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  • levietmuoi
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Dear sir,

    Thank for your helpful website . I am from VietNam. I spent 2 times of vertical spine surgery. First, that is titanic disc replacement( C4,C5). Second, I had to take the second after 15 months from the first. On the second, Doctors used ACDF from C3 to C6. They cut C4,C5 trunk and used titanic cage. They used bonchip in the surgery.Up to now, I have had the second surgery for 45 days. I can walk slowly now.
    As I know, Somebody had ACDF surgery like me. They had to take more surgeries after a period. Because they pain again.
    I am very worry about my disease. I do not know how to do in order that I will not have a surgery again. How long do I know my disease is no longer relapse.
    How do I send you my x_rays?
    I am looking forward to your advice.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    By your descriptions, I have to make some assumptions. You state you “can walk slowly now”. By that comment, I assume you had cervical stenosis and myelopathy. This spinal cord compression was causing your inability to walk. If that is the case, the first surgery of disc replacement was not going to be successful.

    Again making assumptions, if you had narrowing of the spinal canal, surgery is necessary to open the canal. This can be done with an ACDF or a laminoplasty (see website for description). An artificial disc would not be the choice for that outcome.

    The correct procedure was then performed which is a corpectomy, removal of multiple vertebral bodies and fusion with a titanium cage (and I assume bone graft from the removed vertebral bodies). This has to heal in and can take some months. There is the small possibility that it may not fully heal and a procedure from the back of the spine may have to be performed.

    If all my assumptions are correct, then I also assume that all the narrowed levels were taken care of surgically and you should improve. Your original disease process still exists (degeneration of the cervical discs) and there is a possibility of future degenerative changes above and below. This problem is genetic in nature and part of your makeup.

    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.
    levietmuoi
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Thanks Dr. Corenman.

    I am very pleased with your advice. I think all your assumptions are correct.
    To avoid degenerate of the obove and below disc. Do I have do neck exercise everyday?( turn my head slowly up, down, right, left) and Can I go fast and carry something heavy in the futture if I can?. What kind of exercise is suitable for my dicease(walk, table tennis)?

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You always have to do neck exercises to keep the range of motion and to strengthen the muscles that surround the neck. Yes, you can “go fast” and carry heavy objects but just be cautious in the future with HOW you move your neck and HOW you carry objects. Table tennis would be a great sport to participate in. I would avoid impact activities such as running as a sport or wrestling.

    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.
    levietmuoi
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Thank you very much in deed. I was very happy when I saw your website and that was very great when I had your advice.

    levietmuoi
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Dear Dr. Corenman,

    I am from Vietnam. I am 42 years old. I had ACDF surrgey 2 years ago from C3 to C6 with titanic cage(I told you above).I always do neck exercises twice a day after surgey. After surgery, I get very well. I had no pain, no stiff neck, no numbness into my foot or hand. But 3 months ago, when the weather changed cold, my feet has become numbness. First, right foot(from sole of the foot to toe), some days later,it happens the same in my left foot. After haft a month, It has extended to my hand, frequenly into my finger until now.
    It happened more frequently in my foot than my hand. Sometimes, it numbnesses into foot continuosly and lasts for all the day or all day and night. But sometimes it lasts some minutes then stopping. It is more serious when I walk (my knees feel tired) or go by motorbike, even about 500 mettres far. At that time, everywhere on foot becomes numbness strong. I do not have numbness into my leg or arm or other except from where I told you.

    I called my surgery about what happened to me(He is very far from me) and He told me to do more neck exercises. I followed his advice but after more a month, I did more neck exercise, it is not better,even It was not cold any more. I went into to local hospital and stay there to check and cure. After seeing the new x-ray, the Neurosugeron said: “no problem and it was not nessarry to do MRI.”. Then he gave me medicine:acupan,diazepam,ultracet,myonal,neurontin for 9 days.But it is not also better anymore.I come back home. He asked me use at home medicine: neurontin,bostracet.
    Can you please show me the way to stop numbnessing. Do I need to take neck or back MRI. Does numbness cause leg weak? Should I drink medicine the doctor gave me?. Do I have to take the third surgery?
    Thank you very much.
    Sincerely yours,

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