My husband saw the neurosurgeon yesterday and he was told that he has a fractured disk in his lower back and another disk problem in his cervical spine that requires surgery.
They are indicating that the lower back fracture should heal itself.
But the neck they are concerned may cause nerve damage over time resulting in loss of feeling in his arms and legs and possibly loss of control of his bladder and bowels.
We're not sure if these are just "scare tactics" to get us to agree to surgery.
For heavens sakes, he's only 50 years old!
Can any of this be related to lyme? Does lyme degenerate bones or something.
We feel like he's falling apart!
AND . . . we're really not sure about the idea of surgery. A "anterior diskectomy" It sounds scary and dangerous. And not only that - they aren't claiming it will help with his pain at all!
Posted by JRWagner (Member # 3229) on :
Danser, please GOOGLE: Lyme Arthritis
Lyme can do just about anything to anybody, unfortunately. My cervical spine looks like that of a 75 year old, and I am 58!!!
I wish you both well,
JRW
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
Ditto what JRW said. I am 55 going on 105, despite having exercised all my life.
My spine is so full of Lyme arthritis they can't read my bone density. My neck is deformed by DDD and my lumbar spine has been in agony for over a month now, so that I can't walk normally and my legs feel like jelly. Both areas have bone spurs.
I get less flexible by the day, despite yoga, and keep having to drop yoga postures that hurt too much or have become too risky. The neck makes crackling noises when it moves called crepitis, very common in Lyme.
There is a bone spur in the neck that sometimes causes so much pain in my shoulder blade that I can't breathe in all the way, and it makes my left arm partly numb and weak.
I have had Physical therapy for both ends of my spine and do the exercise they taught me 3 days per week to keep out of surgery. Without PT, I could not have done it.
My problem is not the same as yours, but I would look into all other options before consenting to back surgery. I would also get a second opinion on the surgery as well, preferrably from a doctor who is a specialist in the spine, but does not make his living as a surgeon, if you get my drift!
Best wishes for a good outcome, Klutzo
Posted by johnlyme1 (Member # 7343) on :
Prior to lyme diagnosis, I had 2 discs removed in my neck, they thought that was the reason for my arm pain and neuro issues in my legs. The operation helped for 3 months, from what I now know, the 3 days of ABX given to me IV in the hospital after the operation gave me my first herx. 6 months later diagnosed with lyme.
With what I know know, I would have waited much longer befor having the operation and had the lyme treated first. It was a downword spiral after those 3 months from the operation. 50% of my back vertabra discs are bulging from this disease.
Posted by DanP (Member # 7501) on :
When I was felled in July of 2004 I was counselled to have my herniated disc in the lower back removed. My brother the osteopath said that given all my other symptoms he was suspicious of that recommendation. He suggested alternative forms of treatment - osteopathic treatments, yoga, exercise, painkillers, antiinflammatories, herbal remedies for the Lyme etc.
I did not go ahead with the discectomy. Today I still have some ache/pain - but it's manageable and some days i don't even notice it. Which leads me to conclude that it's working its way out with all the alternative treatments i've been doing.
And guess what? The source of the ache/pain is moving....it's no longer originating where it was in 2004. So I think it was really Lyme related and as I have undergone treatment for the Lyme, it's disappearing.
It's been a long haul, but who knows what surgery would have started?
DanP
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
Think heavily before you commit to surgery. I would do some research on his specific spinal issue...
See what the possible outcomes are if he does not have surgery and what the risks are for those outcomes.
Something I have found to be true - Drs do not always tell you the risks of the surgery ... so please find them out too.
I would probaly start by seeking another opinion.
Posted by Danser (Member # 7373) on :
We definitely are seeking second and third opinions. Also he is seeing two lyme doctors and we will be consulting them as well.
I am concerned that the surgery would not only NOT help the problem, but perhaps even cause more problems.
Thanks for your input!
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi Danser-
I went from being a 30yr old person in great health to feeling 85 and sick-- in 1 month
ALL of my joints hurt -Extreme -- My back-neck pain was unbearable- The pain NEVER stopped--
Now after 2 years of Good treatment I am 95% pain free--AAAAHHHhhhhh
Make sure to figure out if you have Co-infections-- I have Babs Also--
Babs has caused about 80% of my symptoms-- 98% of joint pain--
I think - Many if not Most folks om LN have Babs ALSO-
One thing that I feel Really helped me before I started treatment was taking Gluecosimine Sulfate--10 yrs
I am Sure that I would be in a wheel chair or worse if I had not taken GS--
GS definatily saved my joints--
I may get threw this with little perminate joint damage--Jay--
Ps-- I thought For Sure that I had back disk injurys--I did not-