Question
April 2001 and April 2009 sx on L5-S1 to remove the disc rupturing on the R-side and the same thing on the L-side.  I need to have sx to the same area again, this time w/fixation.

November 2008 sx on C6-C7, no problems after sx for a year and half, now I have difficulty turning my head and some days I cannot turn it at all.  Constant pain on the Left and/or right side of my upper back and neck area.  Difficulty lifting my arms, pain in the elbow and sometimes I cannot hold a container of milk and sometimes I am unable to hold a pencil, let alone try to write.

As I said earlier I need to have sx on L5-S1 however, I am concerned about using my neck and arms as I recover.  A recent MRI stated that  There is a hemangioma at T3 vertebral body which is stable.  I have no idea what this is and I have previously been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I do not agree with this dx at all.

Please help, I am in constant pain.

Answer
Hi Denise, and thank you for asking your important question. I wish you sincere hope for a speedy recovery. Now lets address your concerns.
You mention that you need surgery to the L5-S1 area again, this time with fixation. I'm guessing you probably mean with a fusion. Before you go ahead with a fusion I urge you to find someone like myself who has the expertise and technology to perform a combination of Class IV laser along with non-surgical spinal decompression. I have developed a system integrating these two approaches in combination with a proprietary nutritional system that is seeing successes approach the mid 90% mark. So please consider a non-surgical approach first and surgery last.

You mentioned that you had surgery on C6-C7, until about 18 months. It would help for me to know clearly for both your neck what your diagnosis is along with precisely what surgery you underwent. Have you had a recent specialist diagnose what your current problem is that is causing your neck turning pain is as well as the difficulty in turning your arms, elbow and hand weakness?

Finally, you comment about your hemangioma discovered at T3 vertebral body and that it's stable. The good news is that hemangiomas are usually asymptomatic and are found incidentally (coincidentally) , in fact are believed to be in as high as 11% of the population-and as I said they are usually asymptomatic. A hemangioma of is a swelling or growth of special cells called endothelial cells, which are the cells that line blood vessels, and in your case these are the blood vessels found within the body of the vertebra. From a statistical standpoint it is likely not responsible for your pain, but you should allow your neurologist or orthopedist make the call. Remember the report said that the T3 body is stable, which the radiologist probably means is that the structure of the vertebrae is strong and likely not hampered by the hemangioma. Please check with your family doctor for a deeper explanation.

Please let me know how you are doing,
Also can you please take a moment out to rate my answer and consider to rate me as expert of the month,

Regards,
Dr. Ron Nusbaum
www.backclinicsofcanada.ca