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I am so glad to read this article.It has really put things into perspective for me.I have two disk-spurs with herniations @ C6-7 levels.I also have radiculopathy bilaterally.Although my pain management m.d. has been pushing for me to have the surgery,I now feel that it is not in my best interest,mainly because my overall health is not near as optimum as it could or should be.i also suffer with SVT.Thanks so much for this info.
I have had the neck surgery and i am fine, it relived the excruating pain in my right hand. which felt worse then having a baby. i have full movement of neck. The other surgery ive had was in my lower back they went through the middle of back instead of side cause i have advance stenois the opening was too small.
which made for longer recovery but i year later . I feel good it takes a while to recope but it works.
surgeries help not hinder, they are well worth it but sould only be when all other avenues have been exsausted. when nothing else works
Thanks for sharing on the topic~
The Cranial-cervical fusion recommended for me is one I may never decide to have- and would Certainly never decide upon if it were based on pain factors alone. (We're talking Neurological functions)
I hope to God there is a way for me to have the Tethered Cord surgery first- which will impact the cervical spine in some fashion too- (then they will do an invasive cervical traction test- screws in the head- pulling upwards to see how much length I need) to see if I still need the CCF (fusion)
I have a dear friend who underwent the surgery and then later lost her voice for 8 months- had to relearn how to speak again. She still feels however, that the surgeries saved her life.
As for me, I will have to wait and see how I do after the first surgery. I am a smoker now-
- (yes, I am a bad girl) and I have a connective tissue disorder with inherent poor wound healing. (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Classical type. EDS) (not good for surgery aT all- plus, the EDS tends towards degeneration no matter what you do.) No, surgery, if chosen - would be only a hoped for stop in the damage making. It wouldn't fix anything- in particular- just halt the progression so to speak. And even that, with EDS is not guarenteed.
Wearing a neck brace and doing cervical traction everyday for the rest of my life isn't exactly what I want, but what I'm concerned about is neurological damage ~ and beyond that, not much else. Pain can always be dealt with. ONe way or another~~
I have a few other friends that have had fusions- (not CCF) but still, fusions- and some of them really haven't gotten much benefit from them at all- besides the fact that the disks above and below where the fusion is done are ultimately going to be compromised.
Tis a tough choice to be faced with- My best advise for anyone considering it is to talk to as many people as you can with your set of issues, and to get sevERal sets of recommendations from surgeons- and choose your surgeon VERY, VERY WISELY.
(especially if you happen to have a connective tissue disorder!!)
~ 
~ sorry- it just haPPens to be a pet peeve of mine. If you're wondering why I think I explained it in my profile.
(I happen to have herniated disks, spinal stenosis, and a small bone spur that has formed, the functional cranial settling- and instability (aquired Chiari if you like) decreased CSF flow - don't remember what else- all of that in my cervical spine.)
But two years ago- I could still walk and hey- kicK my legs- while doing so- when my neurosurgeon held my head up for me really, really hELD it up. ! (now that was my Happy sPOt)
Cheers! from somewhere over the rainbow,
zoe
All such wonderful comments, thank you. I am reminded that it is truely difficult, if not impossible, to compare each individual story because everyone is different in size, shape, health, genetics, and environment. Bearing that in mind, please recognize that there are success stories as a result of surgery (I usually do not see successful surgical patients because I am a pain specialist. Success stories tend not to end in uncontrolled pain. So, by nature, I am admittedly biased). Everyone needs to weigh the risks and potential benefits as an individual. And all potential surgical candidates need to go into surgery with eyes-wide-open and a sense of optimism. If one cannot muster the optimism, than surgery is probably the wrong choice, especially if the risk of things getting worse is unacceptable.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
HI CHRISTINA. I HAVE HAD 4 CERVICAL FUSIONS - ONE WITH RHS LAMINECTOMY. THEY LAST ONE WAS IN 2004. I NOW GET NECK PAIN BUT DO NOT WANT FURTHER SURGERY. I ALSO HAVE A BAD LUMBAR SPINE WHICH NEEDS "EXTENSIVE SURGERY" - ACCORDING TO ONE SURGEON WHO I DO TRUST.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE LESS INVASIVE LASER SURGERY OFFERED AT A SPINAL CLINIC IN THE STATES?? APPARENTLY THEY CAN HANDLE ALL OF THE SPINAL PROBLEMS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT WITHOUT INVASIVE SURGERY - THEY FOLD BACK THE MUSCLES AND INSERT THE LASER VIA A THIN TUBE.
I AM NOT PUNTING THIS AS I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS IS. HOWEVER, IF IT WORKS IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS BETTER THAN CONVENTIONAL FUSIONS ETC.
worried
I had a fusion in 2002 for neck pain and numbness in arm and hand. Surgery relieved most of my pain and numbness. Then 5 years later told I needed back surgery. Went to a physician who did less invasive surgery. He was ready to operate on my back but said he couldn't do it unless I agreed to letting him operate on my neck again as my neck appeared to be compressed and he did not want to put me on the table like that.
Went for a second opinion as I did not want neck surgery. My neck wasn't bothering me too bad and it didn't make sense to fix something that wasn't broke. Well the second surgeon agreed with the first one. I went ahead and agreed to the neck surgery and am I ever sorry. I have been in severe pain every since. I get epidurals which help some but they don't last very long. Nothing helps the pain. After all of this I have never had the back surgery which is what I wanted to begin with. My neck hurts so bad I'm afraid to do the back surgery.
Not sure if this surgery was necessary or not but I didn't feel I had much choice at the time. The first surgery was great though so who knows. Not even the doctors seem to.
chelle
The author obviously is biased against neck surgery, and there are certainly situations where it should not be considered. But her blanket statement that smokers don't do well is overbroad. Certainly, no one should smoke during recovery, but that doesn't mean if they start smoking again, they won't have some benefit.
She doesn't discuss severe spinal stenosis where, as in my case, the spinal cord was severely compressed. Surgery is required in those cases, unless you want to live with the real risk of paralysis.
I think she needs to be a bit more thoughtful in her next article, and consider her statements more carefully.
Although I did not specifically mention spinal stenosis with severe spinal cord compression, I did say that: "Some serious problems require surgery like major trauma and infection. Those potential disasters can cause permanent nerve damage and deterioration, in a hurry."
In a comment above, I did openly admit my bias against surgery. However, when serious, progressive nerve damage is imminent, surgery is usually the best option.
Smoking is a lifestyle choice and habit that promotes pain. No one with chronic pain should smoke (unless one does not want to get better). It is time for people to take responsibility for their habits and their health. When faced with pain, most people choose to feel better. Those who choose to smoke should expect to live with pain. Medicine and surgery can only do so much to counteract the effects of unhealthy habits. Shame on those doctors who do not take hard stand against smoking.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
Dr. Lasich, there are people who smoke to counteract the depression that comes with chronic pain, and depression increases pain, as pain increases depression. There are many benefits to not smoking, and I would not suggest that a person take up smoking to deal with their pain. There may also be kinds of pain that could be exacerbated by smoking. But, again, your blanket statement that smoking always makes pain worse is simply not true.
Calico
Addiction, by definition, is a habit that is done despite harm to self. Like all habits, addiction can be broken with the right motivator and relapse prevention plan. Sometimes, pain, paralysis, incontinence, even death are not powerful enough motivators to break the addiction cycle. Thus, some people are doomed to an unhealthy lifestyle that no amount of healthcare can save. What excuse do the young people of America have who are taking up smoking at an alarming rate? Now that "Big Tobacco" is out in the open for all to see the harmful effects, I guess young smokers have to find a different excuse than the "poor me" victim mentality.
Many of my patients have quit smoking (and I am proud of them) probably because I do not accept excuses. Maybe more MD's should get tougher on their patients.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
I had my neck fused about 3 1/2 years ago. According to the Dr out of seven levels or vertabrea I guess I had compressions on 6 of them. I did have a little bit of a problem with pinched nerves and some pain but with pain killers nothing I couldn't live with. What made my decision honestly is the Dr scared me into it. The Dr I had at the time told me that I could fall and be paralized for the rest of my life. It really scared me having the surgery but the thought of being paralized scared me even more. I should have gotten a second opinion at the time but I was in a bad position because of an injury at work. The Drs already had said I couldn't go back to the type of work I had been doing. I was getting ready to lose my health care. I had it done and luckily it came out ok.They went in thru the front and deburred my neck and inserted a piece of metal and screws. When I was recovering right after it I had a hard time eating or talking. They gave me ice packs and fed me ice cream to bring down the swelling. That seemed to work pretty well. I was just kept in the hospital for 3-4 days after the surgery. I had a neck brace on when I was first released. One thing they messed up on was not telling me how long I needed to wear it but that came out ok. I have some neck pain but not as much as I used to have but then again I am on disability now. My neck doesn't go thru the strain it used to. The worse problem I have with my neck now is it pops sometime but it doesn't hurt when it does.
Thanks for sharing your story, Mike. I am glad things turned out O.K. for you and I hope you can find work within your abilities.
You made a great point about getting a second opinion. One should never feel "pushed" into surgery. Whenever possible, obtaining a second opinion is an important step before going under the knife. Measure twice, cut once.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
All I had ever done was physical labor type jobs. With my back and neck in the shape they are i've been declared disabled. I will offer this advice for anyone trying to get diability.Collect your own records from all your dr and where you have testing done. By law they have to give you 1 free copy.when you get everything make a copy to turn in, a copy for yourself and a copy in case you need a lawyer. I mean get the xray and mri reports from where the test were taken. go thru it all and highlite the pertinent information.One you have it all together hand carry it to your local social security office. That way you know they got it all. I did all that due to my back and neck andwas approved the first try
Hello,
After a work injury in 8-2000, it took 3 years to find that I had blown 3 cervical discs. It was another full year to find a Dr. who would do a triple C-Spine. I worked for 1.5 years after injury, in obvious pain and sought medical treatment after work. The injury caused migraine strength headaches occurring almost daily. My pains were compounded with injury to the right shoulder also. This was one reason the docs went back and forth. It's the Neck, the shoulder .... And yet all MRI's (even the ones with dye) showed no major abnormalities. All the while I was often experiencing 10+++ (seriously). It didn't that help at all that I had 2 injuries and several other areas of referred pain and all the NERVES pinched. My muscles were spazing terribly. I had pain in my fingers (radiculopathy) and a lot of pain from my cervical discs rubbing on each other causing spondyliosis.
From 2002 - 2004, I was homebound and completely disabled. The final year before my surgery I spent in bed as any movement or jolting to my C-Spine would just bring me to tears. The recliner in my room also became a favorite due to the "head pains" and nausea I had from the "neck referred headaches". They couldn't give me enough Oxy-contin (even in combo with Norco) or Fentanyl to touch the pain I was having.
The Dr. performed a anterior triple discectomy of C4/5, C5/6. C/67. Donor bone was taken from my iliac crest for spacing. A titanium plate was inserted held with 8 screws into healthy vertebrae. I used some kind of a bone graft ?"generator" three hours a day around my neck. By 4 months the grafts had almost fused to all the vertebrae. Surgery for me was a GREAT Success.
I awoke from surgery and noticed immediate relief from headaches!! There was no/little pain in my fingers. I was able to recover by 6 months with full fusion. You won't believe this last part either ... sadly I am a smoker. Guess I beat the odds with success. 5 yrs post op I do go to a pain clinic, sometimes wear my soft collar and use several different medications for the damage caused before surgery.
sometimes the repair though risky is worth it!!
I posted the following comment on 09 April 2009:
re: Shall I Compare Thee?
BACKPAIN
Thursday, April 09, 2009 at 10:47 AM
HI CHRISTINA. I HAVE HAD 4 CERVICAL FUSIONS - ONE WITH RHS LAMINECTOMY. THEY LAST ONE WAS IN 2004. I NOW GET NECK PAIN BUT DO NOT WANT FURTHER SURGERY. I ALSO HAVE A BAD LUMBAR SPINE WHICH NEEDS "EXTENSIVE SURGERY" - ACCORDING TO ONE SURGEON WHO I DO TRUST.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE LESS INVASIVE LASER SURGERY OFFERED AT A SPINAL CLINIC IN THE STATES?? APPARENTLY THEY CAN HANDLE ALL OF THE SPINAL PROBLEMS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT WITHOUT INVASIVE SURGERY - THEY FOLD BACK THE MUSCLES AND INSERT THE LASER VIA A THIN TUBE.
I AM NOT PUNTING THIS AS I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS IS. HOWEVER, IF IT WORKS IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS BETTER THAN CONVENTIONAL FUSIONS ETC.
worried
Could you please reply to this Dr Lasisch?
Many thanks.
Certainly. I always believe in trying the least invasive treatment as possible. However, I am not aware of any scientifically sound studies that have proven laser surgery to be more effective than conventional surgeries. In fact, I do not believe that insurance companies will pay for laser surgeries because they are unproven. I would not want to fork out a thousands of dollars for something that sounds cool but may not be any better than standard procedures. Then again, I have not been through what you are going through either.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
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I had the fusion surgery in May 1996, due to severe neck pain. They took bone from my hip and made new discs, and then screwed in a metal "E" clamp, to hold it together. My job was sitting at a computer 8-10 hrs a day. Six weeks after the surgery, I felt good enough to go back to work. For maybe a year, I felt good, not bad pain to speak of., Then a year after the surgery, the pain came back, it got worse and worse. I ended up retiring on disability in January 1998, cause the pain was so bad, that I had to go back on Morphine. I consulted my Surgeon in "2007", and all he said was it looks good, that he would not do surgery. He did not feel that it would help my pain. So here it is "2009", I wear a soft neck brace most of the time, also to bed. Only took it off when I was going out. Was it worth it. I don't know, cause I don't know if I would have been worse of if I did not have the surgery. Even the surgon could not answer the question. Now, the pain is unbearable, I am on constant heavy duty pain med.'s. Good luck to anyone who has to make the choice. nwichlet@yahoo.com