kshabibi

Ok – do you have suggestions on what i should do? wait it out or try to contact another surgeon locally to get a second opinion?
The new symptoms of numbness and weakness in my legs is of concern to me.

Is there any way i can get my latest CD to you for a look? I wish i was closer to where you are located as i would like to make an appointment.

The symptoms before the surgery:
– cold/numbness/tingling on my left and hands predominantly
– weakness/trembling on my left hand and arm
– weakness/tingling on my left leg/foot

I had an ACDF at C6-c7 done about 5 months ago. Things seemed ok after the surgery but within the past month I’ve had these new symptoms:
– the thumbs now on both sides shake a little. Most obvious is when i spread out my hands and try to move my thumb inward towards my pointer finger
– Increased weakness and numbness in my legs (both side)

I just had first MRI done a week ago and the report says there is a “midle disc bulge” at C6-c7. I’ve looked at the MRI’s and i do see a disc bulge. Looking at the axial view it looks like the disc is again compressing the cord. previously it was more towards the right and now it’s central. (too my untrained nonmedical eye).

The surgeon called me a few days ago and he says he agrees with the report. He said the foraminal openings are clear though whereas before the surgery they were narrow.

From what i know the intent of the surgery was to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and it looks like the compression is still there.

I’ve been back to my surgeon several times and he’s passed off the symptoms and he would not do an MRI. I had to get MRI done through my primary doctor and the new findings came on the report.

Is it possible to send u the cd’s (old and new) and teh reports? I have no idea what to do now. It seems like i’m back at square 1 and not sure why i’m having continued symptoms. :(

I had a bulging disc – which was the primary pathology that the surgery was intended to address.

Here’s was my pre-surgery MRI report:

The C2-c3 interverteberal disc is normal.

There is a small central protrusion at c3-c4 with mild disc bulge, causing mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis

There is a mild disc bulge at c4-5 without significant stenosis

At the c5-c6 level, there is a left central ostephyte protrusion causing mild central canal stenosis. There is a mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, left greater than right.

There is a focal disc protrusion at c6-c7 spanning 7mm in the AP dimension and deforming the left ventral hemicord. There is a mild to moderate left nueral foraminal stenosis and mild right nueral foraminal stenosis as well

The C7-T1 intervertebral disc is normal

IMPRESSION:
1. Left central disc protrusion at c6-c7 with underlying disc bulge, causing moderate to severe central canal stenosis with ventral cord deformity as well as moderate left and mild right neural foraminal stenosis.
2. Left central disc osteophytic protrusion at c5-c6 causing mild central canal stenosis and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, left greater than right.
3. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis at c3-c4 related to disc bulge with small superimposed central protrusion