C6 injury

[FlightPlanDan]

My back-snapper and massage theropist said I should see an orthapedic doc. It took 3 weeks to get in. Today was the appt.
Only saw a PA, but he seemed pretty good.
A pinched nerve (as supected) causing my entire left arm to go "to sleep".
However, x-rays showed multiple bone spurs, and a few bone chips floating in soft tissue.
Also showed little/no gap between vertibrea.
He said the disc was wasted.

Got a big shot of steroid in my hip area and a scrip for a steroid dose pack.
Gotta go back for an MRI b4 they shoot steroid in my neck.

He said the roids may ease inflamation enough to let what's left of the disc "kinda get back in there" (my words).
But said that surgery, although we'll try to avoid it, may be in my near future.

I'm gonna get a disc with the x-rays. If I can, I'll post 'em.

He said this was fairly common.
Cutting into my spine is not common to me.

Note: This happened 2-3 months ago. I've ridden since quite a bit. No pain, only the numbness.

 

[txsuperjetfreak96]

that sucks man, ive got an enlarged cervical spine that gets inflamed, really no pain at all my hands go numb after holding stuff for a while, like when i ride my ski, i just deal with it, theres a surgery for it , but they said the ppl that do have it still have the numbness, so really not worth it.

 

[SJBrit]

I had the surgery last year and it works really well. BUT it takes a long time to get back to full strength, like 4 to 6 months. If you're being advised to get the surgery then I would follow that advice - it's a very quick, safe and effective procedure. But, don't do what I did and hold out till January so you can't ski again till June. Go ahead and get it done at the end of this season so you can do all your recovering, therapy and getting fit again over the winter.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

that sucks man, ive got an enlarged cervical spine that gets inflamed, really no pain at all my hands go numb after holding stuff for a while, like when i ride my ski, i just deal with it, theres a surgery for it , but they said the ppl that do have it still have the numbness, so really not worth it.

Rather than getting cut on, I think I would deal with it as well.
But, I don't want to do further damage.
The Doc's are always gonna play it safe & tell you to take up checkers or something....

 

[FlightPlanDan]

I had the surgery last year and it works really well. BUT it takes a long time to get back to full strength, like 4 to 6 months. If you're being advised to get the surgery then I would follow that advice - it's a very quick, safe and effective procedure. But, don't do what I did and hold out till January so you can't ski again till June. Go ahead and get it done at the end of this season so you can do all your recovering, therapy and getting fit again over the winter.

Other avenues are not yet exhausted. But you're riding..right?

6 month recovery?

 

[SJBrit]

Yeah, but mine was really bad. Mine was pushing on my sciatic nerve causing excruciating pain in my leg and some numbness and loss of muscle control in my foot. For sure try other options, but if it gets to the point where surgery is required then I just wanted to let you know that it's a very effective surgery, but you do have to factor in the recovery time. Discs have very little blood supply so they take a very long time to heal. The surgeon told me 4 months to be 100% but after I described what I did on a jetski he suggested I wait 6 months to be sure!

 

[SJBrit]

And yes, I'm 100% back to normal now.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

And yes, I'm 100% back to normal now.

That's good to hear. I really would like to avoid surgery if possible. But good to hear.

I'm only numb in the left arm, thumb and forefinger most of the day. I can "make" it happen by the position of my head.

Neither the doc, nor I think this was a "one-time" thing. I guess I've been beating it up for 48 years.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I know quite a few chiros personally. They have been trained to loathe drugs and surgery and the only way they would ever reccomend surgery is if it was absolutely necessary. Ideally they want to get you before you get to that point but once you are so far gone, there really is only a few options left.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

I know quite a few chiros personally. They have been trained to loathe drugs and surgery and the only way they would ever reccomend surgery is if it was absolutely necessary. Ideally they want to get you before you get to that point but once you are so far gone, there really is only a few options left.

Just to be clear: my chiro did not reccommend surgery. He had adjusted me twice. The third time he said I was straight. But I was still having this numbness. Then came the massage lady....(BRUTAL)!!! I was knotted up hard from "guarding" the injury.
After 3-4 visits with her, they both suggested I see an orthapedist. And I respect that.

The "PA" said that surgery might be in my near future. Let's see what modern steroids can do. They won't give me the "good stuff" without first doing an MRI.

But I've already decided.(about this weekend). I'm riding. I rode 10 foot faces in crap conditions last weekend. I'll likely sit out the Thurs washing-machine, but as the wind comes out of the west......I'm there, even though it will be smaller.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

Definately riding Saturday.
Maybe Friday.

Can't be worse than last Sunday...(the 12 foot washing machine)

If I gotta be fixed.......F' it. I'm ridin'.

I knew this was coming. Just always thought it would be a lower back thing.

The hurricanes don't call prior.

 

[Sanoman]

We are all getting to that age where we need to be more careful.But that sucks! Maybe we can jump our wheelchairs at the home!

 

[FlightPlanDan]

We are all getting to that age where we need to be more careful.But that sucks! Maybe we can jump our wheelchairs at the home!

There is too much I wanna do...(tricks). Pearling is what caused the visit to the doc. Rolling under-water, hanging onto the ski....

Maybe "don't let go" works for air tricks, maybe not for carving.

Either way, I've found my mistakes, (at least one) when riding a face. Gotta use some angle. Can't go 180 at the trough. Surviving is better than looking cool.
Got some really good rides in the crappy monster surf .....on Monday.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

Now my damn insurance won't pay for an MRI.

Reason: I haven't gone thru 4 weeks of PT and anti inflamitory treatment.

WTF

(btw: I'm a county employee with some really good insurance)

 

[FlightPlanDan]

Update: lol.
The surgeon kicked me back to the pain management doc because I refused surgery. This doc requested an MRI and... magic! My insurance payed.
Got the MRI.
4 months later I get a call from the doc's office to set an appointment for my "procedure". I ask "what procedure?" The office girl didn't know.
I explained that I had not seen the results of the MRI. Had no consultation since the MRI. And that this is something that I would like to happen b4 I undergo any type of procedure.
She seemed dumbfounded.

An appointment was set up to review the results of the MRI.
3/2/11.

But...on 3/1/11 my wife gets a call from jax spine explaining that they will no longer be accepting/seeing patients at the St. Augustine location. I would have to drive to Jax.

I'm not driving to that hellhole so some PA can tell me crap I already know. I told them I would look for another doctor local.

I asked them to e-mail the MRI pics to my e-mail address....lol.. like that will happen.

What a friggin joke.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

BTW: I got that "good gubment employee" insurance.....LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[madscientist]

http://www.ihealthdirectory.com/cartilage-regeneration-supplements/

just some fore thought..

 

[FlightPlanDan]

Update: Neck doesn't bother me much lately.....However, they've been hounding me to pay the bill....(the bit my insurance did not). I owed it so I payed it today.

I took the opportunity to explain that I'd never been told exactly "what" the problem is/was. She said that the Doc that I'd seen had vaporized off the face of the earth. (really! her words!)

She offered to make me an appointment with the new spine doc. I declined because my symptoms have subsided. But made sure they had all of my info/pics on file for future use...if needed.

She then offered to print out the results (text...not the MRI).



General: Minimal retrolisthesis of C5 on 6. Straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. Near complete opacification of the left maxillary sinus.

C1-2 and craniocervical junction: Degenerative change with mild thickening in the region of the transverse alar ligament with mild flattening of theventral thecal sac and minimal flattening of the cord.

C2-3: Disc bulge/osteophyte complex, uncovertebral degenerative change, and small right paracentral disc extrusion with mild flattening of the ventral thecal sac and mild flattening of the ventral cord. The neural foramina are patent.

C3-4: Degenerative change but no significant central canal or foraminal stenosis.

C4-5: Moderate left and mild-moderate right uncovertebral hypertrophy and/or lateral recess/foraminal protrusions. Mild left and minimal right foraminal stenosis.

C5-6: Minimal retrolisthesis of C5 on 6 with uncovering of the intervertebral disc. Loss of height and signal of intervertebral disc. Disc bulge/osteophyte complex and moderate uncovertebral hypertrophy with mild flattening of the ventral thecal sac, mild flattening of the ventral cord and moderate-severe foraminal stenosis (right greater than left).

C6-7-T1: Degenerative change but no significant central canal or foraminal stenosis.

Cord and intraspinal: no cervical cord or intraspinal lesions.









I'm still googling most of the words.....lol.

 

[madscientist]

very nice, looks normal for an old guy that has had any mild neck injury..lol

 

[Powerhouse]

My father had a pinched nerve in his spine that caused him exteme pain in his entire lower body. Rushed to hospital, gave him steroids and basically told him the same thing (it will fix itself). Didn't work after about 2 weeks, went into surgery, and hes back good as new now!