I really need some advice..Please anyone, Nurse

[BillyG]

First I want to apologize in advance for grammer, punctuation etc. for I'm not a very good writer.

My story starts out about 5 years ago. I had my first fusion surgery c4 c5 c6 with hardware. I was fine after my surgery no pain I just could not return to sports. A year and 4 months ago everything changed I was involved in a fender bender. I rear ended a vehicle without my seatbelt on at about 20mph and that was enough to hit the windshield and send the already broke down c3-c4 disk into my spinal cord. I was lying in the car staring at my arm that would not move. I know now at this point I am paralyzed or at least for now. I started getting some movement back about 5 hour after the accident. I was givin steroids and after the swelling went down they fused c3-c4 and sent me home. I was moving my arms and legs but not walking as of yet. I was able to start walking on my own around 2 months. My symptoms that I dealt with every day was my toes felt like some poured gas on them and lit them on fire and when I wake up in the morning all over pain was wicked bad. It would take me 1-2 hours before I could get moving (has anyone else had these?)

2 months I did a follow up X-ray to check the fusion of my c3-c4 - It failed but there was a piece of the donor bone still wedged in there and my neuro said if that piece fuses it might be ok if not you will know it you will be in pain. To this day I still have no neck pain. So about a week ago my symptoms changed overnight. My morning pain went from a 10 to a 2 but my thumbs and index finger are numb and my walking seems to be a little more difficult than before (left leg skips a beat sometimes) above my left butt cheek feels like a pulled muscle. shoulder pain i have had since my accident. My burning feet are not as bad as before. So I am trying to figure out if I am getting worse or better. Has anyone experienced loosing some symptoms for the better but than getting new ones? Do these new symptoms sound like they are coming from a failed fusion or do they sound cord related. All this stuff pretty much happened overnight.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I am scared of this new body I have.
Billy

[SCI-Nurse]

It sounds like you have either cord or spinal root compression. You probably need a new MRI, and a good neuro exam. If nothing can be done surgically, a good physiatrist can help with getting you proper rehab therapies. Do you have any bowel/bladder/sexual impairment?

(KLD)

[BillyG]

No my bowel bladder function has improved since my accident. Pretty serious stuff huh does that mean I will loose what I have regained if thats the case? Thank you

[BillyG]

Oh and what would make it a non-surgical issue
Thank You very much

[SCI-Nurse]

The opinion of the surgeon based on your test results- MRI and your exam and what options there were.
CWO

[jody]

good luck with this, would you mind keeping care cure posted on your progress?

[BillyG]

No not at all Jody..I called my neuro today for appt. they said on Fri was the soonest then I had the nurse tell him I am very concerned so he had me come in today. Not only is he a great surgeon he has compassion. Anyhow I have an mri on Fri and a emg test to do this week. He also asked if I wanted a referal for a Psychiatrist. I think I am going for an evaluation.

After over 1 year I have realized that I have a spinal cord injury and having some emotional issues.

My surgeon said dont loose any sleep that no matter what it is if anything we will deal with it.
Billy

[SCI-Nurse]

We give Gabapentin or Pregabalin for chronic neuropathic .pain
Also Cymbalta which is an antidepressant also helps some with chronic pain.
CWO

[hlh]

Originally Posted by BillyG

No not at all Jody..I called my neuro today for appt. they said on Fri was the soonest then I had the nurse tell him I am very concerned so he had me come in today. Not only is he a great surgeon he has compassion. Anyhow I have an mri on Fri and a emg test to do this week. He also asked if I wanted a referal for a Psychiatrist. I think I am going for an evaluation.

After over 1 year I have realized that I have a spinal cord injury and having some emotional issues.

My surgeon said dont loose any sleep that no matter what it is if anything we will deal with it.
Billy

By the way - I think the neurologist asked if you want a referral to a Physiatrist. This is a doctor specializing in rehabilitation and this is a great referral for folks with SCI. Take it.

But actually, a psychiatrist is probably a good idea too and probably most of us on this board could use one but very few get one. It is very common to develop depression after SCI. Sometimes your recovery helps lift the mood, sometimes getting out and working/going to school/living helps, but life is never quite the same.... So look to your docs, your friends, support groups for SCI and this board for ideas and encouragement.

One last thing..... my father's spine surgery also wasn't fused more then a year after his surgery. They didn't call it "failed" but we were concerned. He had already started seeing an endocrinologist specializing in bone medicine, because he had a DEXA scan his first year of injury to look for osteoporsis..... which commonly develops after spinal cord injury. Anyway, this bone doctor was great.... and when she heard that his spine wasn't fused, she recommended we start the bone medicine Forteo for his osteoporsis. This is a pricey/newer medicine for osteoporosis, and is being used more and more in spinal cord injury. Anyway, it was amazing.... he started it, and his next xray 2 months later showed a fused spine.

Ask your neurosurgeon about it. Our neurosurgeon didn't know about it, but the bone specialist did.

[darkeyed_daisy]

Originally Posted by hlh

By the way - I think the neurologist asked if you want a referral to a Physiatrist. This is a doctor specializing in rehabilitation and this is a great referral for folks with SCI. Take it.

But actually, a psychiatrist is probably a good idea too and probably most of us on this board could use one but very few get one. It is very common to develop depression after SCI. Sometimes your recovery helps lift the mood, sometimes getting out and working/going to school/living helps, but life is never quite the same.... So look to your docs, your friends, support groups for SCI and this board for ideas and encouragement.

I second this wholeheartedly. Just the changes your body goes through alone is enough to scare you to death even after many years of being injured.

Don't be afraid to ask no matter how hard it is. That is the hardest thing for me. Also realizing that you just can't do it all. It is very common to develop depression after ever setback or even a pressure sore.

A good physiatrist is worth a mountain of gold so get that appointment.

Good luck and beautiful sidekick you have in the picture. I am sure she will be lots of motivation for you.