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Yikes, quick recovery Weasel...

FWIW, Everyone I know with back problems will rave about aqua therapy, or even just going in a pool to reduce the pressure. Maybe give that a shot? Good luck with it :thumbup:

Sorry man,

My dad has had a few back operations and he still is not 100%, it's only gotten worse. I hope they can find something to help you out. Get well, Thank you for all your help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel (Post 708831)

I do have therapy scheduled tomorrow and have a cervical cortizone epidural scheduled as well (in 2 damn weeks). But looking at the MRI it doesn't look like the cortizone shot can offer much help... My C5 is compressed with a small hemhorage at the spinal chord, my C6 is the main issue that has a solid hold on the nerve into my left arm, and the C7 is also compressed and is getting close to doing the same to the right side. So 2 of the problem discs can be made better with the traction and shots while one will need a posterior cervical foramenotomy to add clearance for the nerve passage... what sucks is that it is in the upper spine at the shoulders so it puts pain in the arms and took half the stregnth from mt left arm... so I can't even do "light duty" work until it is fixed. It would actually be easier for me if it was a lower back problem where I could still at least turn wrenches.

Oh well, one day at a time I guess.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the shot shrinks the tissue enough. Good luck and I hope your spine/nerves/muscles cooperate, keep up the positive thinking.

wow weasel u have 3 bad discs in ur cervical spine! i hope u dont get any of them replaced. i know life sucks, and u got bills & etc but everything comes & go...but ur health is there once in a life time so take care of health, its more important thn anything else in this world...the key word is REST REST REST!!! so dont stress ur self out & rest as much as u can and i hope u get well soon buddy.

Weasel Man!

Take it slow....heal up and get well....

I hear that the 30's are the new 20's anyway!! LOL!

Rich:thumbup:

Please keep us all updated and of course best wishes to you in getting well quickly. How did traction therapy go? Has anything so far relieved the pressure on the nerve (which nerve btw)?

Hope you feel better soon, you might want to try a whirl pool/hot tub to help a little with the pain.

Ok, for an update... Nerve is still pinched by the hemorrhaged disc between my C5 and C6 vertebrae at the base of my neck, and is going to require surgery. This nerve in particular runs across my shoulder and goes down the outer edge of my arm (in the brachial plexus area).

I had a cervical cortisone epidural 3 days ago which really helped with the pain (and let me stop taking the 4 to 5 vicoden a day) but that is only temporary relief and does nothing to correct the problem, especially since the problem isn't due to inflammation and is physical contact with a bad disc.

The surgery I need is a minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy, and the neurosurgeon that I've been seeing that does this is out of network so I'm having to fight with my insurance to get the surgery with him approved. Blue cross is saying there is an in network surgeon that does that surgery and I have to go to him, but they fail to realize it is a different procedure. The one they want me to use does do a posterior cervical foraminotomy, but not minimally invasive... he makes about a 3 to 4 inch cut down my neck and retracts the muscles out of the way and requires numerous staples to close up vs the one I want makes one tiny incision and goes in with a scope and only needs 4 or 5 stitches. There is about a 2 month difference in healing time before I can return to work with these two different procedures as well... Damn I hate my insurance right now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel (Post 711366)

Man, insurance is bullsh!t. I would do whatever it takes to get the minimally invasive procedure.

My step-dad had prostate cancer and for his cure he chose surgery. One doctor did it the old school way where they cut you from stem to stern and another did a new liproscopic technique with a da vinci machine. It was a no brainer.

Hopefully the insurance will see it your way.

What is the monetary hit if you go out of network? Is it significant enough to risk the in-network guy? This is your spine and nervous system, it's not the time to skimp due to $$$$. If money isn't too big of an issue, I would schedule the surgery asap with the out of network guy and badger the insurance company later.