[Sunshine60]

#7113

Hello

I have three mild bugling disk with spurs but C5/6 is abutting the spine and shows on 2 EMG reports that neck,shoulder, arm, hand pain all coming from cervical C5/6 and irritating from C7.
I have done physical therapy ….and it helped a tiny bit but I am afraid if I have a fall or some it may paralyze me. C5/6 is almost bone on bone or close plus it is a grade 1 spondylolisthesis.

The problem is I have Addison disease, a rare form of adrenal insufficiency and will need IV solu cortef before, during and after. I have to take two steriods to live. I am afraid I will not heal right and the problem will be even worse. I already have some mild swallowing problems and worried the anesthesiologist or endocrinologist on hospital call does not give me enough while in hospital and I will suffer. This has happened before where they did not call my doctor right away and my blood volume was dropping drastically and I was in severe pain due to my cortisol plummeting. They did not listen to me or my husband and we have to file report to manager of hospital.

Linda

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7122

By your report, you have significant degenerative disc disease at C5-6 (“it is a grade 1 spondylolisthesis”). I assume cord compression (“C5/6 is abutting the spine”) as well as foraminal stenosis (“2 EMG reports that neck,shoulder, arm, hand pain all coming from cervical C5/6 and irritating from C7”).

Make sure that the C7 nerve is not involved as surgery at C5-6 will only help the C6 nerve and not decompress the C7 nerve.

Addison’s disease does make the recovery from surgery more difficult. You will need significantly more steroids for the immediate postoperative period and then taper back to your normal doses over time. Make sure your surgeon understands the significance of these steroids to your health and recovery. You should not have to be placed in the position of demanding therapeutic doses of these medications.

Dr. Corenman

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