Question
Hello,
I had cervical fusion C4-5,C5-6,C6-7, inserting cadabor (sp?) bone etc.
My surgeans admitted permanent significant nerve damage. It's from the shoulder blades out other arms, burning, stabbing, electricity, sore, spasms, tingling, numbness in arms. I have pain in R elbow and wrist and loose use of the right hand if I lift and aggrevate the muscles. That pain encompasses the neck and shoulders. Also the pain shoots up and down my spine and into and around my head.
I have noticed some improvement and was told nerves can heal at a certain rate per month? I know medicine is part mystery and anything is possible. As I have noticed improvement is it logical to say it's fair I could expect this to continue. Also, when I do things to hurt myself and really aggrevate the pain, spasms, swelling, etc. am I actually reinjuring myself or just irritating the injury.
Last and most important. My lower lumbar 1 - 5 including one SI joint, my discs are herniated, some buldging and 4 are torn. Does this necessarily mean I will need more surgery? What are the most important things I need to do or not do to prevent injury to those discs, further injury that is. I purchased a new mattress as I was developing a curve from my waist to SI area. It did not work. How firm should my bed be.
My upper body and lower body injury combined make exercise very difficult. I have lost 45 pounds just from pain and I'm still having trouble eating and loosing ever since the surgery. I have nerve damage that effects my left leg, especially the first 6 months, I trip a lot, even before surgery, on the left leg and it drags somewhat. If I try to walk it stops supporting me. That is from my neck. I also had problems with my bladder and lower colon since cervical surgery and one doctor thinks my colon is damaged and thus I am not digesting nuitrition properly therefore weight loss and she fears malnuitrition.
I ruptured two thoracic discs shortly after my cervical fusion.
I am a 52 year old single mom. I was very active in yoga and swing dance. I wonder if I will ever be able to any form of either?
This is frightening to say the least. I own a home that needs constant upkeep. I need education about my expectable limitations so I can plan accordingly, as much as anyone can plan. If my lower back is going to greatly limit movement, then a townhome, condo makes more sense. It's these decisions I have to make. I have no money as I lost my job just before this happened and the only reason why we still have a home is donations from the community.
I cannot get any info from my doctors.
This is long and I apologize. Any knowledge I can acquire is essential.

Thank you very much. This site is wonderful. My daughter has used her for physics and science activities.

Thanks,
Cindy

Answer
Dear Cindy,

Understand, first, that with spinal problems, there is almost always a muscular component to the problem.  Tight muscles of the spine cause discs to bulge (herniate) and rupture by pulling neighboring vertebrae too close together.  They also cause nerve pinches that fit the descriptions you've given.

If there is nerve damage, one would expect loss of sensation and control of movement.  Pain generally indicates a nerve pinch.

Gut problems sometimes indicate contracted psoas muscles, which affect the nerve plexus that governs digestion and intestinal function.

In brief, it sounds like it would be fruitful to examine the degree of muscular tension you hold along your spine and neck.  Some of your symptoms are probably reversible by retraining those muscles (the brain, actually, that controls those muscles).

Without such retraining, those muscles are unlikely ever to relax, even with surgery.

This is a missing area of physical medicine and physical therapy.  Investigate it more by reading the articles at somatics.com/page4.htm.  The general comment people make after reading these articles is, "That makes sense."

Then, contact me again.  (Options for care are featured on the article-pages.)

Lawrence Gold