[Jennybyc]

Hi, I'm Jenny and I'm new here but have a wealth of knowledge about cervical spines...learned the hard way, of course. Almost 4 years ago I got the shock of my life when I was shoveling snow and felt my body go numb from the neck down. An MRI reveled I had 3 herniated disk and cord compression from C3 to C7, compressed to less than 6mms. Trips to back specialists and neurologists/neurosurgeons followed and after a number of consults, decided to undergo an new surgery called a laminoplasty to rebuild my cervical spine without fusion. It was amazing. I had been losing the use of most of my body with very little pain(a bad sign in some cases...like mine) and awoke from surgery with everything working and all numbness gone. I was back at work 2 1/2 weeks later.

Then disaster struck. Just 3 months after surgery, my neck shifted(for unknown reasons except it had happened before to my lumbar spine). I dislocated 5 vertebrae and 3 of the 4 bone grafts that been put in, broke. One of the grafts fell into the spinal canal and impaled my cord. To further worsen the situation, my surgeon was on a 2 week vacation as this happened just before Christmas. I went to 2 ER's and both sent me away with meds for muscle spasms....didn't even do an x-ray! When my doc got back he did the x-rays and a CT and scheduled me for emergency surgery. By the time I got to the OR, I was losing use of most of my body...again. He told me I would probably be paralyzed on my left side, especially my left arm. I am fused from C3 to T1.

I awoke from surgery with movement in all 4 limbs put the left arm and leg were weak. Four days after surgery I suddenly stopped breathing and the family was called in as they thought I may not make it. I did, but suffered some limited brain damage on top of it all. After 8 days I went home to start recovering and to rehab my body and brain.

It took 2 years but I got at least 97% of function back to both brain and body. I worked.........hard. Now at 3 years out, I am having more problems in that the joints in my left arm have started to dislocate. Waiting to see what will happen next but treating it with B vitamins and exercise.

So I've learned a lot and have some good resouces in the northeast US. I'm happy to share and have even gotten good at interpreting MRI's in normal language.

Although I had very little pain in the intial problem, I have battled massive pain since, including peripheral neuropathy. I understand.

So I'm happy to join the community but sad I have to be here.

gentle hugs..................Jenny

[Aunt Donna]

I thought I had back problems. I glad you have such a positive attitude about everything. Welcome to PC.