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  • failedACDF
    Participant
    Post count: 30

    Please see below. This went through in error. Thanks.

    failedACDF
    Participant
    Post count: 30

    Please see below, this went through in error.

    failedACDF
    Participant
    Post count: 30

    Hi Dr. Corenman,

    I just wanted to give you a further update. The neurosurgeon started me on prednisone (60mg for 4 days, then 40 mg for 3 days, then 20mg for two days, and it seems to be helping). Hopefully it’s not just temporary. He wants to hold off on the MRI while I am on the prednisone. He then wants to do a CT scan in a few weeks to see how the fusion looks both from the prior ACDF and from this posterior instrumentation. Hopefully the prednisone doesn’t prejudice the fusion from occurring.
    Thanks

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    OK- I think I understand. You initially underwent an ACDF at C5-7. You developed a pseudoarthrosis (non-fusion) in at least one of the levels and had either new or continuing arm pain. You then underwent a posterior foraminotomy at both levels and had a right sided instrumented fusion. You continue with some symptoms in your right arm and just had oral steroid which has helped reduce your current symptoms.

    The CT scan is a good idea as you will be able to determine if the fusion has completed and if there is any residual spur in the foramen that could potentially continue to compress the nerve root.

    Please let us know what the results of the steroid and CT are.

    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.
    failedACDF
    Participant
    Post count: 30

    Thanks very much. You described it perfectly. Do you think that a 7 day course of oral prednisone scaled from 60 to 40 to 20 mg is enough. For instance would staying on it for a few more days work better, or could that prejudice the success of a posterior fusion?

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    How far out are you from the posterior fusion? If you take a short course of steroid in the first three months, it should not affect your fusion. If it has been longer than three months, the steroid should not affect the fusion at all.

    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.
Viewing 6 posts - 25 through 30 (of 50 total)
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