Re: Neck Stabilisation

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I guess my experienc is a little different, but I will share it with you

anyway. About 10 years ago I had a herniated disk in my lower back L5 & S1

removed, and fused with a piece of my hip bone, this had nothing to do with RA

(actually I am not even sure that's what I have now, am having difficulty

getting a definitive diagnosis.). For me the results were fantastic. At the

time the doctor told me that I had a 70% chance of a " good outcome " and that a

good outcome didn't necessarily mean that I would be out of pain. I haven't

been entirely out of pain, but then I haven't been in hospital on morphine for

the pain, or fainting when I try to stand up either. I guess it's all a matter

of perspective, I was only 27 at the time, and thought life was very unfair, now

I realised that it has prepared me for this new challenge that I now face.

Good luck to you and your wife.

Pennie

roger31440 <rdunn98@...> wrote:

Hi all,

My wife is a long term (30yr) sufferer of RA and was diagnosed a

couple of years ago with Atlantoaxial Subluxation and a recent X-Ray

has shown this to be getting worse. She is suffering severe pain from

this and does exhibit neurological symptoms that could be related.

She has now been recommended to have surgery to fuse the C1-C2

vertebrae c/w screws and wire to stabilise the neck before serious

neurological problems occur.

Before going through this, she would like to hear of any experiences

with this procedure from fellow sufferers and what the results were.

We would like to hear of any bad experiences as well as positive ones.

Thanks in anticipation

---------------------------------

On 7

Go - Stay out and stay connected

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pennie,

As you say it's not quite the feedback I was hoping for but I do

appreciate your response. I guess no-one on this board has any

experience of this so I will have to continue my search into the

ether.......

Thank you for your kind thoughts and I wish you as well as you can be

with this dreadful disease.

Kind regards

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I guess you missed my response. Mine was about my cervical infusion I

had in 1992.

Debbie L

>

> Thanks Pennie,

>

> As you say it's not quite the feedback I was hoping for but I do

> appreciate your response. I guess no-one on this board has any

> experience of this so I will have to continue my search into the

> ether.......

>

> Thank you for your kind thoughts and I wish you as well as you can be

> with this dreadful disease.

>

> Kind regards

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I had a multilevel cervical fusion done about...7 or 8 years ago, C-

3, 4, and 5 I think? Had a brilliant neurosurgeon, fusion is very

stable, only lingering effects are extremely tight neck muscles

(traps) and occasional headache from that. Before the surgery, there

was constant pain and decreased range of motion in my left arm as a

result of a disc pressing on the spinal cord. I realize that this

may not address your particular issue, I do have RA and hope that

this similar procedure may shed a bit of light.

>

> Hi all,

>

> My wife is a long term (30yr) sufferer of RA and was diagnosed a

> couple of years ago with Atlantoaxial Subluxation and a recent X-

Ray

> has shown this to be getting worse. She is suffering severe pain

from

> this and does exhibit neurological symptoms that could be related.

>

> She has now been recommended to have surgery to fuse the C1-C2

> vertebrae c/w screws and wire to stabilise the neck before serious

> neurological problems occur.

>

> Before going through this, she would like to hear of any

experiences

> with this procedure from fellow sufferers and what the results

were.

> We would like to hear of any bad experiences as well as positive

ones.

>

> Thanks in anticipation

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I had a multilevel cervical fusion done about...7 or 8 years ago, C-

> 3, 4, and 5 I think? Had a brilliant neurosurgeon, fusion is very

> stable, only lingering effects are extremely tight neck muscles

> (traps) and occasional headache from that. Before the surgery, there

> was constant pain and decreased range of motion in my left arm as a

> result of a disc pressing on the spinal cord. I realize that this

> may not address your particular issue, I do have RA and hope that

> this similar procedure may shed a bit of light.

>

Thank you Jane. It is a similar procedure and it is encouraging that

you had positive a result. Whilst not pleasant, I imagine the

headaches are far less to bear than the pain this condition brings to

bear.

We do still have a few weeks before the surgery and would be grateful

if you could let us know what symptoms you had as a result of the neck

problems that were alleviated by the surgery. Val has so much pain

from so many destroyed joints it is difficult to ascertain which pains

and sensations are caused by the neck and may subsequently be

alleviated by the surgery.

I would be happy to communicate off board (by email) if you think it

more appropriate.

Thanks again,

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi ,

>

> I guess you missed my response. Mine was about my cervical infusion I

> had in 1992.

>

> Debbie L

>

>

Hi Debbie

Yes I did miss your response and I would be grateful if you could

repeat it for me. My wife is scheduled to have a Posterior Cervical

Fusion on 1st November. We would be grateful for any information

regarding your symptoms pre and post procedure together with your

assessment of the benefit you received versus the trauma of the surgery.

Thanks

[Guest guest]

Before the surgery, I seem to recall a constant burning pain going

down my neck to shoulder and down the arm. I had to sleep with my

arm in one particular position, could NOT raise my left arm over

shoulder height, and turning my head was very difficult. I had to be

very particular as to how I got out of bed, raised myself from the

tub, etc. I was a single mom with 3 children and one grandchild at

home, plus a few " strays " , so limited mobility was a real challenge.

That was when they found out about the RA, when my preop sed rate

was quite high even though I had stayed off anti-inflammatory.

Since then, the only problems I have are stiff neck, but I'm on

muscle relaxers for fibro anyway so if I am diligent with those it's

not as bothersome. I can't keep my arms over my head for a long time

(i.e. think screwing in light bulbs, etc.) but I have RA in

shoulders too. I do get the occasional " neck " headache, but ice

packs seem to help those, and that's usually when I over-do things.

Oddly enough, if I'm out in the cold like a football game, I have to

have a warm scarf around my neck or I can feel every bolt and plate!

I do hope the best of luck and success for your wife. Please let me

know when the surgery is, I would like to be praying for her if you

don't mind. Feel free to e me off list.

God Bless

Jane

> >

> > I had a multilevel cervical fusion done about...7 or 8 years

ago, C-

> > 3, 4, and 5 I think? Had a brilliant neurosurgeon, fusion is

very

> > stable, only lingering effects are extremely tight neck muscles

> > (traps) and occasional headache from that. Before the surgery,

there

> > was constant pain and decreased range of motion in my left arm

as a

> > result of a disc pressing on the spinal cord. I realize that

this

> > may not address your particular issue, I do have RA and hope

that

> > this similar procedure may shed a bit of light.

> >

> Thank you Jane. It is a similar procedure and it is encouraging

that

> you had positive a result. Whilst not pleasant, I imagine the

> headaches are far less to bear than the pain this condition brings

to

> bear.

>

> We do still have a few weeks before the surgery and would be

grateful

> if you could let us know what symptoms you had as a result of the

neck

> problems that were alleviated by the surgery. Val has so much pain

> from so many destroyed joints it is difficult to ascertain which

pains

> and sensations are caused by the neck and may subsequently be

> alleviated by the surgery.

>

> I would be happy to communicate off board (by email) if you think

it

> more appropriate.

>

> Thanks again,

>