myfreedom
05-25-2007, 08:48 AM
I am a 36 yo female. I apologize now for the length of my question, but felt the history was necessary.
In Sept. 04, I began experiencing severe shooting pains under my shoulder blade, down my arm and in my neck. For years before this, I would have occasional under shoulder blade pain. The pain in my shoulder would increase w/ head movement so I would limit that which in turn, would make my neck hurt (I thought). For a couple years prior, I had tingling and numbness in my arm and fingers and began to experience it again severely. I was treated for Carpal Tunnel, but they finally did an EMG which came up neg. I ended up at Urgent Care & then next day ER after not being able to get out of bed. I was treated for 'back strain,' was advised to seek massage therapy, given demerol, skelaxin, & vicodin. The next day, I was in my PCP's office who put me on oxycontin, percocet, steroids, neurontin & elavil telling me to call in 3 days if I showed now relief. I didn't & was sent for a cervical MRI w/out contrast.
The MRI showed C5-7 mild, moderate & severe disc protrusions, bulges, cord deformities, stenoses, kyphosis, degenerative changes, forminal stenoses
The radiologist said he hadn't seen an MRI that bad from someone not in a severe accident &/or someone still walking. After a couple appts. w/ a neurosurgeon, I opted for a fusion. The C5-C7 ACDF was performed at the end of Sept 04.
I ended up having 2 surgeries that day. The neuro stated while I was in recovery, that he didn't like the placement of the screws in my plate and that I needed to go back in to surgery. The xray wasn't taken until I was in recovery and woken up.
I had immediate relief, post-surgery, of most of the pain, but the numbness was never gone. I was in a Miami J for 1 mo., no soft collar, & was sent to PT when the pain began to return. PT seemed to make everything worse. The neuro put me on neurontin, but it made me ill so I quit taking.
The neuro also sent me for an EMG, but I never heard the results. The neuro stated he didn't recall the EMG at all and never sent me to one.
Right after surgery, I developed a cough that persisted for appx 6 mo. despite antibiotics. An ENT tried to my throat, but I gagged too much. He noticed a lot of scarring in my throat. I then had a barium swallow test that showed a slight narrowing at the C5 level they were unable to see much of C6-7 because of the plate, no sign of acid reflux. Priolosec, and various cough meds did nothing to relieve the cough. I would cough so hard, I'd pee myself &/or vomit.
Eventually, I was given a codeine based cough med & the cough went away in 2 wks, but I still have a dry feeling in my throat which makes it difficult to swallow & gags me. My voice gets hoarse after talking for a short time. I recently noticed that the ENT's report sent to my neuro said 'I will call you to privately discuss the patient's vocal cords.' Nothing was in either file regarding this & no one discussed anything with me.
2 mo. post surgery I had a cervical MRI w/out which showed diffuse disc bulge C2-3 no stenosis or narrowing, C4-5 mild posterior disc bulge and protrusion no canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing, minimal flattening of the ventral thecal sac. C5-C7 somewhat limited in evaluation due to artifact, C7-T1 grossly w/in normal limits although there might be a very mild bulge present. My pre-surgery MRI showed most of these levels were previously normal.
I started to have pain and intermittant numbness in my left arm & fingers now as well as shin, knee & hip pain. I was very stiff when I got up from sitting or laying down. I told the neuro & he didn't say or do anything about this.
Work hardening. My former job was a desk job involving continual sitting, typing and writing. The therapist noted a fairly lg. diff in grip strength of my right hand. Decreased sensations & mobility. He noted that I exhibited signs of pain & decr stamina in performing simple tasks. I was unable to continue w/ work hardening as I hadn't been released from PT & the therapist stated I didn't belong there yet. My PT stated that he felt the numbness I experienced was probably permanent.
About 6 mo. after surgery, I got pregnant. The PT was not familiar treating pregnant patients and I suffered from 24/7 nausea and vomiting. I was experiencing dizziness and lack of coordination moving in certain ways. Worse w/ PT manipulation.
3 mo. later, I was in PT again because of the pain & my neck, arm & shoulder mobility kept decreasing even though I cont. home exercises. I began dropping things, my hand/arm would shake & cramp or if I did fine hand tasks, The PT said that I showed signs of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Every day after my PT, I would be in extreme pain. I was only taking Tylenol & refused any other pain meds that might harm my baby. My hip & leg pain was getting more severe & interrupted my sleep. I was also having low back pain. My neuro, PT, OB all blamed the pain on pregnancy & hoped it would go away when I delivered. Laying face down, propped on pillows in a doggie type position, alleviated the cramping pain in my legs somewhat. I also began to experience uterine cramping after therapy sessions & when my pain was at it's worst. I was given the ok to stop PT.
During prenatal testing, I had high AFP counts so an amniocentesis was done. It was normal. The neonatal Dr. noted uterine cysts. Then I developed polyhydramnious, then leaking fluid and delivered my son 1 mo. early via c-section.
I was sent to a pain mgmt Dr. who told me there was nothing he could do while I was pregnant and to return after delivery & breast feeding. He noted decreased pinprick sensation, moderate decreased head, neck & shoulder mobility, decreased reflex in my right arm & right leg.
1 yr. post surgery xray showed flexion and extension maueuvers demonstrate limited range of motion in upper cervical spine. No motion noted C5-7.
After delivery, the back/leg pain didn't go away, my neck/shoulder/arm pain didn't get better, the neuro sent me for a shoulder MRI & referred me to an ortho. The MRI stated:
Left shoulder-mild osteoarthritic change at the acromioclavicular joint w/ osteophytic change effacing subacromial fat & abutting the supraspinatus muscle belly. Signal abnormalities in the supraspinatus tendon most consistent w/ a partial thickness tear and tendinopathy.
Right shoulder-osteoarthritic change at the acromioclavicular joint w/ marrow edema suggesting active inflammation. Osteoarthritic change effaces subacromial fat & indents the supraspinatus muscle belly near the musculotendinous junction. Supraspinatus tendon signal abnormalities suggesting bursal surface fraying & intrasubstance tendinopathy w/out frank full-thickness rotator cuff tear.
I went to PT again for shoulder strengthening excercises. The therapist who treated me was the first one to see me after my ACDF & she was alarmed at my loss of mobility in my head, neck & arms. The excercises did little to to help.
continued..........
In Sept. 04, I began experiencing severe shooting pains under my shoulder blade, down my arm and in my neck. For years before this, I would have occasional under shoulder blade pain. The pain in my shoulder would increase w/ head movement so I would limit that which in turn, would make my neck hurt (I thought). For a couple years prior, I had tingling and numbness in my arm and fingers and began to experience it again severely. I was treated for Carpal Tunnel, but they finally did an EMG which came up neg. I ended up at Urgent Care & then next day ER after not being able to get out of bed. I was treated for 'back strain,' was advised to seek massage therapy, given demerol, skelaxin, & vicodin. The next day, I was in my PCP's office who put me on oxycontin, percocet, steroids, neurontin & elavil telling me to call in 3 days if I showed now relief. I didn't & was sent for a cervical MRI w/out contrast.
The MRI showed C5-7 mild, moderate & severe disc protrusions, bulges, cord deformities, stenoses, kyphosis, degenerative changes, forminal stenoses
The radiologist said he hadn't seen an MRI that bad from someone not in a severe accident &/or someone still walking. After a couple appts. w/ a neurosurgeon, I opted for a fusion. The C5-C7 ACDF was performed at the end of Sept 04.
I ended up having 2 surgeries that day. The neuro stated while I was in recovery, that he didn't like the placement of the screws in my plate and that I needed to go back in to surgery. The xray wasn't taken until I was in recovery and woken up.
I had immediate relief, post-surgery, of most of the pain, but the numbness was never gone. I was in a Miami J for 1 mo., no soft collar, & was sent to PT when the pain began to return. PT seemed to make everything worse. The neuro put me on neurontin, but it made me ill so I quit taking.
The neuro also sent me for an EMG, but I never heard the results. The neuro stated he didn't recall the EMG at all and never sent me to one.
Right after surgery, I developed a cough that persisted for appx 6 mo. despite antibiotics. An ENT tried to my throat, but I gagged too much. He noticed a lot of scarring in my throat. I then had a barium swallow test that showed a slight narrowing at the C5 level they were unable to see much of C6-7 because of the plate, no sign of acid reflux. Priolosec, and various cough meds did nothing to relieve the cough. I would cough so hard, I'd pee myself &/or vomit.
Eventually, I was given a codeine based cough med & the cough went away in 2 wks, but I still have a dry feeling in my throat which makes it difficult to swallow & gags me. My voice gets hoarse after talking for a short time. I recently noticed that the ENT's report sent to my neuro said 'I will call you to privately discuss the patient's vocal cords.' Nothing was in either file regarding this & no one discussed anything with me.
2 mo. post surgery I had a cervical MRI w/out which showed diffuse disc bulge C2-3 no stenosis or narrowing, C4-5 mild posterior disc bulge and protrusion no canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing, minimal flattening of the ventral thecal sac. C5-C7 somewhat limited in evaluation due to artifact, C7-T1 grossly w/in normal limits although there might be a very mild bulge present. My pre-surgery MRI showed most of these levels were previously normal.
I started to have pain and intermittant numbness in my left arm & fingers now as well as shin, knee & hip pain. I was very stiff when I got up from sitting or laying down. I told the neuro & he didn't say or do anything about this.
Work hardening. My former job was a desk job involving continual sitting, typing and writing. The therapist noted a fairly lg. diff in grip strength of my right hand. Decreased sensations & mobility. He noted that I exhibited signs of pain & decr stamina in performing simple tasks. I was unable to continue w/ work hardening as I hadn't been released from PT & the therapist stated I didn't belong there yet. My PT stated that he felt the numbness I experienced was probably permanent.
About 6 mo. after surgery, I got pregnant. The PT was not familiar treating pregnant patients and I suffered from 24/7 nausea and vomiting. I was experiencing dizziness and lack of coordination moving in certain ways. Worse w/ PT manipulation.
3 mo. later, I was in PT again because of the pain & my neck, arm & shoulder mobility kept decreasing even though I cont. home exercises. I began dropping things, my hand/arm would shake & cramp or if I did fine hand tasks, The PT said that I showed signs of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Every day after my PT, I would be in extreme pain. I was only taking Tylenol & refused any other pain meds that might harm my baby. My hip & leg pain was getting more severe & interrupted my sleep. I was also having low back pain. My neuro, PT, OB all blamed the pain on pregnancy & hoped it would go away when I delivered. Laying face down, propped on pillows in a doggie type position, alleviated the cramping pain in my legs somewhat. I also began to experience uterine cramping after therapy sessions & when my pain was at it's worst. I was given the ok to stop PT.
During prenatal testing, I had high AFP counts so an amniocentesis was done. It was normal. The neonatal Dr. noted uterine cysts. Then I developed polyhydramnious, then leaking fluid and delivered my son 1 mo. early via c-section.
I was sent to a pain mgmt Dr. who told me there was nothing he could do while I was pregnant and to return after delivery & breast feeding. He noted decreased pinprick sensation, moderate decreased head, neck & shoulder mobility, decreased reflex in my right arm & right leg.
1 yr. post surgery xray showed flexion and extension maueuvers demonstrate limited range of motion in upper cervical spine. No motion noted C5-7.
After delivery, the back/leg pain didn't go away, my neck/shoulder/arm pain didn't get better, the neuro sent me for a shoulder MRI & referred me to an ortho. The MRI stated:
Left shoulder-mild osteoarthritic change at the acromioclavicular joint w/ osteophytic change effacing subacromial fat & abutting the supraspinatus muscle belly. Signal abnormalities in the supraspinatus tendon most consistent w/ a partial thickness tear and tendinopathy.
Right shoulder-osteoarthritic change at the acromioclavicular joint w/ marrow edema suggesting active inflammation. Osteoarthritic change effaces subacromial fat & indents the supraspinatus muscle belly near the musculotendinous junction. Supraspinatus tendon signal abnormalities suggesting bursal surface fraying & intrasubstance tendinopathy w/out frank full-thickness rotator cuff tear.
I went to PT again for shoulder strengthening excercises. The therapist who treated me was the first one to see me after my ACDF & she was alarmed at my loss of mobility in my head, neck & arms. The excercises did little to to help.
continued..........