4 weeks after cervical osteotomy and fusion

Hooch · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2011, 11:35 AM

Hi Judy, great news about the screws being ok. Sounds like a really good doc, taking an interest in getting you back to the best you can be.

Maria · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2011, 01:36 PM

Sounds like an excellent visit with a really good doctor that's on top of things. What does it mean "very little purchase" .. exactly? I get the idea of what it means but never heard or seen it used before. I have no hardware in my spine so perhaps this is why I've never heard it stated before.

I'm sure you must feel very relieved with the news and the plan of upcoming treatment. Hope the fractured vertebrae pain will be an easy fix (or heal and go away soon enough).

jsewell · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2011, 09:29 PM

Thanks for your replies. Always good to hear from fellow spineys. He is a great personable doc that really does care. He told me before i do anything with this neurosurgeon he will talk to him because he cares about me. It was nice to hear. Even though he was not the surgeon when the injury happened, he feels responsible as he sent me to him.
Nice to have a plan that is for sure.
Very little purchase would be the screws are not doing a lot of holding on. Hard for me to describe. Say a little screw in a huge piece of bone. Maybe someone else can help with the answer.

cherylstewart67 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-10-2011, 11:07 PM

How loose is the screw? I would have someone else take a look. A loose screw could lead to a looser screw. If that comes out, not all the way, but even a bit more, it could rub on soft tissues; could cause some pain. I would keep an eye on it for a while...Once you have fused, IF, it becomes any looser, you may want to have it removed. It's shouldn't cause any life threatening issues, but definately keep an eye on it.

mmglobal · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 12:47 AM

If the level is already fused, there would be no stress on the screws holding the plate over the fused levels. What might have caused them to become loose of there is no load?

On second thought... don't ask your surgeon that. You'll only piss him off.

It sounds like there is so much going on, but it's very soon after surgery. I'm looking forward to hearing of the great progress you'll be making. (your phone is ringing!)

Mark

jsewell · #6 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 02:33 AM

We will definately keep an eye on them. I figure they were not put in properly or the force of my neck trying to get to my chest (chin on chest deformity was what i had). I still have some kyphosis, he just said he could not get it any better. Reading an older thread Mark i saw you refer to this as swan neck deformity, nice way to put it. I just could not get my chest off my body and could not make eye contact or look up at all.
so this is a huge improvement and i am not paralyzed or dead,so am very thankful as is the OR staff.

Now back to the lower back which is why i first met this man. Although now i have a fracture in my vertebrae and i do not even know which level., I think the end of thoracic. That would be the one that was also positive on discography but DrRegan could only get to the back of it. So i have 1/2 a painful disc and 1/2 bMP.
thanks all for your replies

jsewell · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2011, 04:31 PM

Update at 8 weeks mostly for myself , but maybe someday someone will be needing a cervical osteotomy and will appreciate this.
I had the ESI's for my lumbar spine 3 days ago, not sure if i am still feeling pain from the injections or the lumbar pain. Jury is still out.

My neck is doing well , except for a little new pain caused by someone lowering my bed too fast the other day for the injections. I don't know what they thought the darth vadar like brace was still on me for. The shoulder pain is gone. I get a little twinge now and then when i carry something very light, so i have to watch that. He is keeping me in the brace for 2 more weeks until i have my next follow up visit. Then he said at that visit he will put me in a different brace. (i'm sure it won't be so cool as this one) I will probably miss all the stares. Especially from kids.
I still have pain if i touch the right side of my neck. I will ask my doc if this is where the loose screws are. Still using the shower brace too. I am looking forward to taking a shower and really being naked. I feel the back of my neck has never been washed!!!
overall doing quite wonderfully in that area .

I am going to meet the neurosurgeon on wed who thinks he can help with the nerve damage to my phrenic nerve which causes the diaphram muscle to work and sensation in the chest area. Since that was injured during DrRegan's surgery i have had constant pain (only if i touch it ) to my right upper quadrant and only have 45% lung capacity left. I used to run the mountain trails and am out of breath going up the stairs. The clock is ticking as the doctor's office said the 2 year mark is kind of the limit to trying to repair nerves. Not looking forward to more recovery , but the possible outcome is wonderfully exciting.
That's what's going on in the upper parts right now, its the lumbar that is a mess now.