Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
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Sun, 07/05/2009 - 08:24
carpal tunnel???
Hey everyone,
OK this is great! I had shoulder surgery in Oct 2008 and then in Feb 2009 I had a 2 level PLIF (L4 L5 & S1) with all the hardware. I still have nerve pain in left foot but when I go anywhere where I have to walk far, I use my canes and it takes the pressure off the back. (if I dont I PAY FOR IT at night!) Anyways a few weeks ago I woke up with numb and tingly hands. (I also have herniations at C5-6 & T11-12). When I went to my ortho, the NP said it was carpel tunnel! Told me to wear these wrist braces. Hmmmmm...not sure they work. I tried starting PT a couple weeks ago, but that didnt work. I just got massive muscle spasms (charlie horses). So they decided hydrotherapy was for me and I LOVE IT!! Anyways, I was just wondering if anyone developed this after surgery and did it go away?? I do not want anymore surgeries. Thanks for any info you can give me...I do appreciate it!
Ann
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I had carpal tunnel surgery in my right arm but then was told pain was coming from my neck. The CTS surgery was successful. I have it in both hands but my left isn't that bad. I am hoping after I heal from my acdf, I will get feeling in my right hand and less pain in my shoulder. I guess time will tell.
Good Luck!
Cin
Waiting at a light one night and a drunk driver slammed into the back of my car. She has changed my life. I'm left with two herninated disks at C4 and C5 and limp from the accident. My daughter fractured her arm. I was trying to finish my masters and I feel like she took my life from me. Docs say from this I have arthritis and DDD. It's not getting better and seems to be worse as time does by.
i've had both cervical fusion and carpel tunnel but for the life of me i can't see how there could be any relationship between the two.....you know as i'm writing this i just realized there could be one!!!!! if youre using crutches or a cane to take weight off your legs the tendons in your wrist are under stress thereby applying pressure to the carpel tunnel nerves. so ann, maybe that's why the carpel tunnel developed!
glad the water therapy worked....but how to take the stress off your back???
pete
Banned from Spine-Health
The canes must be the culprit...but now I have to find a solution! I do love the hydrotherapy...wish I could feel as good as I do when I am in the water!! Thanks for the respond,
Ann
I think a walker may work better for you. I use a cane and I think I would be better with a walker to take the pressure off the back and wrists. Take care. Charry
My 2nd MRI showed no herniated disc and no stenosis. Mild loss of signal intensity in intervertebral discs L1-S1 and mild loss of height from L1-L4. Mild DDD throughout the lumber spine. Still have back pain and some leg tingling, numbness though. 3rd opinion Neurosurgeon Oct. 6, 2009.
1st report last year Feb. 2008.
L5-S1 herniated disc with annular tear with disc material in contact with L5 exiting nerve, arthropy facet joints L4-L5. 5 Epidurals. Facet joint injections and 64 trigger point injections. Off work 21 months due to back and leg pain. Not a surgical candidate x 2 Ortho opinions. (history C5-7 osteoarthritis and DDD)
Infrared Platinum heating pad 4x/day and while sitting.
MS Contin 120mg, Cymbalta 60mg, lasix 20mg, Diovan for B/P . oxazepam 30mg for sleep. Excercise ball, recumbent stationary bicycle 30 mins. day, posture-pump for lower back. Tried PT, accupuncture, traction. Pool therapy Oct. 27/2009
http://www.livestrong.com/article/14700-self-affirmations/
Charry
There can be a relationship between the two because the same nerve/nerves can be effected. If you have a disc herniation in your neck that causes numbness and/or hand/arm/finger pain and you also have carpel tunnel it is called a double crush injury. The herniation in your neck can crush/pinch the nerve that runs down your arm into your hand. This nerve can also be crushed/pinched if you have carpel tunnel but the pain starts in the elbow area and runs through the wrist to the hand/fingers. If you want to know how I know this that is easy I have/had it. I had ACDF in Sept 08 3 level C3>C6. I also have carpel tunnel s in both hands. It took time for them to realize the bigger problem was coming from my neck because the neuologist I first saw did the test for CT and found CT so started treating that. At the time all fingers on both hands were numb. Turned out that most of the issue came from my neck and happily I regained feeling in my fingers/hands after surgery. That is the good news. The bad news is I still have Carpel tunnel and my right hand hurts but now only two fingers are involved at times. I am NOT hurrying to have anymore surgery so I will live with it for now. Thats the short version of the story.
LJ
9-17-08 ACDF surgery with titanium plates and screws. C3>C6. C6/7 left out of surgery and has damage but NS hopeful this will not cause problems. Strategic choice to do a 3 level rather then a 4 level fusion. Major arthritis in spine as well as DDD. Using Bone stimulator to improve fusion rate. 30+ years of back pain but the neck pushed me over the edge.