degenerative disc disease ( uper neck)

Tagged: ddd in neck also head trauma effect facet over time life with ddd

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meni learn
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July 24, 2021 at 4:27 am

Post count: 236

#34207

i m 30 year old .
when i 20 i was trauma (head hit in wall )
i do (xr and CT DAYS AND MOUNTH after injury but nor mr)
my first mr c is was in 16 (6 year after trauma )
in my mr (i checked the high of the disc in level (and result is c2-3 not mater so because not could to replace but (2.3 mm in one point (all point i check is in the middle of image) to 4 mm to hight point of c2-3.”(but u see the disc is very change shape and dark (result of the mm change how disc is not healthy .c3-4 (3.5 in high ti collapse in the end (u can see in T 2 IMAGE (IN THIS POINT the ligament flavum is on the csf (not black line between them )(this is indicate of the healthy of the disc also (collapse)
in c 4-5 the disc is very thin (2.41 mm to 2 mm just )
FOR COMPARED I TELL ABOUT RANGE SIZE OF C5-6 AND C 6-7 LEVEL
C5-6 3.81MM TO 4.15 MM HIGH . 6-7 DISC IS TOTAL THE HIGH SIZE 4.22 MM TO 4.31 MM
WHAT DO U THINK A BOUT THIS DISC HIGH (ITS NORMAL SIZE ?
AND I CAN TELL U A BOUT CHANGE OF SHAPE OF THE SPINE (IN MR C 2018 )
ALSO THE SIZE OF CANAL SEE MORE NARROW TO COMPARE IN MR 2016 (THIS HOW DO EFFECT ON SPINE (LIKE WHAT I READING IN YOUR GREAT WEBSITE
TOPIC (“NECK Mechanically, everything in the cervical spine revolves around the disc”
how much the disc very important to protect the spinal cord in over age (from narrow )
i have w a bout replace in to level (uper 3-4 4-5 )if do think its protect spine over age from narrow also if c2-3 its stay not healthy (i tend to think so )?
thanks dr corenman u have great website.

Meni

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

July 26, 2021 at 2:25 pm

Post count: 8660

#34212

Not sure what your symptoms are so cannot tell what you need. Please see this to describe symptoms.https://neckandback.com/conditions/how-to-describe-your-history-and-symptoms-of-neck-shoulder-and-arm-pain/

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

meni learn
Participant

July 28, 2021 at 8:17 am

Post count: 236

#34222

dr coernman
its the second time i contact with u . the neck pain start by trauma (after hit head on wall ) in 20 year old
after trauma head was pain day after day (more 20 days hard pain after its less pain (in this stage i was doing xr 3 time after injury and ct scan ) the dr not find nothing in the image (emg not test in this stage )
after this then pain less and i forget from injury (less pain but very often i feel pain in my uper neck (behind neck)
some years after (4 i feel the pain more in my neck and in 2016 dr send me to mri c .
todays my symptoms include :neck pain chronic (every days and hours in days ) the pain feel in my uper neck : aching stabbing burning sometimes electrical
in activity the quality pain change (with some action and good movement the pain less (but not very much and pain return very faster
the skin not pain more in touch
percentage of #pain# (neck 90% shoulder 10% or 85-15 ).
in my both arm not pain feel but feel some numbness (emg test i do in 2016 and 2021 conclusion (2016- ncs waves latencies of rt and lt median and rt ulnar nerves were prolonged
needle emg in selected muscles show signs of chronic denervation in muscles innervated bt C3-4 5-6 6-7 7-8 (THE 2-3 NOT CHECK )
INTENSITY OF PAIN
IIN MY NECK (THE PAIN GOES FROM 3-4 TO 7, 8, 9, (IN LAST THO MOUNT ITS LIKE 7 8 OFTEN
SHOLDER 2 TO 4
HAND NO PAIN
I HAVE WEAKNES BUT NOT SEVERE (I USE MY BOTH HAND BUT SOMTIMES DROPE OBJECTS(ITS HAPPEN seldom
onset and length of time symptoms have been present and how did pain start when i 20 years old i have trau,a in the pool
when i swimming backstroke in the pool i hit my head on a wall
and after this the pain start (its happen in 2010)(trauma (after hit head on wall ) in 20 year old
after trauma head was pain day after day (more 20 days hard pain after its less pain (in this stage i was doing xr 3 time after injury and ct scan ) the dr not find nothing in the image (emg not test in this stage )
activities reduce pain :(strech, shoulder rotations , activity in water (freestyle with mask )
i can sit 15 minute (but hour its make more pain and i come and stand and strech some minute
yes if i sit too much the pain more but also with stand its pain but less
the neck hurt in sitting
with walk is better ,with other activity
(i m not jump a lot times ,not bike on
computer work (from more 30 minute sit its pain (not looking down often )
with backwards pain more neck
my daily function not easy with my pain (i m very be a ware to my posture and not looking down and i m be a ware from some actions .
then pain change my life (and i m very a ware from things that before i do like (running and some things that like lookin down i m very a ware ,not lifting (before i can lift easy like 80-100 lbs and now its hard 20 lbs
i m not work physically
Liability the lifeguard of the pool (in 2010 ) come to me and offer me to learn me the the technique of swimming (freestyle, backstroke mainly )
he tell me after he learn me i can swimming more fast and easy (he told me I have good data for swimming (i was 6’4′ high was 200 lbs in the injury )
in freestyle the swimmer can see the T IN THE end of the pool (but in backstroke u can see when wall come (and in one side of the pool(on shallow water ) there are flags that symbolize deep and shallow water but not have flags in other side (deep the pool is 25 m long and from 1 m deep to 2 m ) and the man who learn me ( swimming teacher ) not tell me how to be a ware from this danger (not give me other advise like calculate the the steps or looking to side (from example in freestyle he tell me after i see the T one steps and do kipper)
and this accident happen 3 week after i learn the technique. **(In fact to this day there is no flag in this pool and I swim in it)
Previous Consultations or Treatment
i work some stretces and strange
Flexion Stretch , Levator Scapula Stretch ,Corner Stretch
Prone Cobra Stretch ,chin tuck ,back burn
i try Acupuncture and goes start Osteopathic care not very help
i seen 3 chiro (not start treatment in one of them (the last one tell me he didnt can help me (and send me to spine surgeon
i see spine surgeon in 2016 2018 2019 2020(in last 3 its the same surgeon and he tell Conservative treatment (he my mr 2016 and check
Walks on his own on a narrow base without lameness, normal heel to toe walking
Romburg test negative.
Normal returns c5- t1
Hoffman and Berchiordials are opposite negative
He wrote about mri mild dehydration of c2-3-4 without pressure on nerve structures ( for example my nerve c3-4 left side was herniated i see this by my self)
There is no room for surgical intervention
dr corenamn I thank you for your reference, yours
You have a great website and I know I may have written a lot but I tried to refer to the page you referred me to

Meni

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

July 28, 2021 at 1:13 pm

Post count: 8660

#34225

Based upon your history, you mainly have neck pain (“90%”), You could have had onset from hitting the side of a pool with your head. Your surgeon reviewed your MRI found degenerative discs and did not feel you were a candidate for surgery, You have failed chiropractic and osteopathic care as well as PT.

Neck pain can be generated by the discs and the facets. Find an interventional pain specialist who has experience in radio-frequency ablations and see if you are a candidate for diagnostic facet blocks. See
https://neckandback.com/treatments/facet-blocks-and-rhizotomies-neck/

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

meni learn
Participant

July 28, 2021 at 3:22 pm

Post count: 236

#34230

I know you are a very busy person and you have a job and here it is just a forum and I did not come to you and I thank you for answering me with great professionalism (according to what is given here)

Meni

meni learn
Participant

July 28, 2021 at 3:22 pm

Post count: 236

#34231

u mean i m suffer from djd (joint pain i know they have 3 cartilage disc and to joint between have to cartilage (and ddd very effect on joint cartilage (its very sense ) i think u right and i think my d dd (that my spine surgeon and radilogy not looks good enough to my disc (the radilolgy says disc high normal in all level (and dr check say little dehydration (level 2-4 not looks for example 4-5 level ) i says this because on mr in 2018 if u look a little (every on can see the change of the shape of the spine (and its from ddd almost certainly)
pt u mean (physice terapy ?(its help me in past (not very help but less pain )

Meni
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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

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