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  • wgreenlee
    Participant
    Post count: 53

    Hello Dr. Corenman,

    I’m a disabled veteran that had the VA pay for me to have a ACDF Surgery on my C5-6 C6-7. The surgeon that preformed the surgery had a busy morning in surgery and I was the final one on the slate. Anyway, back in 2012 the Department of Veteran Affairs had a MRI done on my cervical area and the impression and notes read as follows:

    This is the 2012 VA MRI:
    MRI CERVICAL SPINE: ASYMMETIC DISC PROTRUSION IS SEEN TO THE RIGHT C5-6 CORD INDENTATION AND COMPRESSION OF THE RIGHT C6 NERVE ROOT.

    This is the post-op report 2015:
    The post-operative report indicates that POSTERIOR LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENT WAS OPENED AND BILATERAL FORAMINOTOMIES WERE PREFORMED. AT THIS POINT, THE DURA AND NERVE ROOTS WERE WELL-DECOMPRESSED AT C5-6 C6-7 LEVELS.

    This is the MRI REPORT 2015 POST-OPERATIVE SURGERY:
    C5-6: PRIOR CERVICAL FUSION. THERE IS RESIDUAL RIGHT PARACENTRAL DISC OSTEOPHYTE WITH MASS EFFECT ON THE VENTRAL RIGHT C6 NERVE ROOT.
    C6-7:CERVICAL FUSION. RESIDUAL BROAD-BASED POSTERIOR DISC OSTEOPHYTE ASYMMETRIC TO THE LEFT. THERE IS RESIDUAL LEFT GREATER THAN RIGHT NEURAL STENOSIS.

    This is the 2nd MRI REPORT POST-OPERATIVE

    IMPRESSIONS:
    1. POST-OPERATIVE CHANGES FROM ANTERIOR CERVICAL DISC FUSION OF THE C5 TO C7 DISC LEVELS WITH PERSISENT LEFT FORAMINAL PROTRUDING DISC AT C6-7. RESULTING IN AT LEAST MODERATE LEFT FORAMINAL STENOSIS.

    2. RIGHT PARACENTRAL PROTRUDING DISC AT C5-6 CONTACTING AND INDENTING THE RIGHT VENTRAL CORDAND RESULTING IN RIGHT FORAMINAL STENOSIS AS WELL.

    3. MILD SPONDYLITIC DISC DISEASE AT C3-4 AND C4-5 WITH SMALL BILATERAL SPURS AT EACH OF THESE LEVEL, PARTICULARLY ON THE RIGHT C3-4.

    Well this is what I’m dealing with post-surgery. I’m having issue’s with getting a straight answer and the only thing that has been a definite is that I will have to have a 2nd surgery. The problem that I’m having is that the Department of Veteran Affairs is going to want a reason for a 2nd surgery, and I’m having a problem getting a straight answer. The surgeon looked at the MRI and said everything looks good and stated on the office visit that I said the arm pain is slowly getting better even after looking at the MRI. I have no idea who to speak to since I can’t seem to get a honest answer. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Bill G.

    P.S. The biggest part I can’t and the VA will won’t to know about is why does the MRI from 2012 and both the post-operative reports state the same condition.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    The questions I have for you are what are your residual symptoms? Did you obtain any relief from surgery? Did your symptoms change in quality or intensity? Do you have a solid fusion (as noted by x-ray or CT scan)?

    The surgeon might not have been able to fully decompress the roots. This is unusual but does happen.

    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.
    wgreenlee
    Participant
    Post count: 53

    Hello Dr. Corenman,

    It was about 3 weeks after surgery that both arms started having burning and also in both shoulder blades with numbness and tingling in the hands. Also have had headaches come along as well. The intensity level has increased in comparison to before the surgery. The surgeon recently saw me and wanted to do another MRI and X-ray. He also did a reflex test where he used the rubber device and tap right below my knees. The question I might have with the results from that test is that both my feet were on the floor. So I’m not really sure how that works. Still waiting on either the VA to authorize a CT scan (which I don’t think they will approve it). What I can’t figure out is why the MRI results from 2012 and after the surgery are the same. I understand that all surgeries are not going to be successful, but this just seems a little bit odd.

    wgreenlee
    Participant
    Post count: 53

    Dr. Corenman,

    After the surgery The symptom’s have gotten worse plus headache’s and muscle spasm’s have also started in the left arm. Especially when I lie down to sleep at night. I have a appointment with a neurologist December 2. My PCP has looked over the MRI’s as well and indicated that I need to get back to the neurosurgeon who saw me twice after surgery and then said to try a epidural shot. I never heard back from him after that meeting and since then I had the shot and have seen another neurosurgeon who indicated that he would not have done the surgery to begin with since there wasn’t any cord compression. I’m having mixed opinion’s and thought you might be able to give me a better direction. Thank you for any further input.

    Bill

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You have to compare the symptoms before surgery to the current ones. With the complaint of “bilateral burning symptoms in the shoulders after surgery”, this begs the question if these same symptoms were present before and if so, did the symptoms change. Please be specific. See the section on how to describe symptoms to better define what you are experiencing

    I assume “new onset headaches” and muscle spasms in the left arm are new.

    You really need the two studies, MRI and CT to help define what the current anatomy is.

    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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