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January 8, 2012 - 7:12am
BrokebackBob
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Mystery Disease Help!!!

I had 3 ACDF June 28, 2011..developed c5 palsy that is just now beginning to clear up. Since surgery I have had 7 or 8 episodes of total body fatigue that last 2 0r 3 days each. I lose my appetite and I have zero energy barely able to get out of bed. No muscle soreness or other symptoms. Several doctor visits and blood work showed low Vit D and 50,000 units weekly has raised level and we thought episodes were over but I had one two weeks ago, 7 weeks after the last one, and that was the worse episode yet. I have severe spinal stenosis in lumbar and had surgery scheduled for Jan 24, 2012??? But now with recurring episodes of fatigue doc wants more tests before surgery...cardiac, thyroid, EMG, EEG I dont want surgery with this mystery ailment hanging on. Any spine people had such fatigue??? I was hoping lower surgery would go as well as neck and I could get back to regular life or close to it...

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Bob

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January 8, 2012 - 8:02am
#1
alexhurting
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They dont think the fatigue

They dont think the fatigue is from the pain? With severe pain i thought fatigue is prety normal,

When my pain gets very intense it drains the life out of you and raises blood pressure and csuses fatigue,

Is that what you refering to?

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L4 L5 disc replacement in 2004=causing nerve damage'Flexicore disc. 2006 fusion same level leaving adr in. Fusion did nothing to releive the nerve pain.Pain clinic=every injection procedure avalable inc,razadamy, ablation, nerve stimulater trial,morphine pump trial all failed. Pain can be described as burning pain in lower spine penetrating in to left buttock,down left leg. Refuse to take lyrica or nuorontin do to its side effect,Leaving me with norco,valume,and flexiril at night.Which these medications only help with the muscle aches and stiffnes does nothing for the nerve pain from the nerve damage sustained from the adr surgery.Coming up nov.19th 2009 Lami, and hardware removal from fusion,for hardware just causing more pain in other areas.Hardware block comfirmed hardware is also causing pain in diferent area aside from the severe nerve pain on left side.Emg showed some posible problem above surgery are at L3 L4.

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January 8, 2012 - 9:03am
#2
Cath111
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Hey Bob

Well, I'm with Alex - pain and surgeries can definitely cause us to be more tired that most. I've found that after my two surgeries, I'm simply not the person I was before.

I used to come home from work, make dinner, clean the kitchen, feed the dogs and play with them, watch TV, get ready for the next day then go to bed. Next day: up fresh as a daisy. Now, getting up for work is the most difficult thing in the world. My hubby is pretty sick of me apologizing for not being who I used to be, with the house dirty, the kitchen not always clean, etc.

Pain (and I understand lumbar stenosis pain) can be very debilitating and that pain can make you very lethargic and tired.

If they rule out all else, it really just could be spiney exhaustion - this spine stuff really takes its toll on our bodies.

I also want to mention that lumbar surgery is going to be more difficult that your ACDF - it will most likely take twice the time, if not more, to recover from than cervical surgery. It's a bear and you probably won't even feel close to normal for six months or so.

Anyway, I hope they find the reason for your fatigue, but also wonder if it's just a normal thing going on due to being a spine patient.

Take care and please keep us posted.
Cathie

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~ October 21, 2008 - ACDF, 3-level (C4/5, 5/6 6/7), with hardware and eight screws. All fused and hardware is stable.
~ January 6, 2010 - TLIF at L4/5, two rods and four pedicle screws.
~ July 2010 - New CT and MRI on cervical shows further problems above fusion at C2/3 and worst at C3/4.
I am in no way affiliated with the medical profession. Any recommendations I make are based on my personal experiences only, so do not take my comments as medical rules.

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