Neck Pain: Cervical
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Yankee's picture
User offline. Last seen 4 hours 18 min ago. Offline
Joined: 10/02/2009
Posts: 64
Points: 134
Recommended calcium and vitamin D supplements after surgery?

I was hopeing someone here would know how much calcium and vitamin D over the counter supplements should be taken to help bone fusion develop better after surgery?. Is the recommended amount on the bottle enough?. THANKS!

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axial images are obtained through the cervical spine at 2 mm intervals
with sagittal and coronal reformatted images.

There are degenerative changes at C5-6 with anterior and posterior
spurring. Prevertebral soft tissue swelling is not present.C6-C7- Negative.

C7-T1- Negative.

IMPRESSION
1. No acute traumatic abnormality of the cervical spine.
2. Congenital canal stenosis with superimposed degenerative changes
most significant at C5-C6 and C4-C5. Disk osteophyte complex and
uncovertebral spurring cause central and right foraminal narrowing
at these levels

User is online Online
Joined: 12/30/2008
Posts: 1943
Points: 3904
Vitamin D

I think it might depend on whether your Vit. D levels are low. Several people on the board have commented that they learned their levels were quite low after having spine surgery. I know mine was, but then, I never had Vit. D levels tested previously, to my knowledge.

I would start with what is recommended by the established ratings and ask your surgeon or doctor what he/she recommends.

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spondylolisthesis at L4-5; stenosis at L3-4 and L4-5
radiculopathy for about 3 years
PLIF (L4-L5)in Jan '08 (PEEK cage, rods & Screws, BMP); continued radiculopathy....
Lami-foraminotomy L5-S1 Jan '09; continued radiculopathy;
Bulging discs L3-4 & L5-S1; crazy screwed-up S1 nerve

***** I have no medical training and am in no way connected with the medical profession, other than doing my part to keep them at full employment. My posts are based on personal experience and knowledge gained through the adventures of living. Take them for what they are worth....

Yankee's picture
User offline. Last seen 4 hours 18 min ago. Offline
Joined: 10/02/2009
Posts: 64
Points: 134
Thanks for the advise!

I have no idea what my D levels are and my NS never brought up the question. My diet however before surgery could only be described in two words Big mac. I guess it cant hurt taking over the counter stuff at this time. I was just curious if these supplements would help with the fusion process to any degree.

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axial images are obtained through the cervical spine at 2 mm intervals
with sagittal and coronal reformatted images.

There are degenerative changes at C5-6 with anterior and posterior
spurring. Prevertebral soft tissue swelling is not present.C6-C7- Negative.

C7-T1- Negative.

IMPRESSION
1. No acute traumatic abnormality of the cervical spine.
2. Congenital canal stenosis with superimposed degenerative changes
most significant at C5-C6 and C4-C5. Disk osteophyte complex and
uncovertebral spurring cause central and right foraminal narrowing
at these levels

User offline. Last seen 10 hours 57 min ago. Offline
Joined: 08/16/2009
Posts: 158
Points: 332
Hi Yankee!I think Gwennie

Hi Yankee!

I think Gwennie has given you good advice there.

Vitamin D was something I used to worked on when I was 'employable'. The inactive circulating form of Vitamin D is present in us from various sources, then when it's exposed to the sun via our skin, the sun changes it into the chemically-active form. That's why the incidence of rickets is higher amongst races who are covered from head to toe for religious reasons. Those of us who don't get out into the sunshine also have low D levels (mine were also low in my last blood test).

Not that it answers your question, but a natural way to boost your Vit D levels is to get some sun and eat fish, eggs and milk along with your Big Mac!

Bye, Val

_____________

DDD; collapsed disc; nerve impingement

Nerve blocks; facet injections

User offline. Last seen 21 hours 5 min ago. Offline
Authority
Joined: 06/19/2008
Posts: 1344
Points: 2736
FDA approved

Hey Yankee,

Before you go adding supplements into to your daily regimen you may want to ask your surgeon. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA so the labeling may not be true. For example, I was taking a multi vitamin and on a pre-op blood test my postassium levels came up to high. Turned out the number one ingredient in the vitamin was potassium. So before adding anything in, I would check with your surgeon. A true vitamin D test takes about a week to come back.

Yankee's picture
User offline. Last seen 4 hours 18 min ago. Offline
Joined: 10/02/2009
Posts: 64
Points: 134
ok

The supplement I bought in the store contains only vitamin D and calcium no other minerals listed. It is in liquid form. I will however contact my NS monday and seek his opinion. again thanks for the info.

_____________

axial images are obtained through the cervical spine at 2 mm intervals
with sagittal and coronal reformatted images.

There are degenerative changes at C5-6 with anterior and posterior
spurring. Prevertebral soft tissue swelling is not present.C6-C7- Negative.

C7-T1- Negative.

IMPRESSION
1. No acute traumatic abnormality of the cervical spine.
2. Congenital canal stenosis with superimposed degenerative changes
most significant at C5-C6 and C4-C5. Disk osteophyte complex and
uncovertebral spurring cause central and right foraminal narrowing
at these levels

michiganjewel's picture
User offline. Last seen 1 day 18 hours ago. Offline
Joined: 10/25/2009
Posts: 26
Points: 52
What my Dr. Recommends

My Dr. has me taking 600 mgs of Calcium with Vitamin D twice a day. Not sure if that is the norm, but that's what I take. I also take Fosomax once a week (when I remember, lol).

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Degenerative Disc Disease. C4-C6 Fusion with instrumentation (cage, plates & 8 screws) April 2, 2008.

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