stoczko

Hello Dr. Corenman:
Can I in some way reverse this abnormal curve? I think I have to some extent as I wasn’t able to lay flat on a floor with my head touching the ground, but now I can. I couldn’t tilt my head back enough to drink out of a glass or bottle, but now I can. I can stand up straight now, but physical therapists had told me my posture needed improvement when they couldn’t understand that the spine was locked in the wrong direction and just wouldn’t go where I or they wanted it to. They acted like I was just being uncooperative. I followed the home exercises they gave and have improved.
I don’t know why they would have done this laminectomy procedure to me knowing what it would cause. It’s right in the literature it will cause kyphosis. They had my post surgical x-ray right on the screen in front of me and claimed everything was fine. even though it showed the improper curve. I think they were trying to hide just what damage was done, what they did and the outcome.
I have seen other’s images on the internet that show this abnormal curve present from a car accident without any laminectomy. When I saw my pre-surgical image it showed the neck was bent in the normal curve position but too much so. My abnormal curve I think occurred due to the laminectomy and being put in a collar that held me in the wrong position for too long.
I was very injured when brought to the hospital having been, as said, rear ended by someone going over 100mph when I’m going 50mph and then I’m hit 300yds. down the highway by another going 66mph with me stopped. I nearly was killed or completely paralyzed. It’s possible, in defense of my care, that they couldn’t operate on me right away as I was in too bad condition. Supposedly I had a brain bleed.
Thanks for your attention and communication. I wish I had you as my surgeon.
Best Regards, Steve T.

Hello Dr. Corenman:
Thanks for your interest and attention.
What I’d meant in saying the cervical spine “bent backwards” was that if someone is facing left and looked at laterally the normal lordosis curve would be, just as you say, the normal “C” shape, the curve being to the left or forward with respect to the subject. In my case the “C” is/was reversed when I’m observed in such position, the curve pointing to the back; like the letter “D” without the straight piece, hence my saying “bent backwards”.
It would be a bit of a job to get pre-surgical imaging and post them. I’ll put that one on hold for a bit. As mentioned, I do have the post surgical x-ray on the disc, which could be pasted here if the computer permits it.
Thanks again.
Best Regards, Steve T.

Hello Dr. Corenman:
When you mention “forward flexion”/ kyphosis are you referring to the cervical spine bending forward (anteriorly) in an exaggeration of the normal lordosis curve?
My x ray had shown just the opposite, whereby the cervical spine was curved backwards (posteriorly)
in what was referred to in patient notes as an “erosion of the normal lordosis curve” as opposed to an exaggeration of it. The physical therapists gave me exercises to get my neck to bend backwards to reverse the erosion and thereby get my cervical spine to bend forward again. I’ve made progress with this as I can now drink from a glass or jug with my head extending back and can stand with normal posture, the head level.
I was told at the time of surgery that I was born with a tight canal and had disc degeneration, but I never had any issues with arm/hand strength and/or numbness before the accident.
According to what I read, if the canal was compromised/narrowed due to degenerative changes (bone spurs) and/or was too narrow congenitally, such that swelling from the accident would cause cause secondary damage, that would call for the laminectomy of the C3-C6; but the procedure would need to be done within 24hrs. of the injury to have any benefit. I wasn’t treated until 4 days later thus it seems logical that the C3-C6 laminectomy wouldn’t have been done, but only a removal of the broken spinous process fragments of C3-C6. Again, the only real indicated laminectomy would have been at C7 as it had the bilateral fracture of the lamina and the C1 and C2 fusion as the pivot bone was shattered.
If any lamina work was needed for C3-C6 it would best be a laminoplasty not laminectomy, which I read is best to avoid kyphosis. I hope they didn’t do a C3=C6 laminectomy as it wouldn’t have achieve anything given when it was performed in relation to the time of the accident and would cause kyphosis.
I hope this clarifies things as much as we can without more imaging and thanks for your info. It’s much valued.
Best Regards, Steve T.