Finally getting cervical Myleo CT, Left shoulder MRI, and 7 month X-rays!!

[Jarrod]

Hello,

Finally got into a GP who is interested in my ADR surgery and wrote me a script for the needed tests to help determine my type of pain...Nerve or muscular is the question. I was very close to flying back over to Barcelona, Spain and letting my Adr surgeon do the required tests, but work has been hectic and I havent been able to find enough time to plan the trip. So I saw a new GP who agrees with the Adr surgeon on the required tests to determine my pain source. I am praying that something pops up other than a problem with the operated levels as I have had a very hard year since I had my accident resulting in a 3 level cervical Adr surgery in Dec. 2010.

This upper left shouldr blade/upper back pain/ache is the pits and it is driving me crazy week by week...I pray I wake up and it starts to diminish, but so far no good. I am getting the MRI of the left shoulder to rule out rotator cuff injury as it was a weightlifting accident that lead to my injuries. I pray to GOD above to find the problem/pain generator so I can wake up everyday not wondering if pain is in store for me. I will post more when I get the results, thank you all for listening!!

Jarrod

[jsewell]

Good Luck with all of your tests Jarrod
judy

[dshobbies]

Jarrod,

Knowing where your pain is coming from is difficult. Not knowing is impossible. Glad you're having your necessary tests and here's hoping you find what you're looking for. Please keep us posted.

Dale

[newhere]

"""This upper left shouldr blade/upper back pain/ache""" i also have the same symptoms but still didnt get answers....
hope it will pop up something for us...

[Jarrod]

Hellol All,

Finally got all the tests done and the Myleo CT (cervical) too. So x-rays, left Shoulder MRI and myleo ct done. The myleo is not fun and the dye being injected in the lumbar area had a weird sensation, but it is over and hopefully I will find out if everything is ok or if there is a problem. If nothing is found, then Im praying it is just time my body needs to completely get over this operation. I have been praying to GOD for my pain to fade and I can honestly say that I am feeling better and have had some really good days lately, so faith works ( at least for me). I will keep updates as soon as I get the results and what my oversees surgeon says when he sees the scans. Again I want to thank all of you very much for the support and help, you all are always there when I am feeling my worst and that my friends is a gift in itsself....I hope my pain continues to fade even if it is a t a slow pace some improvement is better than none or regression. I pray for all of you and hope we all find some relief and comfort in the future....never lose faith or hope as you and me never know what GOD has around the corner for us.

Sincerly, Jarrod

[Maria]

Jarrod,
Glad to hear you got your testing done and over with and hope whatever it shows the pain continues to fade as you stated. I agree that even a slow improvement is better than none or regression. I do hope that you continue in this manner and thanks for the updated report on self!

[dshobbies]

Jarrod,

I'm glad that you're slowly improving after your surgery and hope that the reports show absolutely nothing - that your body just needs more time. We all heal at different rates. I was slow, much to my own dismay. Hopefully, so are you.

Dale

[Jarrod]

Greetings Everyone,
Hi guys I finally heard back from my surgeon in Spain about my test results from my myleo ct and it apears that there is some bilateral formina stenosis. Dr. Clavel said that at c5/6 and c6/7 are showing some bone spurs in the formina openings which might be causing the nerve to be pinched at these levels. So the first thing I am to do is to get an emg to see if the levels are showing some issues and then an epidural shot to see if that helps relieve some of my symptoms. In the end if the problem is shown to be at these levels then he suggested a possible Anterior microforminatomy to clean out the forminia and relieve the pain and symptoms.

Has anyone had this procedure done and is it laproscopic or open incision. I would do it in an instant if will relieve my aching back and clumsy hand. I cant belive that I might have to go back and have another procedure, but the good news is that the discs look good at the midline point and there are no bone spurs at those points which means the discs look good as far as placement goes. Also the c7/t1 level where they thouroughly cleaned out the formina openings due to the herniation hitting the nerve root looked beautiful on the myleo ct. So i cant understand why they would not clean out the formina on the other two lvels while they were in there. I understand that the c5/6 and c6/7 levels showed more central canal stenosis due to the herniations but I would have thought they they would have checked the formina while they were literally right there. Well hind sight is 20/20 and if I can have this procedure done to relieve this back ache and restore my hand I would forgive all. I still am very grateful to Dr. Clavel and his abilities to help me find a answer to my problem and pain. He is a very sincere and caring surgeon and he will def. be doing this next surgery if that is what is needed.

Thank You all for listening and giving your imput as this has been a very rough year for me. Emotionally I thought I had reached my limit and it is because of all of you that I still get up everyday and push forward trying to keep a positive attitude and figure out my pain and its source. May GOD BLESS you all and I will keep you updated. Thank you for any imput as it is much appreciated.

Jarrod

[dshobbies]

Jarrod,

We onced walked in your shoes. Everyone has a story with pain and suffering. The circumstances may be different, that's all. We post to help others find their way, often a difficult journey.

Well glad that you know what the problem is. Never had the surgery and quite honestly, I don't know who anything will help without it but if your doctor thinks injections might help????

Good luck and let us know what happens next.

Dale

[jsewell]

Jarrod
Glad you know where the pain is from. Now to cure it. My surgeon basically took the same steps you are talking about having now. Mine this time was lumbar.
I really don't understand why they did not look and clean those levels out.
whenever i have had back surgery my doc does clean out everything and does laminectomes every time ( yes i just had my 6th spine surgery)
I sure hope you can schedule this tests quickly. I , like Dale, do not see how bone spurs could be solved by steoid injections. But if it dose work that will be awesome for you.
keep us updated and good luck
judy

[Jarrod]

Greetings,
I believe the injections are to suppress the nerve being irritated in the formina openings. I guess this will provide a a good sample that the ache is comming from the nerve being compressed. So if the injection gives good relief then I think the surgery is needed for a final good outcome.

Jarrod

[jsewell]

Thanks for explaining that
judy

[Sariera]

Hello Jarrod,

I am a new member of this forum, and I am sorry if my english is not very good because I am spanish (and french canadian).
I am presently in spain because my family leaves in Barcelona. I am presently on seack leave for lumbar problems, and I am considering to be treated by Dr. Clavel.

I wanted to hear about yor experince and if you recommend me to go to this neurosurgeron and if you know about other people that has been operate by him.
I thank you very much for your opinion
Sariera

[dshobbies]

Hello Sariera and welcome to the forum,

Please tell us a little more about yourself. Your English is good enough for us to understand so please don't worry about it.

What levels are involved? If this because of an injury or just a plain bad back? Why don't you start a new thread - we're here to help.

Dale

[Sariera]

Hello Dale,

Thank you for your answer.
In fact is the first time that I am in a forum, so don't know very well how it works: if all the members see the message, if I have to write a message in each forum or if there is a better way to reach most of them.

My diagnostic now: In fact I have for the moment only one level involved. I have a bilateral spondylolysis L5-S1 with very small spondylolysthesis on L5, with a dimorphism of L5. Small discal protrusion of posterior projection in L5-S1. They suggest that the spondylolysis causes a dynamic foraminal stenosis with bilateral compression of both L5 nerves. I have low back pain and bilateral lower extremities pain with a L5 distribution since November 2010, and with neurological claudication when walking, standing, or doing an effort, and it is getting little better if I sit for a while.
Before that: I had back pain all my live but it was supportable and intermittent. We knew that I had spondylolysys on the right side, discovered in Spain in 2006, but nobody has given importance to that in Canada. From 2006 I have been had pain in both arms also , on the elbows until have been finished in permanent pain burning sensations. The investigation have done as result that I have a sensitive axonal polyneuropathy, but they didn't find the origin, even in Canada and in Spain. So that has been the problem between the opinions of specialists, most of them cannot say if my symptoms came from my back or from the polyneuropathy, even if the neurologist said that where different thinks. After doing all kind of conservative treatments all have concluded that is needed the surgery, and the two best have suggested and artrodesis, fusion L5-S1 by opening and doing also autograft.

Question: at this moment my principal questions are:
- Because I have neurologic claudication, I need also a decompression of the L5 nerves in the foramen? I don’t want to have to do a second surgery, but also it a is more risked surgery.
- If there are somebody who has had the same problem and symptoms, and what were the results of the surgery?
- Finally I want to have opinions about Dr. Clavel, even if the surgeries are different than the mine
I thank you all for your possible answers and specially to Dale
Sariera

[Maria]

Welcome to the forum! I agree that your english is easy enough to understand and far better than my written Spanish!

I read what you've stated regarding your clinical findings and about your symptoms. It sounds good that you only have one level to deal with surgically (hopefully). Was that determined with a discogram and CT scan as well as MRI?

If you want to start another thread with your information you could do that in the main forum and your questions can be answered specifically although I believe they will be answered here as well. It just enables someone to more easily see that you are asking questions or writing about your individual case.

Again welcome and hopefully you'll get answers here that are helpful in your decision making process.

[jsewell]

Sariera,
I hope i spelled your name correctly. Welcome to ISpine. I am going to try to let you know how to start your new thread.
First go to discussion forums. Then click on the ISpine one , then at the top left corner of the ISpine you will see new thread. Click on that and tell all of us your story.
I have no experience with the doctor you have mentioned, but i have read of him on this forum somewhere. Somebody knows him, you may start 2 threads , one with the Doctors name and the one of your story.
I have had extensive spine surgery and need to update my signature. I just had fusion of L3 and L4 . It takes a while to feel better, but i am improving every week.
YOu will get more answers and input from your own thread (that is what these stories are all called)
judy

[dshobbies]

Sariera,

I really don't have the experience to answer any of your questions but, has your doctor warned you that with a fusion, you have the risk of if affecting the next disc on top in a few years, perhaps needing more surgery, etc. I do not know if your symptoms can be helped with an ADR but before you commit to any surgery, you should completely understand why, how is will help, what are the possible downfalls, is there something better... etc. Only when you know and understand the facts of your circumstances can you make the best decision for you. This always includes second opinions and more. You owe it to yourself.

Good luck, Dale

[Sariera]

Thank you Maria,

I have been diagnoticatd by and MRI. I think that you have answered my in another forum? If ti is the case I thank you for your information. I am trying to pass trough all this information first

Thanks a lot

sariera

[Sariera]

Thank you also to Judy and Dale,

Thank you judy for your precis information. I have just begin one threat. I will see.
How long it is to feel better

Dale
Is there better and ADr than a fusion? All the doctors (3) agree with a fusion because th problem is the spondylolysis. I dont, know...

Thank you for your help

[dshobbies]

If you have sought other opinions and all doctors have the same opinion and you agree with them, then that is what you should do. If you're not happy with what you're being told or you don't understand something, continue investigating until you know exactly what's going on.

Good luck, Dale

[Sariera]

Thanks Dale,

In fact at the begining most of the doctors said that I needed conservative traitment , that they didn't see clearly why I was having neurological claudication (except Clavel).*After no changes with intense conservative traitement they are changeing their opinion.
I was pretty sure about doing surgery before I have seen your forum. In fact, it has put on me a lot of questioning, specially concerning that a lot of members have had more than one surgery without good results and having the same pain or more after it... So that is making doubts on my decision...

Thank you, Dale