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in reply to: Leg symptoms from cervical cord compression?? #6883
Motor weakness is a feeling of undependability of the joint that the muscle crosses. For example, if the L5 nerve was compressed, the tibialis anterior would be weak. This muscle lifts the foot when walking so weakness would be demonstrated by a slapping of the foot on the ground when you step on the leg.
If the L3 or L4 nerve would be involved, the knee would collapse when ascending or descending a curb or stairs. Pain inhibition does not count as weakness.
You do have some numbness but this is a sensory nerve involvement and not to be too concerned.
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.in reply to: Bone Stimulator Fracture #6880If you have the pars fractures, most likley at this point, they will not heal. A brace will not change the biomechanics of your back. If you avoid impact, you will be better off but I understand that impact cannot be avoided. You have to do the best that you can and try to avoid aggrevation of your back.
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.You would have to check with various universities and research programs to find that information out.
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.I actually see this problem all the time. Patients come into the practice with spinal cord stimulators, defibrillators and pacemakers that are incompatible with MRIs.
There is really no test that is as good as an MRI but the CT myelogram is a very close second. This test is excellent to detect nerve root compression, foraminal or canal stenosis and HNPs but not annular tears. The only disorders that CT scans are not excellent at diagnosing are annular tears and far lateral disc herniations. Far lateral disc herniations are rare.
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.in reply to: L5-S1 Grade 1 Degenerative Spondylolisthesis #6876I am finishing my paper on BMP complications now. BMP used properly appears to have about a one to two percent complication rate for heterotopic bone formation (not verified just yet). This also might be related to technique. Most of the time, the effects are transient.
You will find in the spine field that “minimally invasive” is the new flashy term that some surgeons are promoting. Fads unfortunately are common in the spine field and this is one of them. The two incisions made for “minimally invasive spine surgery” actually add up to a longer total incision than a small central incision and the scars are more unsightly in my opinion.
The purpose to “preserve spinal muscles” also makes no sense in this case. The purpose of the TLIF is to fuse the two segments together. The muscles that join these two segments together are not useful after this surgery. In addition, the insertion points of these muscles are the bony prominences that are required to be denuded to allow fusion to take place in the posterolateral position. Again- these claims of “minimally invasive” preserving the muscles do not make sense.
Any surgery is “open surgery”. It just depends upon where you make the incision (or incisions). Now- I don’t want to dissuade you from a surgeon who does “minimally invasive” surgery as if he or she is great at this technique, you should be well served. I will say that 40% of my practice is revision surgery to correct failed surgeries performed at other institutions. I see more failures of fusion requiring revisions of TLIFs performed from the “minimally invasive” side than the mini open or MIMS technique.
Most likely, you would need a decompression of the foramen as the collapse of the disc height along with the slip and bone spur formation that typically accompanies this disorder produces foraminal stenosis.
The most important question you ask is how to pick a good spine surgeon and I do not have an answer for that yet. There are nationally “unknown” surgeons who are excellent and some national figures that are less than excellent. Even I am somewhat stumped by that question. The internet has helped somewhat to make some of the research efforts easier but there is much false information on the internet. I wrote an article on my website regarding questions to ask a prospective spine surgeon about two years ago. Search my website for those questions.
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.in reply to: ABOUT BONE SPURS #6872Please try not to add to a preexisting thread unless you have specific comments regarding that particular topic. You need to start a new thread regarding your specific symptoms. This requires you to specifically discuss your symptoms, treatment and any consultations that you have had.
As I have noted before, the MRI is only one piece of the puzzle. Without a history (and physical examination), the images do not tell the story.
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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