What a pain in the neck

[KevinTBrown]

No, not referring to any one individual, but rather a literal pain in the neck for me.

Let me back up a bit here.

Many years ago I was in a car accident. Since then I've had some neck and shoulder problems, but nothing that felt severe or overly bothersome. And definitely nothing that my chiropractor couldn't help with.

Fast forward to October of last year. We get these brand new, "wonderful" chairs at work. Supposedly great for people with lower back problems, ergonomic, etc. Only one problem with them though: They're not so good for people with neck and shoulder problems. After sitting in one of these new chairs for about a day, I got severe pain in my neck and shoulders, and now my left arm & hand feel somewhat "numb-ish".

I've since gone back to one of the older chairs (which I got all sorts of hell for doing) and the pain has subsided for the most part, but not completely. Unfortunately, the pain was still bad enough for me to get to the doctor to see what the hell was going on. I ended up having an MRI done this past Wednesday. Which was not as bad as one might think. It's loud as hell, but as long as you don't move it's over relatively quickly.

Anyway, I got the results last night. Or rather, a nurse called me to tell me what was going on. Apparently I have "numerous" bulging discs in my neck and I need to see a neurosurgeon. And that's all she said. The doctor had gone for the day (it was about 6pm when I was on the phone) and the nurse had no other info to give me. Short, not-so-sweet, and to the point.

Saying I freaked out last night after taking that call would be an understatement. BUT after doing some research I felt a little more calm. (It seems most of the cures are non-surgical.) Still extremely concerned, but taking a "wait & see" attitude here. After I talk to the doctor today and get her recommendations, I'll probably feel a lot better.

So for now, I look forward to being somewhat incapacitated for a period of time over the next few weeks. I have no idea for how long or how bad things truly are, so we shall see. But for now, I just need to keep positive and hope for the best. :)

[CutterMike]

DAMN! That sucks.

Take care of yourself, Kevin.

[Alan Lynch]

Damn, fingers crossed for you Kevin.

[sunshinegirl]

Hope they can getcha fixed up, MrKevinTBrown.

((hugs)) :)

[Cam63]

May your recovery be swift and the neckbrace be a turn on for the Missus.

[Bo Bo]

May your recovery be swift and the neckbrace be a turn on for the Missus.

But not a huge turn on, you don't want to break anything else.

Hope it's a quick and painless fix.

[Major Comma]

Sorry to hear that Kevin ,
Hope you feel better soon.

[KevinTBrown]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. I truly needed to "talk this out" this morning and get my mind more focused.

A tleast I'll know more tomorrow at about 8:45 my time when I talk with the doctor. I got the chance to speak with a different nurse today whose "bedside manner" was little more comforting and got an appointment set up....

But not a huge turn on, you don't want to break anything else.

Hope it's a quick and painless fix.

I don't know about "quick and painless" with this.... Depending on the severity, it looks like I'll have a few months of relative non-activity, especially in lifting heavy items. And what will really suck is I probably won't be able to sit for long periods of time, definitely no more than an hour at a time. I don't deal well with being "helpless".....

It's going to be a loooooong '08 I think.

[Rik Levins]

Good luck with this. Neck pain really sucks. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

[John Hays]

You may not think this now, but getting those ergonomic chairs may be the best thing that's happened to you!

[Lester C.]

I'm sorry Kevin. I hope things work out better for you and you're free of pain soon.

[KevinTBrown]

Well, I just got back from the doctor (well, went out to breakfast after, then came home :) ) and it's bad, but not nearly as bad as described by the nurse.

I have 5 discs showing bulges, 4 are mild, 1 is mild to moderate. While my doctor says that surgery is probably not likely, she's cannot say it's 100% out. Hence the reason I need to see a neurosurgeon and go from there. But she did say that those that she has dealt with in the past usually use surgery as the absolute last option in similar cases that she's seen.

So a bit of good news to begin the day. :)

And thank you all for the well wishes.

[Reverend Smooth]

Good luck. <3333

[Pink Bat Maxine]

I hope it all works out well.... :(

[SUPERECWFAN1]

That sounds horrible man. There are some doctors who can help you outta surgery I'm sure. Kurt Angle has broken his neck 2 to 3 times and finally found a doctor overseas who did some kinda treatment where they helped his neck/back without full surgery.

A google search could find this doctor I'm sure.

[Darediva]

Well, I just got back from the doctor (well, went out to breakfast after, then came home :) ) and it's bad, but not nearly as bad as described by the nurse.

I have 5 discs showing bulges, 4 are mild, 1 is mild to moderate. While my doctor says that surgery is probably not likely, she's cannot say it's 100% out. Hence the reason I need to see a neurosurgeon and go from there. But she did say that those that she has dealt with in the past usually use surgery as the absolute last option in similar cases that she's seen.

So a bit of good news to begin the day. :)

And thank you all for the well wishes.

Your doc is wise to refer you to a neurosurgeon. You probably won't have to have surgery if they aren't ruptured, and that is hugely good news. Best to ya, man.

[beetlebum]

Hope you get better lad. I think I speak for a lot of us here when I say, I sincerely appreciate all of your efforts when you at least tried to make YABS a bit more tolerable for me and my fellow posters. Love ya. :)


http://images.findgift.com/Graphics/Gifts/250/PR_62498.jpg

[Cam63]

Good luck, Kev'.

[KevinTBrown]

Well, I got the news today..... I need surgery.

One of the discs that is bulging, between C-5 and C-6, is pressing up and into the spinal cord. That disc needs to be removed, then they'll put in a "cage" to replace the disc and then a bracket to "fuse" the 2 bones together. That's over-simplified, but essentially what will needs to be done. Thankfully, it's not a complicated operation and, at most, I'll spend one night in the hospital. Though I'll be off work for at least 3 weeks to heal, plus no driving for that amount of time as well.

I'm a little freaked out by it, but now that I know what's going on I can deal with and get it taken care of properly. And I also feel very good about the doctor who'll be doing the operation, because he took the time to explain everything, including what might go wrong. AND he's also the Chicago Rush's (arena football) team neurosurgeon. :)

If things work out as "planned", but this time next month I'll be on the mend.

[Bo Bo]

Well at least you know what needs to be done and the time frame. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

[Darediva]

I've had a spinal fusion surgery like this, only it was L-4/L-5. It's not as bad as it seems it might be, and the new stuff they have they can do is so much better than what I had. You'll feel better immediately, for the most important thing.

So here's your virtual balloon bouquet, and pay attention to that no heavy lifting/no driving thing! Best to you, Kev!

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Well, I got the news today..... I need surgery.

One of the discs that is bulging, between C-5 and C-6, is pressing up and into the spinal cord. That disc needs to be removed, then they'll put in a "cage" to replace the disc and then a bracket to "fuse" the 2 bones together. That's over-simplified, but essentially what will needs to be done. Thankfully, it's not a complicated operation and, at most, I'll spend one night in the hospital. Though I'll be off work for at least 3 weeks to heal, plus no driving for that amount of time as well.

I'm a little freaked out by it, but now that I know what's going on I can deal with and get it taken care of properly. And I also feel very good about the doctor who'll be doing the operation, because he took the time to explain everything, including what might go wrong. AND he's also the Chicago Rush's (arena football) team neurosurgeon. :)

If things work out as "planned", but this time next month I'll be on the mend.

Shawn Michaels had nearly the same surgery I believe. They fused a disc in his back that was causing him pain. Today he still wrestles and all... past 40. So good luck with it .

[KevinTBrown]

Thanks. :)


Funny thing is, I'm more concerned about not being able to drive for a few weeks... I'm not a good passenger. ;)

[Flamebird]

Thanks. :)


Funny thing is, I'm more concerned about not being able to drive for a few weeks... I'm not a good passenger. ;)


So stay home and play "Sultan" for a few weeks. Let the mountain come to you as it were.

Good luck with the operation. I know it's scary, but when my boss had the same thing done to her( she's 68), she was up and around a couple of days after she got home from the hospital. Her only complaint was that no one would let her do anything, when she felt fine.

[heystacy]

Best wishes!

[CutterMike]

Sounds like you're in good hands, Kev'. Just follow orders and let folks do for you, for a while. Best of luck.

[beetlebum]

Listen to me now, I need to let you know, you don't have to go it alone....

Godspeed, Kev. May you recover quickly. We love you. :)

[KevinTBrown]

Listen to me now, I need to let you know, you don't have to go it alone....

Godspeed, Kev. May you recover quickly. We love you. :)

Thanks, Beeb. :)

[Alan Lynch]

Best of luck with the op and recovery Kev. Fingers crossed for you, and I hope you get fixed up quickly.

[Solaris]

Kev, the disc that Troy had bulging into *his* spinal column (in his neck) didn't require surgery... and it was pushing pretty far into the nerve bundle (I saw the MRI results). It took a long while, but our chiropractor managed, via a long series of adjustments (nearly a year), to get it to shift back enough to rarely cause him problems now. He was having upper back and neck pain, arm pain, and two of his fingers were numb---to the point that he had difficulty at times using them, and at times he didn't feel minor injuries *to* them.

I don't know if you've considered consulting a chiropractor or two, along with the neurosurgeon (you can get the originals or copies of the MRI scans to take with you)... but you might want to think about it.

[hellokittykat]

I hope that everything goes well and that you are pain-free soon Kevin.:(

(((HUGS)))

[KevinTBrown]

Kev, the disc that Troy had bulging into *his* spinal column (in his neck) didn't require surgery... and it was pushing pretty far into the nerve bundle (I saw the MRI results). It took a long while, but our chiropractor managed, via a long series of adjustments (nearly a year), to get it to shift back enough to rarely cause him problems now. He was having upper back and neck pain, arm pain, and two of his fingers were numb---to the point that he had difficulty at times using them, and at times he didn't feel minor injuries *to* them.

I don't know if you've considered consulting a chiropractor or two, along with the neurosurgeon (you can get the originals or copies of the MRI scans to take with you)... but you might want to think about it.

Been there.... :)

Bercause of the positioning of the disc and a bone spur as well (which I had forgotten about and my wife reminded me of last night), there's nothing a chiropractor can do. The disc needs to be removed and the spur ground down. The surgeon is not a huge fan of chiropractors, but some can help if the problem is not severe. My problem, unfortunately, is severe.

Some good new though: My job does offer short term disability, so I won't be losing more than 5 vacation days the entire time I'm off. (It was very possible for me to have to burn through 15-20.) So that's one thing off my mind.....

[Solaris]

Been there.... :)

Bercause of the positioning of the disc and a bone spur as well (which I had forgotten about and my wife reminded me of last night), there's nothing a chiropractor can do. The disc needs to be removed and the spur ground down. The surgeon is not a huge fan of chiropractors, but some can help if the problem is not severe. My problem, unfortunately, is severe.

Some good new though: My job does offer short term disability, so I won't be losing more than 5 vacation days the entire time I'm off. (It was very possible for me to have to burn through 15-20.) So that's one thing off my mind.....

Ouch. Well, it was worth thinking about.

Troy's got bone spurs too---fortunately, further down his back, rather than at the site of the protruding disc.

Anyway, the procedure is pretty well established (how to do the surgery) with most neurosurgeons by this point. I hope all goes extraordinarily well for you, and that you make a rapid recovery! :)

[KevinTBrown]

Just updating here:

I'm scheduled this Monday (the 25th) and 11am (Chicago time) for my operation. Right now I'm currently expecting to be off for 4-6 weeks, according to my surgeon. So we shall see.....

I just want this over and done with so I can start healing! :)

[KevinTBrown]

I just got a call from the hospital... My surgery time has been changed.

I now need to be there by 5:30am for a 7:30am surgery. Oy.

[Bo Bo]

I just got a call from the hospital... My surgery time has been changed.

I now need to be there by 5:30am for a 7:30am surgery. Oy.

Well that means you get to heal a few hours sooner right? ;)

Well good luck and I hope your recovery will be fast and not too bad!

[Darediva]

While you are doing that, Kevin, I will be having an Upper GI done. At least you will be asleep for yours! Best to you!

[KevinTBrown]

While you are doing that, Kevin, I will be having an Upper GI done. At least you will be asleep for yours! Best to you!

I'd rather sleep IN a few more hours and have the later surgery time! :D

And best to you as well!!!

[beetlebum]

Get some sleep Kev. A totally awesome person like you deserves it. :)

[Jeff Brady]

Wow, good luck, Kevin.

[CutterMike]

Best wishes and positive vibes going out to Kevin and Darediva.

Get well soon, y'all!

[heystacy]

Best wishes Kev. Your "yes man" insists upon it. ;)

[beetlebum]

I hope all is well with you too, DareDiva! Godspeed mate, and I love ya!

Thnx for being one of the first friends I made here. :)

[Sabrinaset]

Good grief! Looks like I'm gunna be busy working on all you YABS guys! No wonder my caseload is full!

[Aggie]

aww kev...((hugs))

i hope the rest period helps.

[Rik Levins]

I'm going in for a khyphoplasty procedure on my T2 vertebrae on March 5, so we've got something in common. Sort of.

Hope your surgery goes well.

[Cam63]

Good luck to all you crook vert' buggers.

[TomStillwell]

I just got a call from the hospital... My surgery time has been changed.

I now need to be there by 5:30am for a 7:30am surgery. Oy.

Good luck Kevin!

[beetlebum]

I'm going in for a khyphoplasty procedure on my T2 vertebrae on March 5, so we've got something in common. Sort of.

Hope your surgery goes well.

Wow, cancer and a khyphoplasty. I guess you can't keep a good man down, can you? Talk about a survivor. You are an inspiration to us all. Godspeed mate {{:)}}

[KevinTBrown]

Once again, thank you everyone.

And, Rik, I hope everything turns out great for you!

[Lester C.]

I bruised the right side of my back a few days back when I fell on some black ice. As a result I couldn't sleep on my right side for a couple of days. That little bit of pain really did a number on me because I couldn't sleep right. Those of you that have major chronic pain really have my sympathy and respect for what it's worth. Best of luck to all of you.

[Rik Levins]

...and doing okay so far.

Had a bad reaction to the general anesthesia, I came out of it shaking so bad it took four guys to hold me down until they could get the rails up on the bed. But after that wore off (seemed to take forever, but it was probably no more than fifteen minutes or so), I seemed to recover very quickly.

By dinnertime I was up and walking around (dragging the damn IV unit around with me) and hungry as a wolf. Fortunately my wife was able to smuggle in a couple of Wendy's chicken sandwiches to augment the hospital food. Have I mentioned that I somehow lucked out and married the most wonderful woman on Earth?

My neck feels noticeably better, although there's still some pain. Hard to say how much will remain after the healing is done; I guess I'll never be completely pain-free again, but any improvement is a plus.

I was able to go home the next day, after drawing a cartoon on the whiteboard in my room for the amusement of the nurses.

Kevin, how are you doing? Hope everything's going well.

[Jeff Brady]

...and doing okay so far.

Excellent news!

Have I mentioned that I somehow lucked out and married the most wonderful woman on Earth?

It may have come up in the past, but it's always worth repeating.

[Bo Bo]

Hi Rik, glad to hear your home and doing better!

[Cam63]

Continued success with your recovery, Levins. :)