Cervical Stenosis - Treatment and Surgery

[SemperFi]

I was diagnosed several years ago with cervical stenosis. As the years have passed it has degenerated to the point that surgery has been recommended. I have mild thru severe stenosis between C4 thru C7 and a year and half ago I began nerve pain injections to put off surgery as long as possible. Occasionally the injections remain effective for about 6 weeks and as short as 2 weeks. As time is passing the nerve injections are become less effective and beginning to not be a viable option anymore.

Has anyone ever had cervical or spinal laminectomy surgery with the titanium plate and what is your opinion of the surgery?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Islandswole]

@rnmuscle, what are your thoughts on this ?

 

[SemperFi]

@Islandswole Due to the silence on this matter I have to assume no one survived the surgery!

 

[rnmuscle]

Actually I know a 72 yo at the time, now 79. That had the same surgery , but I don’t know about the hardware used. She is still alive and had some relief but she was an “old 72”. I sent my good friend an email. He is a PhD teaching/ studying exercise science specifically with Barrows institute. I don’t really float neuro. I believe its common and effective for decompression. You’d think someone on here would be chiming in?

 

[Islandswole]

I wish I could chime in, but I’m not comfortable chiming in on any of this stuff while I’m still learning… though I do realize I will forever be learning ha!
I am surprised no one has chimed in yet though.

 

[Islandswole]

Hahah nah, I’ll ask some of the docs tomorrow and gather as much info as I can!

 

[Islandswole]

Just called a good friend of mine in the field. He says the success rate is pretty high and if it is a complete success then it’s excellent but if any complications are made it could lead to post laminectomy syndrome (ICD 10), which in the long run could be more painful and limiting than your current state. Do thorough research on your surgeon and make sure he’s got a good track record with this specific case. I assume you’re going through the VA?

 

[Nsane504]

I had a fusion at L4 L5 so it’s a little different area but the pain was a nightmare they took out the old disc and put a small titanium one in with a cage and 2 bars for support. It was a nightmare at first I regretted it but after the swelling went down and I started getting use to it the pain was almost all gone it took about 6 months but I can squat pretty heavy the only thing I don’t do is deadlift I just don’t like all that weight at that angle but I think if I was u I would definitely have it done. The way things are now they’re doing surgeries like I had outpatient with lasers and shit so I think it would be better to do it than to just keep making it worse. Good luck.

 

[SemperFi]

Thanks for sharing your experience @Nsane504. I can get advice from people in the real world but I thought it would not hurt to hear from the online community because we have similar lifestyles. If I was sedentary it would be a whole different ball game but I am very active and hearing from as many people as possible will at least help me feel better about my final decision.

Do you do rack pulls vs. deads?

Its not like I am having hip or knee replacement but anything to do with the neck or spine carries some special risks and considerations.

 

[Nsane504]

Yea definitely do rack pulls its just from the floor to the knees area that im uncomfortable with. And it may be fine to do I just don’t like the thought of it. The support bars along my spine can only curve so much im sure so I don’t even mess with it