shipper

I noticed shortness of breath immediately after the surgery, but it was 3 months before my pulmonary physician ordered an x-ray with sniff. I use an Advair Diskus and have learned how to lay in bed at night which was my most difficult position. I am 75 and, although in reasonable condition, not extremely active so I’ve learned to adjust to my shortened breathing. About 15 years ago I had a cervical fusion at c5-6 and c6-7 with cadaver bone and a plate (because it was an old injury) and 6 screws. I now have 12 screws, a plate and some pins which will probably hinder me from boarding an airplane. I’m beginning to feel like an old car that’s been wired together to keep running-I’m a good example of your CNS type of patient.

I have wondered if my earlier fusion with the plate caused my problems above c5,and if my laminectomy caused this recent tingling problem which I suspect is above c3. Yes, I do have cervical stenosis, but I had assumed that the screws and pins were to spread the vertebra to relieve the stenosis. I knew that I had had two posterior fusions, but didn’t associate all the hardware to the fusions. My earlier fusions were anterior which I assume must be an entirely different procedure.

I don’t know how to approach this latest problem because more surgery might put me on a ventilator for the rest of my time on earth. Would you feel that an anterior surgery would be less likely to cause Phrenic nerve damage, which could effect my remaining working diaphragm, if my problem is now at the c2-3 level?

I have made an appointment with a Neurosurgeon in another area, but it seems most doctors don’t want to get involved with someone else’s work. It seems it’s all a crap shoot to find the right doctor, but I guess that’s true of most of life’s situations.

PS: I did purchase and use an expensive neck device that was supposed to aid in bone fusion during recovery. It reminded me of the voodoo gimmicks on TV, but perhaps I’m just being cynical. ;)

Thanks again for any further comments!