seeing the neurosurgeon

[6balls]

Long story short...bizarre symptoms. Investigation finds severe spinal stenosis C4-5 and C5-6 due to disc/osteophyte complex and severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis both levels. For those not in the biz this means my spinal cord is being squished in the spinal canal and the nerve roots coming off the spinal cord are also being squished by their canals at two vertebral levels in my neck. Had a discectomy at C6-7 sixteen years ago and no new injury...just bad spine degenerating with time.

 

Seeing neurosurgeon Wednesday. Can't stop taking prednisone without serious return of symptoms...when taking it very manageable but the side effects adding up over time. Bummer given ice finally off...most likley will be skiing vicariously though all of you for a bit.

[Andre]

Wow!Sorry to read this.

Good luck and take the time to get well again!

[Patmaster]

I have the similar problem lower - L-4, 5. Excersises help so far, kept skiing, but nothing will ever be the same I guess. Keep us updated, maybe there is a way....

 

[9400]

Wishing you all the best.

 

[Texas6]

Man - sorry about that. Keep your head up!

[SkiJay]

Yikes, that's a cruel twist, @6balls‌! Here's hoping the neurosurgeon comes up with a good plan.

[Wish]

Prayers your way my friend.

[LZywicki1]

My wife has been taking prednisone for her lupus, we know about those side affects. Hopefully you can get off it soon.

[MrJones]

6. If you get a fusion this year, you should be fine for skiing next summer. Much less loading of the cervical spine than lumbar spine with what we do. (and life in general) Of course every situation is different, but in general I would rather have a cervical surgery than lumbar. Look to the positive on this and good luck.

[6balls]

@mrjones I'm guessing bilateral two level foraminotomy and two level laminectomy with fusion. I'm no neurosurgeon but seems that would be combo of anterior and posterior approaches....ugg.

 

With a well healed fusion you should be correct and I think that will need to be done to ski safely...I've got a lot of cord compromise on MRI at present and the wrong hard fall could turn out poorly.

 

If it were done soon, you think any chance of late season skiing? Lastly...yes much better cervical than lumbar. I will be driving everyone nuts during recuperation; I'm not good at sitting around doing nothing.

[The_MS]

Hang in there Dave.

[Horton]

@6balls sorry to hear it. Getting old sucks

[mwetskier]

@Horton -getting old does suck but it beats the alternative

[6balls]

@bananaron seeing Tom Bergstrom. Other top option was Tim Garvey. Others are good, too, and none easy to get into in timely fashion.

[Than_Bogan]

My sympathy! Good luck my e-friend!

[6balls]

@than_bogan crank a bunch of 38's out this season and tell me all about 'em.

[Skoot1123]

@6balls‌ - here's to hoping you can get things figured out. Prayers sent your way.

[MrJones]

6. I would just be guessing. You would have to see what procedure is actually done, see how the surgeon feels about the fixation, the see what the follow up x rays look like as healing progresses. My thought would be to plan for next season and if it works out for later this year all the better!. Good luck with it.

[Andy]

@6balls always get a second and then a third and possibly a fourth opinion before surgery of that type. Keep us posted.

[6balls]

@andy will do if anything sounds out of line. I'm a family doc who refers many spine patients and have my favorites...which is why I'm seeing this specific physician. Having said that I will move on if the approach does not seem reasonable and/or he doesn't understand my unique circumstance; a 41 year old competitive in multiple sports that create significant strain yet define a large part of me; I need to get back to all of them safely at least for now. Someday there will be another chapter(s) in life but not yet if I can avoid it.

[Andy]

@6balls you have it covered. I injured my back L5S1 years ago, then my neck. I manage pain with exercise and it works for the most part in day to day stuff. However, a skiing fall I took yrs ago now slows me down pretty good, so I don't push the way I used to, but I still go several times a week. Injury does put a strain on the competitive side to be sure.

[Razorskier1]

This sucks. Finally thought we might both be able to break free some Friday afternoons to ski and hang at the lake. Instead it looks like a season off for the young fella.

[MarkM]

Wow! I'm going to the neuro surgeon in 1 hour for almost the exact same thing.

This is my first visit with him.

MRI shows stenosis in c5,c6. I have loss of strength in my left bicep and deltoid. I hope my season isn't lost.

[6balls]

@markm keep us posted and good luck. I had C6-7 micro discectomy 16 yrs ago with strength loss in tricep, wrist extensor and pectoralis. Recovery there is quick. Question is whether you need laminectomy and fusion which means the longer recovery. Pretty sure my season is roasted, hopefully yours not. I'll work on my driving skills pulling around @razorskier1

[Razorskier1]

@6balls‌ are u suggesting it takes effort to pull me?

[6balls]

@razorskier1 oh no, fingertips only for sure. Maybe the larger issue is driver endurance for those 30 pass sets!

[Texas6]

I'm really sorry to hear about the injury and pray for a speedy recovery. Question for you guys with the back problems: What exactly happened to cause the injuries? Where these OTF's or something less dramatic than that?

[jipster43]

Very sorry to hear about the injuries. Heal quickly!

[6balls]

@texas6 not sure. Bad spine heredity here and also significant over use on my part. No regrets for me. Very appreciative of all the kind comments...will know more soon with initial consult on Wed. Ballers rock.

 

 

[MarkM]

Ok so...I saw the neurosurgeon yesterday and here's the deal.

I have c4/c5, c5/c6 issues. Slight bulging disk, spinal stenosis, pinched nerves, blah blah.

He thinks a steroid shot could help. If not, then it's surgery time and I'll be out for 6-9 months.

I've started Physical Therapy yesterday, and I'm going for a second MRI today that will be on some special machine that will give the neuro guy a clearer picture.

 

I've never had a neck injury or big crash. However, in my younger days (like a dumbass) I would do flips on a wakeboard. I'm sure I had several whiplashes when I would miss a flip. So, given that, age, and skiing 4 days a week my body is now angry with me.

 

So, Thursday is the steroid shot and let's hope that frees up the nerve and my strength returns to my bicep and deltoid. That's the goal!

[6balls]

@markM did he think safe to ski given the stenosis even if the shot helps nerve root given the spinal stenosis?

I see the doc tomorrow will let you know the scoop for me. I don't think there is a shot to help me...I'm thinking it's surgery.

6-9 months out from surgery...ouch. What surgery did he propose in the event needed...two level laminectomy/fusion and foramenotomy?

[6balls]

As expected at the doc today. Wants an EMG and we meet to plan extent of surgery afterward...most likely 2 level laminectomy with fusion and foraminotomy from C4-C6 on left. Out of work 2-4 weeks, 2-3 months before much activity involving neck and given the forces involved in slalom he thought should probably plan to bag this season. Once healed, he doesn't see any restrictions down the line.

[Than_Bogan]

Relatively good news, I suppose. Once again, GOOD LUCK!

[Skoot1123]

@6balls - good news / bad news. Good to hear that you'll be good to go next year!

[schroed]

@markm - Good luck. I'm hoping I'll see you at regionals and nationals again.

[Booze]

I've had two fusions (C5-C7) 20 years apart and I'm hanging in there. I believe in chiropractic maintenance and decompression devices.

[6balls]

THX all. The CT was good, it picked out an area of neuroforaminal stenosis higher than the area of spinal stenosis which explained some unexplained symptoms...in fact the higher area is likely the primary player and the big discs squashing my cord shown on MRI are incidental. He thought fixing those areas though is also important for safety skiing in the future and even if he didn't fix 'em now cuz they may not be symptomatic they would need fixed at some point soon anyway. I'm thinking let's get it all done in one procedure, have one recovery, blow one season and get back after it. Surgeon seems to be thinking along these lines as well so nice to be on the same page. Super nice guy, too.

As a bonus, CT was an angio so got to see my carotids, circle of willis etc...no budding aneurysms and carotids are clean, too. The old brain didn't look too bad!

[xrated]

@6balls man I haven't read that many terms since x-ray school!

 

Good luck with the surgery and good luck with the subsequent weight gain due to all the beer you will earn as driver.

[MarkM]

Good luck 6balls!!

Today is my epidural. I hope it frees up this nerve and brings back my arm and shoulder strength. If it works, I think I'll be able to resume skiing in about 2 weeks (I think).

If not, I will have to have an Anterior Cervical Discectomy.

[6balls]

Needle EMG done today...that wasn't the most fun. It appears mostly the C5 nerve root is affected.

 

See neurosurgeon again on Wednesday to plan approach...my guess is now C4-5 and C5-6 fusion with C5 foraminotomy. Good news is that should all be able to be done from anterior rather than anterior and posterior approaches. Hoping that's all he thinks needs done as well.

[ral]

@6balls‌, had C6-7 fusion with anterior approach after breaking ligament and disc in a not so nice OTF at the wake (lost all strength, mobility and feeling in right arm after the crash, but recovered most if not all in the following 20-30 mins). Lost 70% of right arm strength 1 week after surgery (which was the most demoralizing part of the whole experience...).

 

Got back in the water 3 months after surgery, taking it easy, and was able to get into a final season tournament 4,5 months after surgery.

 

Although I was going to spend my whole life with a metal plate in my neck, but one of the screws got loose last October (almost 2 years after surgery), and now all the hardware is in a case in my desk...

[6balls]

@ral good story and glad you are back after it. I would like to make the skiwatch fall double near Pensacola...if I have to go judge and make ribs I will but would like to ski as well.

 

I got everything back after my c6-7 procedure, hoping same after this one. The EMG doc had great things to say about my surgeon so seems I'm in good hands. She said all the docs who work there and need neck procedures go to him...so if the locally informed med community uses him I'm in the right place. Have been very impressed so far.

[gregy]

@6balls good luck. Hope all goes well for you. Too bad this didn't all happen 6 months ago.

[6balls]

@gregy no kidding. This is my recreational passion and a real bummer, but nothing compared to the issues many others face that make it pale in comparison. Bump in the road, I'll be ok.

[teammalibu]

@6balls Dave. I will pulling for a speedy recovery!

[Razorskier1]

Having missed a few seasons with surgeries in my ski career, I know it sucks. However, if the surgery gives you the rest of your life to ski, it is well worth the price.

[MarkM]

@schroed - Thanks man!

[MarkM]

Well, I finally skied this weekend. The Cervical Epidural I had on May 1st is having a positive effect.

So after 5 weeks off I ran some opener passes. Holy cow, I am not in ski shape.

5 weeks ago I was on top of my game and now.....not so much. My right bicep and deltoid are still weak so it will take time. But I mostly noticed my feet and hamstrings are not ski ready.

I ski all winter so this is a foreign feeling. Time to get back in the game!

[6balls]

Cool @markm. Final visit today and sure enough set up 2 level lammy, 3 level fusion, and C5 foraminotomy. Return to daily life fairly quick, return to serious athletic endeavor unfortunately 3-4 months. Perhaps good to go for skiwatch fall double though won't be posting any PB's...just fun.

[MarkM]

@balls 3-4 months? Wow! That's great!