My Prolapsed Disc & Surgery (ADSF) on Cervical Spine (Neck) Experience

[StuMac]

Hi Leah & all other fusiods

I had an c 5/6 fusion in Jan 2007. Mr Brendan Obrien - Neurosurgeon rocks.

Spent 18 months at my physio doing clinical pilates and about 6 months in started haning laps at the local ymca (hate swimming). Found a free-style snorkel on the net ($40) which solved some of the boredom of looking at the ceiling doing backstroke.

Once the pilates gave me the confidence to move I started personal training session once a week and a bot camp session on saturdays.

Running at 7.2 on the beep test, lifting 65 kg on smith bench and 45 kg free weights.

Not all beer and skittles. Recently thought I had re-injured neck. Turned out to to be a torn rotator cuff (going to hard).

Back in rehab (love my physios) and doing reduced training program.

Happy to chat to anyone who wants a -shoulder to cry on - or just advice.

In a nutshell - please do what you are told, when you are told and you increase your chances of making the best recovery you can.

Cheers

StuMac

[grandslam05]

Hi guys, i have read all the post in this thread. i would just liketo ask a few questions.
i recently had my mri results back and have been referred to the neurosurgeon. they phoned me and want me to see the consultant friday 29-01-10 to discuss. they also said if i was happy to go ahead with the op they would operate on saturday 30-01-10. apparently i have a prolapsed disc in my neck. That it all i know as i dont see the consultant until friday. the consultant has said he has a space and due to my job as a fireman he would like to operate asap.
I have slight symptoms compared to most people on here. i have pins and needles in my left hand and finger tips, a sore neck when i look right round to my left and slight pain when i stretch my neck back to look upwards. if i look upwards and walk, i get shooting pains down my back (hence i dont do it !)

WHat i would like to ask (as i havent seen the consultant yet and am stewing here waiting to see him) is how long is the recovery ?
Would i be more or less back to normal and be able to carry on with my job as a fireman ?
This is what i am most worried about. I am only 33 and am generally fit and healthy playing lots of different sports regularly.
I have spent so long trying to get into the job, i am very worried that i may not be able to do it again.

Please if someone reads this before friday 29-01-10 with any knowedge of this i would be grateful fro your response.
Thanks,

Jon.

[zubbsec260]

Thanks for an excellent post.

I too have been diagnosed with a prolapsed disc (c6-c7) and at 42 can honestly say it is the single most painful and debilitating experience I have ever had.

I am currently on Morphine and Codeine for the pain, have no strength in my left arm and complete numbness in my pinky and ring fingers. the pain is so debilitating, if I could have done so, there are many nights when at 3am, crying, I would gladly have cut my own arm off. people, myself included really dont appreciate how devastatingly painful this condition is.

I went to my GP in May this year (as a guy, I hate going to the doctors, and waited until the pain was so bad I couldnt walk) after what seems like weeks of endless consultation and testing (UK NHS really is not as good as people say it is) I have been diagnosed and refered to a neurosurgery ward. still waiting for them to triage me despite an "urgent" referal

The pain and more importantly the very strong drugs are destroying my life, and whilst I try to work as I know I will be off sick for a while, I am finding it increasingly difficult to do so. Having read your post its good to see that this isnt going to affect me for the rest of my life. It just feels like that at the moment!

[grandslam05]

Thanks for an excellent post.

I too have been diagnosed with a prolapsed disc (c6-c7) and at 42 can honestly say it is the single most painful and debilitating experience I have ever had.

I am currently on Morphine and Codeine for the pain, have no strength in my left arm and complete numbness in my pinky and ring fingers. the pain is so debilitating, if I could have done so, there are many nights when at 3am, crying, I would gladly have cut my own arm off. people, myself included really dont appreciate how devastatingly painful this condition is.

I went to my GP in May this year (as a guy, I hate going to the doctors, and waited until the pain was so bad I couldnt walk) after what seems like weeks of endless consultation and testing (UK NHS really is not as good as people say it is) I have been diagnosed and refered to a neurosurgery ward. still waiting for them to triage me despite an "urgent" referal

The pain and more importantly the very strong drugs are destroying my life, and whilst I try to work as I know I will be off sick for a while, I am finding it increasingly difficult to do so. Having read your post its good to see that this isnt going to affect me for the rest of my life. It just feels like that at the moment!

Hi, i havent been on this site since i saw the Neurosurgeon and had the op which was ...... 2 and a half years ago. I had a prolapsed disc between c3-c4 and had the symptoms i listed above.
I had the op (about 2 hours), and was out of hospital the next day. I was off work (operational firefighter) for 3 months and returned to full duty. I did try surfing 6 months after the op but felt pain. I also tried running but felt pain, otherwise i was pain free.
The surgeon did tell me that he had performed this operation on 1st class rugby players who then went back to playing !!!
3 months ago (2 years after the op) i tried surfing again, to my delight i had no pain !
I decided to start running, no pain !!!
I am now back surfing a couple of times a week and training for the London Marathon 2013.
I am so grateful to the GP and the hospital staff as this has enabled me to 1, get back to doing the job i love 2 return to surfing and running without any pain.
Stick with it, get the op done, there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will be worth it when you are pain free !!!
Any questions that i could help you with let me know ;-)
Jon