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  • Lucky
    Participant
    Post count: 8

    I fell going for a jog in the beginning of January and landed on my neck and shoulder area.
    I was temporarily not able to move my arms or legs for about 5 – 10 seconds.
    After that I was able to get up and thought I had hit my head.
    The next morning I realized my head didn’t hurt but my shoulders and arms (bicep area) did (had trouble moving my arms due to pain) and my neck was a little sore.
    I had been moving furniture the day before and went to the gym later that night (night before the fall) and wasn’t sure if the shoulder/arm pain was from moving furniture, the fall itself, or landing on my neck.
    I went to the emergency room where they took MRI and X-rays, put me in cervical collar, gave me pain meds and sent me home the next night.
    After resting for 6 weeks I have no pain or apparent neurological issues. A few days ago I had some residual slight discomfort in my shoulders and the very top of my left forearm near my bicep but it seems to have gone away.
    I met with two neurosurgeons the first one wanted to do a C3 – C6 ACFD. The second doctor recommended a C3 – C4 ACFD, saying the other disks were herniated but not as much a problem. He said its good that I have no pain but the C3 – C4 disk is herniated compressing the spinal cord. He also said getting the surgery was optional.
    He was worried that if I were to fall down the stairs or get in a car accident the injury could become worse and I could be paralyzed. He also said even if that didn’t happen 10 – 15 years from now the herniated disk could become worse off and possibly cause some damage and then I would have to get the surgery anyway.

    I was really hoping I wouldn’t need surgery considering I have no pain.
    Does any one have any advice for me being the surgery is optional?

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You had a central cord injury with your fall. See the sections under cervical; central stenosis and under spine trauma; central cord injury to understand your injuries and current situation.

    I do not think that surgery is an option, it is a necessity. I cannot open images as I do not have a HIPPA compliant server yet. The level or levels that are “tight” need to be addressed. That may be one or three.

    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.
    Lucky
    Participant
    Post count: 8

    Dr. Corenman post=8028 wrote: You had a central cord injury with your fall. See the sections under cervical; central stenosis and under spine trauma; central cord injury to understand your injuries and current situation.

    I do not think that surgery is an option, it is a necessity. I cannot open images as I do not have a HIPPA compliant server yet. The level or levels that are “tight” need to be addressed. That may be one or three.

    Dr. Corenman

    Thanks for the fast reply. I’m scheduled to meet with an orthopedic spine surgeon this week. If he recommends surgery as well I will feel more comfortable with my decision having your input : ) Thanks again!

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Good luck! Please keep us posted regarding your progress.

    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.
    Lucky
    Participant
    Post count: 8

    Dr. Corenman post=8031 wrote: Good luck! Please keep us posted regarding your progress.

    Dr. Corenman

    Sure, I will…

    Dr. Corenman, can I ask how you know surgery is necessary after my cervical central cord injury without seeing an MRI?

    Is it because there would need to be significant compression to cause the injury I had, which would not heal enough on its own or via PT?

    Is there a difference between cervical spinal stenosis from an injury vs cervical spinal stenosis from degenerative changes?

    Thanks!

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    I am assuming you have significant stenosis as you did have a central cord injury based upon your symptoms and you have two surgeons who want to perform surgery. If you have no stenosis and you developed SCWORA (spinal cord injury without radiological abnormalities), this would be very rare and unlikely.

    Stenosis from fracture (injury) is different from developmental (degenerative) stenosis. In fracture stenosis, you probably would have had surgery that first fateful day. WIth developmental stenosis, you don’t have to have surgery immediately but the trend of surgeons is to put you in a neck collar to protect your cord and do surgery as soon as is feasible.

    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.
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