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| Cervical ADR | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 9 Jul 2010, 11:45 AM (1,192 Views) | |
| Tony L | 9 Jul 2010, 11:45 AM Post #1 |
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Hi Everyone For those of you who have not read my story on the welcome page, my name is Tony and it is now 3 weeks since I had Cervical ADR at C5/C6. I still use a stick for walking when outside as I still feel unsteady on my legs. I can only walk for about 15 mins before stopping, as i'm tired by then and walking is still a bit slow but legs just about pain free. Still have alot of pain in neck and shoulders mainly on the left side but I think that may be due to the nerve knock during surgery. The medication i'm on Tramadol 100mg 4 times aday, Amitriptyline 75mg nightly and 5mg Diazepam [when needed] keeps my pain to a level I can cope with. Still do not have alot of movement in my neck but it is early day's. I have my follow up appointment on 9th August with Mr John Wadley who did the surgery at Royal London Hospital. I would like to hear from others who have had Cervical ADR to compare notes, as it seems at present we are few and far between. Hope you are all enjoying the weather and have a good weekend. All the best Tony |
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| Lorna5 | 10 Jul 2010, 08:07 AM Post #2 |
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Hi Tony I also had cervical ADR C5/C6 in January this year I too found it really hard to begin with I would say the first 10 to 12 weeks, I couldnt move my head and struggled to walk very far I had co-codamol and diazepam. I also had one sided pain in my right shoulder and arm from what I can gather thats quite common Lynda is very knowledgeable on cervical disc stuff and talking to her helped. Did you have to wear a neck brace? some do some dont think it depends on surgeon, I did and wondered if that made a difference to the time it takes to regain head movement, I can move my head quite freely now but looking up is still not great. I wasn't in pain when I had the surgery so cant comment on improvement there, I had a spinal cord compression and surgery was done as an emergency. Anyway hope some of this helps feel free to message. Lorna |
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| Tony L | 10 Jul 2010, 08:47 AM Post #3 |
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Hi Lorna Thanks for reply, I only had to wear a soft collar for first 2 days. I had the staples removed after 10 days and it looks like neat surgery so not expecting to much of a scar. Looking up is a no no at present, also looking down or moving to quick can make me dizzy. I expected my walking to take time because of the Myelopathy, as it caused muscle wastage in my legs and arms, so I have also got to rebuild the strengh in both. I'm hoping that most of this will sort itself out within 6 months. The surgery has made a big differance to the level of pain as before I couldn't walk more then a few steps without pain, so thats a plus as the walking was the part of it that annoyed me the most. Hope things are going well for you take care Tony |
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| Lorna5 | 11 Jul 2010, 10:55 AM Post #4 |
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Hi Tony I had steristrips so no staples to remove scar very good in crease of neck so not too obvious. I too had Myelopathy and im still having physio although to be fair problems now are probably due to degenerative disc disease in lower back, having denervation of L4/L5 and L5/S1 on Thursday so hopefully that will help with sciatica and low back pain. Gosh I sound like a real crock! On a positive note I am back at work although not quite full time yet due to the impending denervation and most days the only problem I have with my neck is aching at the end of the day or a bit of dizziness if I try to look up too far certainly preferable to the alternative which according to my surgeon would have been paralysis from the neck down. Just keep doing what you can I tried to walk every day although often I didnt get very far and my legs felt like jelly it does pay off just very slowly. Take care Lorna |
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| Tony L | 11 Jul 2010, 11:38 AM Post #5 |
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Hi Lorna Apart from lumber problems we seem to have same type of problems, having said that I do get lower back pain early morning or if I do to much walking or bending. I have problems at C4/C5 and T9 but surgeon says that they can wait and will be dealt with if and when they cause more problems. I think with all that seems to go wrong with us, we can all sound like old crocks at times. I try to walk everyday but sometimes the minds willing but not the body. Good luck for Thursday and let me know how it goes. Take care Tony |
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| Tony L | 13 Jul 2010, 11:19 AM Post #6 |
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Hi all Things are still improving but for the last few mornings I have been waking up around 4am with really bad lower back ache, once i'm up and moving it goes away. I still use a cervical pillow and still sleep on my back, as it is still uncomfortable to lay on my side. Any tips would be most welcome. Thanks Tony |
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| Alastair | 13 Jul 2010, 01:19 PM Post #7 |
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Hi Tony, if you want to sleep on your side, and it's more comfortable it could be an idea either to put a pillow between your knees and thighs or buy yourself an official "thigh pillow", they cost about £10 and stabilise your pelvis whilst you're actually sleeping on your side. I've used one for years and they're really good. I think we've actually got a link somewhere to a cheap retailer of this item. I know what you mean about sleeping on your back, it can be very uncomfortable, and one can get accused of snoring -- -- -- lol best, Alastair
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Founder of this board 24th February 2007 Slow and Steady Wins This Race Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich 8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease Your Best Asset Is Your Health I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now Knowledge is power | |
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| Tony L | 13 Jul 2010, 02:58 PM Post #8 |
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Hi Alastair Thanks for tip i'm fond of the pillow tricks, but will it help with the fact that i'm not sleeping on my side as at present it is still uncomfortable for my neck and shoulders. Regards Tony |
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| Alastair | 13 Jul 2010, 04:03 PM Post #9 |
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Hi Tony, a thigh pillow is only for if you're sleeping or wish to sleep on your side. It won't help you sleeping on your back I think if you've got a proper cervical pillow that's about as good as it can get. Sorry not to be of further assistance Cheers, Alastair
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Founder of this board 24th February 2007 Slow and Steady Wins This Race Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich 8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease Your Best Asset Is Your Health I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now Knowledge is power | |
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| Tony L | 13 Jul 2010, 07:21 PM Post #10 |
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Thanks Alastair for response, I think until it is more comfortable for me to sleep on my side, the wife will have to put up with the snoring. A small sacrifice for her as until then I will have to endure the back ache. Regards Tony |
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| Lynda | 13 Jul 2010, 11:29 PM Post #11 |
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Hello Tony I am one of the members who has both cervical and lumbar disc replacements It is over two years since my cervical disc replacements, which have had an excellent outcome. (If you are interested my post-op details can be found here.) One tip which may help your lower back pain is to try sleeping with a pillow or two under your knees; lying flat with legs straight can put a lot of pressure on the back and the pillows lift the knees which reduces the pressure. I recall I used a pillow to support my arm when sleeping on my side after my cervical surgery, it was just more comfortable in that position, I'm sure you've tried (similar to Alastairs suggestion of the thigh pillow but for arms). Seems like a bed of pillows everywhere? :lol: Hope you are able to get comfortable and have a decent nights sleep, and your wife too! (You'll have to get her some ear plugs.) Zzzzzzzz, Zzzzzzz. Regards Lynda |
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May 2008 onwards - Lumbar facet injections - First post-op ones four years post surgery, have lost count of the number I've had since then but they do help. Pre-op they didn't make much difference- Mr Shackleford, Warrington Feb 2008 - Cervical TDR, (Activ C's) C5/6 & C6/7- Mr Shackleford, Warrington May 2006 - Craniotomy and resection frontal lobe brain tumour - The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery Feb 2004 - Lumbar TDR, (ProDisc's) L4/5 & L5/S1 - Mr Shackleford, Warrington | |
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| Tony L | 14 Jul 2010, 09:01 AM Post #12 |
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Hi Lynda Thanks for advice, wife already uses ear plugs lol. Anyway I tried sleeping last night slightly propped up and it worked. I used a normal pillow with my U shaped sopport pillow on top of that and my cervical pillow on top of that. Slept well no back pain and wife said I didn't snore so no need for plugs last night. By the way I have looked at your posts thanks. Regards Tony |
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| ajj1001 | 14 Jul 2010, 09:32 AM Post #13 |
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sounds like a right bed full! glad that it worked and happy birthday. hope you do something enjoyable today. |
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Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives 2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1 2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok. 2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ April Dismissed 2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work 2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height. 2004 Returned to Work 2002 Aug - physio March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1 2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1 | |
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| Tony L | 14 Jul 2010, 09:44 AM Post #14 |
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Hi Alison Yes unfortunately the pillow tricks can fill the bed but they work. My mother in-law has brought me a bottle of malt my favorite tipple. So I will treat myself to a dram later and toast my birthday. Hope things are ok with you all the best Tony |
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| Tony L | 16 Jul 2010, 10:30 AM Post #15 |
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Hi Everyone It is now 4 weeks post surgery and still doing fine. Still can't walk to far even with my stick which I still need when out. The wound is healing very well and not causeing any problems like itching. Started to reduce meds but only slightly as I still have pain in neck, shoulders and top of arms, this pain seems to have found a level that has not improved in the last week, if anything it's got worse, don't know why. I still have a small amount of nerve pain in legs and arms but I think that is expected as the nerves regenerate and settle down. Overall I am still pleased that I had the surgery done even if this turns out to be as good as it gets, it is so much better then before surgery. Take care all Tony |
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