke at C6/7 and I have an incomplete fusion. I have what was called extreme stenosis at C2/3 and severe stenosis at C6/7 due to the incomplete fusion. I am having a lot of the symptoms you have but they do not seem to be as bad as you have. The neurosurgeon is doing my surgery posteriorly. I am hopeful this will help but I know it will be rough on me (I am 70). Prayers you get some relief soon.
Oh darling, Im feeling your pain, due for ACDF surgery In 2 days. Sending love ❤ x
hope you are doing well
@@KimWright Thank you!
So much better. Recovery has taken longer than expected but I’m definitely on the up xx 😘
im going through same exact pains spasms etc..same spot as you described i completly understand your misery hurts like no other pains ive had before left side. never had surgery but im about to i feel for you hope you are bettter
i hope you get some relief :(
Thank you very much for sharing. I got the same surgery one year ago. Before surgery I only feel numbness on one hand. But now I have pain like needle sticks on both arms. It getting worse than before surgery. My doctor can’t find why. I don’t know what to do now. Maybe I will try acupuncture . Let’s see.
As a pain researcher, I can say that there are indeed some fine neurosurgeons at Penn, as well as spine surgeons at Rothman at Jefferson. It may be worth a visit to NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Mt. Sinai, or Lenox Hill in NYC.
I note that your surgery was at Rothman. Def worthwhile thinking about Neil Malhotra at Penn, HUP.
@@infectdiseaseepidemiology2599 that’s exactly who I was going to consult with ❤️
I was in your shoes for 3 months july, August September 2023. Had surgery C8 T1 fusion ,October 17. I'm ok basically, still a few aches, but the pain level 12 ~15 was killing me daily. I feel your pain. Tride pot, made it worse.
same.. i have been researching pot bc I think it causes me to become dystonic and dyskinesia with muscle Spasticity = more pain and more awareness of pain
The song of our scars book written in 2022 by an MD with chronic pain explains why back pain issues continue post surgery. Hope you feel better soon.
Have you looked in to possible bone spur growth at C5-C6? I was fused from C3-C7 in two operations in 2018 and 2019 and still had severe pain and weakness down my right arm. Finally had a posterior foraminotomy at C5-C6 and he found a bone spur which he removed. Made such a difference! I am still dealing with constant pain like you but I'm off all meds for now and able to deal. Hope you get better, stay strong!! ❤
Hello. I didn't look into it. Wouldn't that have been noted on my images? I hope you continue to manage the pain and you get to enjoy your day to days!!
@@KimWright It was never caught on any imaging report. I also had a 2.6cm styloid on my right side that was sticking into my carotid sheath causing nerve damage and occluding blood flow in both my ICA and IJV. Also never mentioned on any of my imaging. Unfortunately there is a lot they aren't looking for or don't find significant... Does your pulsatile tinnitus only occur in certain head positions?
Sooo feel 4 u hun x I was literally tearing up as was in excruciating pain as u explained for 2wks in March, only managed 2 rid the pain by doing ulnar nerve median& radian nerve exercises off ov utube& lots ov red wine& codeine, not great but I'm alone 2, it's horrible, & meditating 2 get some rest as didnt sleep neither, been2 see a neuro surgeon yesterday after they eventually done a mri& apparently I need C7/t1 decompression & fusion & apparently I hava cyst grown there🤯 I'm in shock & don't knw wot 2 think as alone& they want 2 do it in next month🙈 I'm terrified tbh& I was ushered out ov clinic matter ov factly, I've tried acupuncture & didn't do anyfin, just thought I'd send you some healing vibes& virtual hugs& share my headf#k with u, hope u don't mind🫂🌺💛 xx
Def investigating ulnar nerve stuff. I hope you have many pain free days;
I hope they figure out your stuff,
Thanks for your videos! I relate to you so much. I'm getting C-3 through C-6, in 10 days. I'm absolutely terrified!
Feeling any better?
@KimWright well, my surgery is4 days away. My pain is not bad, though I know I have to have this surgery due to degeneration, stenosis, nerve damage, etc. Maybe that's why (not much pain), I'm so terrified for the surgery. I'm the "Google everything" person, so my fear is escalated for sure.
@@user-ln9hs8jc5z STOP w google.. You decided to do it, and changes are if you are in a dangerous place.. it might be best decision.. but I totally get it!
I hope you get some relief
Thank you Kim!❤️
I have disc extrusion c5c6 injury..with cord contusion.Now I am healed without surgery.. I know jesus heal me... Just believed in Jesus.. he is alive and want to heal you..what u need is believed in him... May god healed you.. Sister..Amen🙌
I'm so sorry you are going through hell...My Neurosurgeon recommended a Mylogram along with a CT scan. i had it done in January. Please look into it. Its more complex than an MRI. Also try to have a Nerve Study done. I found your UA-cam channel right before my surgery 12/22/21. I remember how scared I was thinking if Kim can get through it, so could I. Over a period of a month, I had incredible pain down both arms. It was sharp, intense.. I couldn't sleep or get comfortable. Not long after that I noticed I couldn't feel my armpits; they were completely numb. A few weeks went by; I tried stretching on the floor face down and noticed my stomach was numb. I couldn't feel myself walk. My legs became numb. I was referred by my general doctor to an Orthopedic Surgeon and physical therapy. (My General doctor told me I had Gastritis...a bunch of BS) First available appt was PT. I could barely walk. I was so scared and in a lot of pain. PT sent me straight to the ER, St Jude Fullerton CA. I was greeted by the ER doctor. She only wanted to take an MRI of my lumbar. I explained my condition and was immediately checked in. Before I even got dressed from the MRI of my entire spine... Dr. Ho, Neurosurgeon was waiting for me to look at the results. Scariest moment of my life. He said if I didn't have ACDF and Laminectomy I wou;d end up like Christopher Reeve; quadrapaligic. I had to make a hard decision to have the surgery. I had the decompression surgery and stayed in the hospital for 6 days. I had to relearn how to walk and use my hands. It's been almost 1.5 years and still have numbness on both hands and both of my legs. Praying the Epidural I received this Wednesday kicks it. Hang in there, praying for you Kim.
How old are you Andy?
@@emishi2012 52 but 50 when this started
I'm going through exact same.
I had the same, but I had a steroid injection in my neck nad it stopped. They need to find what is pushing on the nerve and get the epidural there. If they do it well and find PIT which nerve is impinged, you will find some relief. I had both of my hands partially paralysed. So the injection really helped.
I was the same last week. Took work time off and I walked the hell out of it and it went away. I didn’t have surgery but I have an herniated disc in my c6/7. I was particularly stressed last week. As the stress factor went away (work) the pain subsided. Maybe the same helps?
June and July I had so much pain could not sleep back to er twice thought I was going die I went with a orthopedic he done both my SI joints and my back surgery
that pain is intolerable and so "silent" to others unless we make noise
You are in my prayers I just had my surgery may 30 2023 love to send you my x rays I had 1 plate and 10 screws
i wouldn't know how to read it lol but im hoping you are doing well!
Maybe musculoskeletal ?
Perhaps posture due to your Telle work ? Small postural change set your whole muscular skeletal system amuck. Curvature of your cervical spine in-tack?
Studies do not correlate damage of spine to pain so there are other processes at work. Just giving ideas 💡 and sending positive energy 😘
I had the same thing done but had 1 to 7 done. 3-03 23
1-7?? how are you? can you share more of your story?
Kim...are you making any progress since this video?
Question...did u comply with physical therapy after your surgery? I've done PT for 6 weeks b4 my surgery scheduled 5/24. I wish you the best ❤
I did PT after the surgery but had to stop bc I developed the ulnar nerve issue and I was not allow to do it. Then eventually time passed. I went back to it recently but I don't like who Im capitated to. And tnh, I don't do all the exercises at home due to discomfort and fear.
I am sure there are things I can and could have done better. Def eat a lot of protein and stay as active as you can and do things to strengthen your neck and ab muscles.
@@KimWright good evening Kim! Had C3-4, 4-5 fusion a week ago this evening & tremendous results. Fingers hands lower legs & feet/toes getting feeling back! I know my work has just begun w/PT. Have been thinking of & your symptoms this past month. Be careful.
I haven’t been following all of your progress, so maybe you have already done this, but have they considered doing nerve conduction studies in your arm? Could be ulnar nerve crush and might need cubical tunnel surgery (and possibly carpal tunnel). I know you are absolutely miserable and deservedly angry, but keep looking and doing what you are doing. There IS an answer and you will find it! And you will look back on this and say, “Well, that was fu--d, but THANK GOODNESS I KEPT LOOKING!” 🎉
Hello. Yeah- I did the EMG and they said the ulnar nerve stuff is coming from the neck, but I have a note out to my Dr about moving the ulnar nerve or something
Thank you for your feedback !
I really feel for you!!!! Have you tried gabapentin in large doses 1500 mg/day or even more unless I’ve missed it in your updates.
Looks like from your images you have congenital stenosis so there's barely any room for your spinal cord it's very tight in there and you are prone to compression of nerves....Dr Deuk is a world renowned specialist at this.
Real spiel
Wow. BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. You need to gk to Mayo or something.
Your pain is visible.
If you nerve pain could be the medicine
Withdrawal gabapentin anything that acts on nerve pain will also cause nerve pain look into it
Thank you for the feedback. Unfortunately the nerve pain started out of the blue and I was on no medicine. The GABA is something I just got put on to try to calm some of the nerve pain even though it’s not helping.
Hi this is Lisa so I had the fusion in 21. I'm sure you've read my texting. It's not so great. I'm sormy autocorrect is terrible so I apologize anyway. I have carpal tunnel in both hands and the right hand is back with the vengeance after having a quarter zone shot. Last July I have to get it fixed I can't take it. I wake up in the middle of the night screaming my hand is on fire and my 3 fingers are numb all the way to my 4 arm have. You checked to see if you have carpal tunnel. I didn't think I had that and I do. My next seems to be doing fine tomorrow. Is my 2nd year cat scanned of my neck? I know what you mean you need to put ice in a sock wrap it around your wrists so that you won't wake up with that pain trust me. It works my husband is a first responder and he has to do it every night to me. Wrap my arm but last night he didn't and I woke up screaming like someone was burning my hand the numbness I can't put on my. Necklace I can't put on my clothes. It's horrible. I'm not gonna get any more cortisone shots although I only had one on my wrist last year I'm gonna get it fixed. I'm gonna pray for you my friend
I’ve had Carpal Tunnel in both wrists and C5-C7 fusing and C6 Corpectomy. My thumb, index and middle finger are still numb 1.5 years after surgery. What she is describing is definitely Cervical Spine Nerve pinching. Nerve blockers will help but it’s not something you want to be on long term.
I so get your pain & being dismissed Happened to me last Wednesday then yesterday Pain Management crying in their office wont prescribe anything but muscle relaxer becuase I consume Cannabis WTF
I agreed to try TPI if Ins will Approve
Im 57 yrs old
ACDF C 6 -7 -T1
Aug 2022
December 2022 3 Violent sneezes got me all Jacked Up on Right Side..Life with Chronic Spine Pain Suck it Up Smoke Ya Cannabis Or Give Up Cannabis & we put you on Opiods...Whats Wrong with Cannabis Long act Percocet or Vicodin for BT Short Act
Its Human Cruelty.
His recovery is one hour
where is he located?
Never go to an orthopedic surgeon for a neurological problem. They are not all the same. Only one of them, the neurosurgeon has the required training to deal with compressed nerves. The pain you are describing is radiculopathy. Likely the surgeon did not space the vertebrae far enough apart to relieve the compression on your nerve. The neurosurgeon who is passing you off is covering his own ass because he doesn't want to have to try and clean up what the orthopedic surgeon did. Likely you could have permanent nerve damage that surgery won't help. Doctors have a problem with truth-telling and honesty.
yeah. i am sensing that the nerve is dead. I am ok with not feeling it but I dont want to lose all function of the fingers/hand .. I am going back at the end of the month to a neuro bc I am having more/new issues
please stop moving your head around so much ... I just think you're talking with your head too much and you really need to let your neck rest. I can see it on the video. I need to get my neck fixed I'm so worried because I have lived with this most of my life and only discovered it was due to my neck 10 years ago when I pretty much stopped any activity. I'm 47 now. I wish you luck but I just hope your neck heals.
Thanks for the tip
Its tough.. I am a therapist and have to be present and responsive to my clients.. but yes.. I try
I hope you have found some relief
I fought my insurance and got to see my neurosurgeon finally. He is Dr Jeffery Wang from Keck USC. He has a great energy and is very compassionate. I don’t know if you have insurance that would allow you to see him or even maybe a consult where you can send him your images and see what he says. The pain and nerve issues are going to be a part of life sadly. I have days like you where I spasm and have that level 10 pain. My cord was affected because of the compression so it’s damaged. You have like no cushion around yours, I saw one of your images, so that’s gonna give you issues. I have the same issues with sex as well. No one tells you that you’re not gonna be able to do certain positions or activities. The implementation of toys is a help in that department. I don’t have much feeling and climax is hit and miss. But I would suggest trying CBD oil with THC in it. It helps with pain and muscle relaxing. I find it better because I don’t sick from the opioid meds and I pick different dosages for different levels of pain. But to be brutally honest, it’s sucks ass. All the videos about people getting it done and going back to their normal lives, that is the 80% and then there is the 20% who have symptoms for the rest of our lives. I had to make peace with the fact I’m rebuilding myself again into a different version of myself. It’s given me moderate to severe depression because of all of it. It’s also forced me to rely on other people for things I used to do on my own. I went from being able to lift 50-60 lbs to only lifting a gallon of milk. No more pushing a one ton truck up the street for me. So it’s unfortunate but things you did before you can’t do now. I don’t shave my nether regions anymore because that would probably send me into vertigo hell. 😂 But seriously try the CBD with TCH for the pain and spasms. I got some from five CBD and joy organics.
😥❤🩹 Feeling your same pain. Can't sleep on my right side anymore, it provides a bit of relief. Received an epidural a few weeks ago, it seemed to help, moderately. It may benefit you.. Another MRI for me a couple of weeks. CT scan this week inconclusive. Neurosurgeon was proud of his work but may have caused subsequent damage.. You are not alone.