Thank you so much for responding, Dr. Corenman! Actually, I did have myelopathy at the C4-C5 level. Before surgery and after years of neck pain, shoulder spasms and worsening symptoms (such as urinary urgency) – all originating from a rear-end car wreck 20 years before – I had the ACDF surgery in January 2019. So, yes, myelopathy was present.
My June 2019 X-ray report reads:
Findings: 3 views demonstrate no acute fractures or dislocations. Vertebral bodies are well-maintained in height and alignment. Mild focal kyphosis apexed at C5. Stable. Anterior plate and screw fixation at C4-5 with intervening disc spacing device. Intervertebral disc spaces well-preserved. The odontoid process is intact. Soft tissues
unremarkable.
During my August 2019 post-op appointment with my neurosurgeon, he told me that nerve-related pain and issues stemming from the prior cord compression could take up to two years to resolve. He also emphasized that the goals of surgery were to prevent additional decline, maintain and restore as much function as possible, and to reduce pain as an added, but not certain, benefit. I rarely have any neck pain or shoulder spasms anymore, but I never had intermittent deltoid pain before the procedure. Before the ACDF, I did experience some strange sensations in my legs, but they were not of the muscular soreness variety I’m feeling now.
I otherwise have no known health problems. I have always been a very active individual and take great care in my wellness and fitness, from diet and nutrition to exercise. I am only 40 with two children, so I am concerned about my future, and want to be proactive in exploring possible issues I could be facing.
