Degenerative Disc Disease
&
Facet Joint Arthritis

Hi, You should know me from my main page but in case you surfed here directly, my name is Tatianna and I live in NW Indiana.

 

I suffer from Degenerative Disc Disease, and I had a herniated disc at C4&5 which hits the spinal cord, bulging discs at C5&6, and C6&7, facet joint arthritis from C3 - C5.

I want to share my experiences with you
to help anyone who is wondering
about these conditions and perhaps to help
myself through talking about these
horribly painful conditions.
I've noticed that there is not a whole lot of
information out there about personal
experiences, especially in the
cervical vertebrae.

**IMPORTANT ADVICE**

Please do me and yourself a favor -
If you're having bad pain and your doctor isn't helping you...
Go to another doctor!  Go to several doctors!
Until you find one who will help you!  I did
It took me 7 years, but I found one
and he said - "Why did you wait so long?"

I know it took me a long time to
figure out exactly what was wrong
with me so I will attempt to explain these
conditions in laymans terms. Did they think
all the big words and  Latin terms made me
feel at ease?  Personally, I get more scared
when I don't understand!

So, I will begin with these two pictures.

  The cervical vertebrae begin just under the skull, starting with C-1, also known as Atlas, since the world (your skull) rests on it's 'shoulders'.
   I have a herniated (ruptured) disc between my 5th and 6th vertebrae.  This usually happens due to some sort of physical trauma or whiplash type accident.
   The only such incident I can recall is when I was hit by a car while riding my bike when I was 12.
   It can take 10 years or more for such a trauma to cause any noticeable reactions.
   I've had high-mid back, shoulder and neck pain since I was in my early twenties.  I always attributed it to sleeping wrong, getting a draft etc.
   In 1996 I began attending cosmetology school and I had a lot of pain between my shoulder blades.  I figured it was just fatigue from having my arms up to cut, color and style hair.
   In 1997 I moved to Kansas and worked as a waitress.  I had to carry very large trays on my shoulder.  I started having even more pain between my shoulders and many days had a very difficult time turning my head to either side, without extreme pain.  I started seeing a chiropractor which  gave me some relief, until I returned to work and lifted more trays.  The cycle of pain began again.
   I went to my family physician who sent me for an x-ray and then an MRI and to an Osteopath (Bone Dr).  He said I had degenerative disc disease, which is normal for an old person, but not for one as young as me.  He asked if I'd had any accidents, etc.  I told him the bike story and we decided that was most likely the cause.  He then referred me to a Neurosurgeon.
   I saw the Neurosurgeon and he said that surgery was not an option that would really do me any good and recommended I get a cortisone epidural injection.  He arranged for the shot that very afternoon.
   Off I went to the local hospital where I sat on a gurney awaiting the anesthesiologist to perform the procedure.  I was VERY nervous to say the least!  The Dr came in and had me sit upright while he and the nurse located the appropriate spot on my spine and he inserted the needle. It was  EXTREMELY painful, but only lasted a few minutes. The worst part was the grating sound/feeling.  I don't know if it's the needle hitting  bone or what.... They had me lay down on my right side afterward, (where I tend to have more pain) for about 20 minutes.  Later I saw the needle they had used... it was about as big around as the wire from a large metal coat hanger!  I'm glad I didn't see it beforehand!  I felt bad for about a week and a half and then the pain was gone!  I was pain free most of the time for over a year.  I soon quit waitressing and that also helped reduce the pain.
   Then the pain returned... I went back to the neurosurgeon and he arranged another shot.  It went a little easier this time and I was pain free for almost 2 years. 
   In January of this year I moved back to NW Indiana.  The pain seemed to intensify so I saw my family physician, a great guy who really listens!  I wasn't overly enthusiastic about another shot so we tried various medications.  Vicadin, Lorcet, Orphengesic Forte and finally zanaflex.  Zanaflex is a skeletol muscle relaxer and helps a lot, but it knocks me out.  Sleep often helps too, so... when I have a lot of pain and am heading to bed soon, I take a Zanaflex.        During the day I can't afford to sleep as I often have to pick up the kids from school so I can't take one.  That sent me back to the Dr and he ordered a new MRI and a referred to a Pain Management Center.
Well, I had to get my shot records from Kansas sent here, I had to fast before the shot... this was a whole different ballgame!
   The Pain Clinic is located in a local hospital.  I went to my appointment and put on one of those ugly ill-fitting hospital gowns.  The anesthesiologist came in and we discussed my condition.  Not only do I have a herniated disk and degenerative disc disease, but I found out I also have an arthritic condition in my neck called Facet Joint Arthritis.  There are spurs at C-3 that cause specific pain.  The Dr pressed on the side of my neck, around C-3, and I had one of the pains!  It was strange to be able to trigger it like that!  We decided that the pain from the disc was worse and since I had responded well to the epidural injections in the past...
   This time it was really different.  They started an IV and I was wheeled in to a small room where they put me face down on a table with pillows under my chest.  They placed little sticky pads and a blood pressure cuff on me and set up other equipment.  I had to lay there with my arms at my sides, talk about uncomfortable!  This procedure was done under floroscopy (or x-ray to you and me).  The Dr came in and the x-ray went on and he located the appropriate vertebrae.  They gave me some valium, which didn't seem to do any good then washed my back and inserted the needle.  It hurt as much as the first time, and then there was that grating sound and feel again.  He injected a dye to make sure it went where he wanted, then an anesthetic and finally the steroid.  They had me turn over soon after, then they wheeled me to recovery where I stayed for nearly an hour.  They monitored my blood pressure, fed me a sandwich and soda after half an hour, then after another 30 minutes I got to go home. I was told to take no meds for 24 hours.
   I wasn't in pain for as long as the previous shots, I felt better after about 4 days.  Unfortunately I had to go back for another shot in 3 weeks since they like to do a series.       So, 3 weeks later, just when I was feeling pretty good.... I had to do it again! 
   This time I asked if the Valium was necessary, they said it wasn't, but if I decided I wanted it I could have it.  I didn't use it.  I noticed a strange tingling hot sensation run down my arms when he injected the steroid.  I left with an appointment for 2 weeks later for the 3rd shot.  The bonus of not taking the Valium... I got to take a zanaflex that night!
   I went back for the 3rd shot and we decided I didn't need it.  We had previously discussed a nerve block for the arthritic pain, but I wasn't having the pain from the arthritis at right then and I needed to have it to do the nerve block.  We discussed my headaches and decided I needed to ask my Dr about changing my birth-control pills. It was a quick and painless appointment!
   Well, it's July 12, 2001, about 2 weeks after the non-treatment appointment and I am in pain.  I try to figure out what causes the pain, but I can't.  I'm having frequent headaches too.  At first I was able to tie the headaches to my birth control pills.  Every month, when the active hormone pills were done I'd get a 3 - 5 day long headache.  My Dr changed my pills and I seemed to do better for a while, but  I'm having headaches again.  I thought maybe they were allergy related, since we have a new kitten. I've been taking allergy pills in hopes that they will help.  It's so hard to tell what causes the pain.  I think sometimes, when I have a good day I tend to overdo.  It seems like I can hardly lift anything without causing myself pain later.  A big part of the problem is that the pain sometimes doesn't show up til a day or 2 after I've done something.
I have a LOT of snap, crackle and popping in my neck and upper back.  I'm hoping this pain goes away in a few days.  I really don't want to go back to the Dr again!
   This is a condition that I will have for the rest of my life and it will only get worse as I age - btw - I'm 35.  I hope that it will stay as it is for a long time.  Well, I hope that on good days! :)  It may not worsen for a long time.  The Dr's are impressed with my mobility.  I can turn my head and look up and down and I don't have any weakness in my arms.  These are all good things.  It could be a lot worse I guess. 
   I take Glucosamin Chondroitin in the hopes of strengthening things, I figure it couldn't hurt!  I try to stay as active as I can, though what  I can do is limited.  I find that cold causes my pain to increase, so I try to keep my neck warm at all times.  I was told years ago, by the neurosurgeon, not to do anything above shoulder level, and I find that if I make that mistake and do things up too high, I get more pain, maybe not immediately, but the next day.
   I try to get by on ibuprofen and Tylenol.  I don't like taking prescription meds any more than is absolutely necessary.  You hear all too often about people getting addicted to pain killers. 

Return to top of page

FACET ARTHRITIS

It is the degeneration of the cartilage that separates the joint formed by 2 superposed vertebral laminae.

Facet arthritis is caused by normal wear of the cartilage in the facet joint. In youth, this cartilage is thick and cushions the burden borne by the joint, but it gets thinner with the passage of time. It is normal to find a certain degree of thinning after 30 years of age, but it usually presents no problems.

Because the intervertebral disc bears more weight than the facet joint, vertebral arthritis normally occurs before and develops faster than facet arthritis.

Symptoms

In the early stages, facet arthritis does not cause pain or other problems. In fact, the pain nerves are located not in the cartilage but in the underlying bone, so that wear on the joint must be great, enough to reach this level before it starts to cause pain

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease (also called spondylosis) is a general term used to describe changes that can occur along any area of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) as you age, but is most common in the lumbar area. It’s not actually a disease, but rather a condition in which your discs “degenerate,” or lose their flexibility and ability to cushion your spine. Your discs don’t have a good blood supply, so once injured it can’t repair itself. These age-related changes include:

• Discs dry out and shrink - made of about 80% water, as you get older they slowly lose water. This loss of flexibility puts more stress on the annulus.
• Small tears occur in the annulus - sometimes some of the gel-like material, or nucleus pulposus, comes out through a tear in the wall and touches the nerves. This material has many inflammatory proteins that can inflame the nerves and cause pain. These tears also affect the nerves in the annulus, and small movements, called micro-movements, can cause discogenic pain. Over the years the proteins eventually dry up, and the discs become stiffer; in many people this results in less pain by the time they are in their sixties.
• Disc space gets smaller - due to the loss of water in the discs the distance between vertebrae begin to collapse, which is why we get shorter as we age.
• Bone spurs (osteophytes) grow – without the discs holding apart the vertebrae, they can rub on each other causing abnormal bone growths.
• Spinal canal narrows – the stresses of all the above changes causes the ligaments and facet joints to enlarge (hypertrophy) as they try to compensate and spread the load over a larger area. This over-growth causes the spinal canal to narrow, which can compress the spinal cord and nerves causing pain.

***7/19/01***

      The headaches have eased, maybe my body has gotten use to the new hormone level? 
   I discovered, through my own testing, that I cannot have the ceiling fan on when I sleep, that was causing me to wake up with a sore neck!  Now that I keep it off at night I am feeling better!

What's the pain like?

  Herniated Disc - it's an ache between the shoulder blades, feels like extreme fatigue, but worse.  It radiates up and around the shoulder and sometimes down either arm to the elbow. Funs right up the spine and up the neck.  One keeps shrugging their shoulders trying to relieve some of the tension/pain.

   Facet Joint Arthritis - Pain is usually around the area of the spurs, that's where it begins.  First noticeable by any slight turning of the head casing pain.  It sometimes runs down the shoulder, but mostly upward to behind the ear.  In extreme cases it travels around the ear to the temple and feels as though it's shooting out the temple, causing debilitating headache.

***UPDATE 3/15/02***

   What's new? Not a whole lot :) Pain is still there. I've tried some arthritis medication, but it didn't really seem to help. I went to 6 weeks of physical therapy and that left me in more pain than before I went. The cold weather seemed to make it worse as did the rain and snow. I am hoping that the warmer weather will help. I really DON'T want to go for another shot! I will have to be at death's door before I will have another one of those LOL

   I've found I like those new disposable sticky heat pads. They stay warm for over 8 hours and I can go to sleep with one on my neck :)

  Well, writing this has been real therapy for me!  I hope you found it interesting and/or helpful.  Feel free do e-mail  me with any questions or comments!  Also, I hope you'll visit the other areas of my website

  Please sign the guestbook while you are here!

Thanks!
Tatianna

Return to top of page

 ***Update 7/17/02***

Yes! There is an end in sight some day!

Last Wednesday night (7/10/02) I went out to dinner with my family and about 6 pm I all of a sudden noticed my neck was hurting.  I mentioned it and didn't think  much more about it, until we left and while driving home the pain was increasing.  By the time we got home my neck was hurting pretty bad.  I took my doses of ibuprophen and had a very sleepless night.  Each day for the next 3 days my neck hurt progressively worse.

My doctor was on vacation until the 15th so I couldn't get in to see him.  I took my zanaflex in the meantime and after 3 doses it made my stomach cramp, so I had to discontinue using it.  Mark made me an appointment to see the Doctor on Saturday July 20 with a possibility of getting in sooner if something opened up.  Luckily, I was able to get in on Tuesday July 16!

What a great appointment that turned out to be!  We talked about my pain and what I'd been taking and how it wasn't doing much good.  He gave me a shot of anti-inflammatory along with something for the pain.  He gave me samples of some new muscle ralaxers, Skelaxin, and a pain medicine, Ultracet.  We also discussed my long term outlook and what I'd had done so far, how it had worked, or not worked, and options.

Well, I am happy to report, that even though I'd been told in Kansas that surgery was not an option, I learned that I CAN have surgery! I am SO excited!  It's not something I will have done right away, but it is in the future, when I can't get any relief with medicines.  After the surgery I will have NO pain!  I can hardly believe it!?  I now have something to look forward to, a life without pain!  The doctor told us about a patient in his 60's who had this surgery done and felt so much better in recovery!  He also said, it will be good for me to have this done eventually, since I am still young and will easily recover.    

The 2 new meds seem to be helping as I am feeling much better today and had a decent night's sleep last night!  The first in nearly a week! 

I just wanted to share my latest news and excitement!  Even when things seem hopeless, there can be a light at the end of that long, dark tunnel!

*** Update November 25, 2002***

Well, it's been a rough few months. The meds that were helping seem not to be any more.  I've been reduced to just bearing it, using heat and taking Flexaril or Zanaflex as little as possible.  I had my MRI films taken to the specialist and he says it's a possibility, but he needs to see a more recent MRI.  He is particular about where the films are taken and my insurance will not cover any of his preferred providers, so... I must wait until our new insurance kicks in January 1st.  I have an appointment with Dr Sweeny on January 7th, so hopefully I will have good news then!

*** Update January 21, 2003 ***

As most of you know, I had my appointment with the orthopedic doctor this afternoon. Well, I am home now and VERY depressed. He showed me my MRI films and explained what was what. He was very surprised I am not a smoker, as all my discs are dried up. A healthy disc appears white (water is white in an mri) my discs were NOT white. He pointed out the disc that is the worst, with another one below it following suit. If he were to do surgery (which wouldn't cure all my pain anyway) it would just be the 1st of many. He suggests I wait a few years in the hopes of a synthetic disc being developed. 
I am so depressed I don't even have words. He wants me to have traction done and maybe get an apparatus for home. I also got the bill for the MRI which was 1,699.00 - the insurance is paying it, I guess, we'll see on that. One never knows, and with switching insurance just to have my neck fixed, I don't know what this new insurance covers and how well it does... 
So, if you don't see me around too much, or I don't seem myself, you'll know why, I am just too sad.

*** Update October 26, 2003 ***

Not a whole lot new... I'd gotten my home traction unit - it  certainly is not as good as at PT :(  I've  not been using it regularly, as it makes my neck feel so weak afterward.  I'd been using it just when I'd feel an 'episode' coming on.

Recently though, for the past week I have developed a new symptom!  My left hand has been quite numb!  It's feels as though t begins in the index fingertip and radiates up my hand at varying degrees.  Sometimes it affects my thumb and middle finger too, it just depends.  It's a tingling feeling - as if my hand had fallen asleep - on the verge of pins and needles.  It also radiates up my hand, at times, mostly the top of my hand.

I've been doing the traction pretty regularly in hopes it will relieve this numbness.  So far no luck, I will have to see a dr again if this continues...

*** Update November 5, 2003 ***

I went to the doctor last Wednesday about my numb hand.  I had the 1st half of my EMG today, the technician did a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test.  Next week will be the intramuscular emg.

What is an EMG? you may ask... let me tell you...

**Click to Read All About Electromyogram (EMG)**

Return to top of page

*** Update November 17, 2003 ***

Did the EMG - and NEVER again! TYVM! The results came back negative so another MRI was ordered,  Went for that and the results say I have a second herniated disc as well as a pinched nerve now.  I must follow up with a new Doctor... he's a neurosurgeon.  The appointment is December 2 - wish me luck!

November 12 I did my rendition of the human pincushion! Actually I had an EMG. Good God! Don't let anyone ever tell this does not hurt! Last week I had the 1st part done, which was by a tech with some sort of implement that sends shocks to your nerves, rather painful and uncomfortable. Bearable though. Today was part II... The needles in the muscles.... Lord almighty! Not a pleasant experience to say the least! Due to the fact that I feel so crummy now, I'll be pasting what I'd said about the experience to my mom - so please forgive me if it seems a bit disjointed and or stilted...
"The hands were the worst I'd say
My neck is killing me - especially the left side - he went up and down either side of my spine at my neck. - I will list the spots in order LOL
Upper arm, bicep, tri-cep, forearm at the back kind of behind the elbow, top of hand between thumb and forefinger, one at the fatty ball of your hand under the thumb - palm side, then look at your palm - and outer edge midway - under little finger, then laid on my side and he stuck me about 4 or 5 times up each side if my spine at my neck."
Now, I am in pain still. I found a lump the size of a grape right in the middle just below my hairline and my neck muscles are all jacked up - feel like I was lifting weights for several hours LOL
I think I will now go lay down and sleep a while and hope to feel better when I awaken...

*** Update December 2, 2003 ***

I have returned from my latest doctor appointment and I am now awaiting the dr's office to call me back with a date for the surgery! Its amazing how different one dr is from the next! Dr Gropper asked me why I waited so long to have this taken care of. I said well, I have been from dr to dr and no one wanted to do anything. He said my chances for a full-pain free recovery would have been even better earlier - but the fact that my second herniation is les than a year old helps and with the way my spine is now - already stress on the vertebrae so there should really be no problem of others blowing after the surgery. Of course I know this isn't a guarantee, but the amount of pain I am in constantly - this could really help! Bless Dr Gropper for giving me hope!  One thing is I will be able to do whatever I want afterward! Things over my head!!! I don't even have to stay in the hospital overnight! I have to go see my family physician this Friday for the pre operative physical, then I have to have some pre surgical psychological evaluation. I will of course be having Physical Therapy after the surgery as well as some post traumatic psychological appointments to deal with the trauma of the surgery.  The surgery will be before the end of the month.
Thanks everyone for your support and well wishes!

Return to top of page

**Click to Read All About Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion**

Meet My Neurosurgeon 
Mitchell Gropper MD

My POST SURGICAL experiences

Surgery Day
(Monday December 22, 2003)
I arrived at the hospital at 5:15 as instructed
I was directed to a room and given a gown and anti embolism stockings
I was to wear those and nothing else.
After I was settled in my bed the IV was started.
They gave me an anti-biotic in my IV just for precaution.
My family was allowed to join me at this time.
They visited with me for about a half hour or so,
then I was taken to a holding area
where I had to wait alone for over an hour.
I was a little upset because I didn't get to see my mom
I'd been told if she got there at 7 I could still see her
but they told me differently when I was there.
Dr Gropper came in to see me right about 8:30
I had no questions so...
I had my surgery pretty close to the scheduled time of 8:30
as far as I could tell from the drug induced stupor LOL
I really don't remember much after the point of them giving me
"something to relax me" in my IV.

I woke up in recovery, sometime after 11:30
I don't remember too much there except wanting to just go back to sleep and not wake up!
It was rough!  My breathing was rather difficult due to my throat.
The nurse kept making me take deep breaths and it felt like so much work.
I'd doze back off and a beeper would go off and she's insist I breathe deeply again.
She gave me morphine several times, she was VERY nice.
They took 2 x-rays before I got to go up to my room.
One of them I had to be lifted up a bit by my arms.

In my room I dozed, waved to my family and steadily awoke more and more.
After waking quite well I asked to go to the bathroom, which went well.
But I do remember the food they expected me to eat!
The worlds gummiest mostacolli noodles
topped with a pile of meat "sauce", roll and butter,
green beans, lemon meringue pie, juice and milk.
I think I managed to eat 1 noodle, 1 green bean,
a bite of pie and 2 bites of dinner roll.
Talk about an inappropriate meal! LOL
They understood tho.
The time went pretty quickly and I was able to go home by 5 pm

At Home
Once I got home I sat about for a while.
I honestly don't remember too much of that 1st day.
I looked in the mirror on a trip to the bathroom
My neck and chin were swollen horribly.
You couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.
That night I had a terrible time trying to sleep!
There was no comfortable position I could find in  bed.
I ended up searching the internet for information
and managed to find some posts about people not being able to sleep
and how some were reduced to buying a recliner, as was I.

I was prescribed Darvocet and a 5 day antibiotic.
Swallowing these pills was HARD!

Return to top of page

Day 2
(Tuesday December 23, 2003)
Mark and Ian went and bought me a nice recliner,
What  LIFESAVER!  I could sleep.
Not to mention doze of and on all day if I wished.
The swelling was going down little by little.
I took my meds and ate a little.
Still have a lump in my throat sort of feeling.
It makes it feel as thought it's hard to breath.
Pain in my shoulders, not sleeping well and only for short times.
I can understand how people might have panic attacks
after a surgery like this... Sometimes I find myself gasping for air.

Day 3
(Wednesday December 24, 2003)
Feeling progressively better.
Still having pain in my shoulders.
The pain is across the top of my shoulders, not the usual old pain.
I am able to shower now, must use original DIAL soap.
The incision is doing fine.
Still sleeping fitfully between bed and recliner.
The lump in my throat is still there and can be felt like a tangerine
just below the surface of my scar.

Just a note
When I cleaned my ears with a q-tip after bathing
my ears were bloody!  Yuck!
I don't know if it was from blood dripping in during surgery
or if one bleeds from this surgery
but there you have it!
Nothing to worry about :)

Day 4
(Thursday December 25, 2003)
You'd think I was one of the kids as early as I woke up! LOL
Feeling not too badly, though tiring easily.
Still have the lump.
Had a really nice Christmas though!
Great gifts and yummy food!

Day 5
(Friday  December 26, 2003)
Company this evening, wore me out!
Still have the lump in my throat.
Still not sleeping well.
Thank God for the recliner!

Day 6
(Saturday December 27, 2003)
Tried a zanaflex in desperation
I don't like the way it made me feel.
I feel very nervous.

Day 7
(Sunday December 28, 2003)
Took a brief trip out to Meijer.
I got my new  glasses.
I paid for it though, I think it was just too much too soon.
I am worn out and in pain.

Return to top of page

Day 8
(Monday December 29, 2003)
I cry very easily.  Feeling frustrated and useless.

Day 9
(Tuesday December 30, 2003)
Called Dr's office for medication refill
but no one there, left message...

Day 10
(Wednesday December 31, 2003)
Pain meds ran out - taking Ultracet
that I had in the cabinet. 
No word from the Dr's office.
Company this evening and not feeling real well.
Hot flashes and stomach distress
Made it through midnight now off to bed!

Day 11
(Thursday January 1, 2004)
Feeling a little better today but still in pain and
my throat feels as though it's more swollen than yesterday.
I think I accidentally bent over too far and it put a strain on things.

Return to top of page

Day 12
(Friday January 2, 2004)
Dr Gropper's nurse called for post op follow up
I got a refill on my pain meds and
methylprdnisolone for the swelling in my throat.
Still shaky and nervous.
Sweating like a pig all night, must be the steroid.

Day 13
(Saturday January 3, 2004)
Feeling better, not much pain.
A bit hot flashy, but my neck feels less swollen!
The pain is a lot less too.
However I feel rather out of it...
I imagine it's due to the pain medication...

February 5, 2004

It's been about 6 weeks since my surgery and I am feeling ok.
Some days are better or worse than others...
It's a very slow process, no matter what is said before-hand

I go to Physical Therapy 2 times a week for 6 weeks
I have 2 weeks left, my therapist is a lovely polish woman.
She is very kind and careful.  She is always solicitous of my comfort and does not push me too hard.  He also gives an awesome massage! LOL
She is thrilled with my progress even though I am sometimes feeling slow.

I began rubbing my scar with Vitamin E oil about 10 days after the surgery, once I was able to get all the sticky remains off the incision and it appeared well closed.  This was the correct thing to do :) My therapist has me massaging my scar 3 times a day to get rid of the scar tissue (ie - a lump I can feel just below the scar surface) I still have the pressing feeling that makes me swallow a lot and some days it's worse, but it's bearable.
The pain some days is bad, especially if I was too active the previous day, took too long a ride in the car, etc.
headaches can be common when I have overdone it.

Sleeping is difficult!  It's hard to find a comfortable position,
especially when I always have slept on my belly!  And that's now a NO NO!


Return to top of page

February 10, 2004

Today was my checkup with Dr Gropper. 
I had x-rays taken yesterday.
The Good news is - the fusion is healing well!
The Bad new is - the lower screws have slipped 4mm
This means, if they slip much farther I will have to have the plate removed.
Normally it can move 1mm.
There seems to be no reason WHY this happened,
Just lucky me, I guess :)

May 12, 2005

Well, some time has passed...
I've had another 6 month checkup, which showed the screws are fine and the fusion going well!

After the 1 year checkup (December 15) Dr told me everything is great and check back in a year just to be safe :)

Went on a cruise to the Caribbean for Christmas...
Was lovely!!

Came home and on New Years Eve 2004 received a devastating letter in the mail...
Dr Gropper passed away from a massive heart attack on December 18, 2004.

He had so much to give and had done so much good...
I don't know if I have stressed enough
what a wonderful doctor he was
and how truly grateful I am to have met him!
I feel as though he saved my life!
I encourage everyone to keep searching for a doctor
until you find one as good as I found!

Dr Gropper will be missed!!

As for me...
I'm doing pretty good most of the time
though recently I've had some headaches and arm weakness
but that's a different story LOL

Most days my neck feels pretty darned good.
It seems weather changes can cause me some pain,
but generally only for a few days and not for long.

April 19, 2006

Most of the time feeling pretty good!
Every once in a while I have a bad day or two,
but I know they will pass ;)
I was rather sick over the winter and got into a rut
of not doing much and I need to work on that
but all in all, pretty good!

This RingSurf Angelic Network for Chronic Pain and Illness Net Ringowned by Tatianna. Tatianna's Trove of Treasures - Degenerative Disc Disease & Facet Joint Arthritis Page Want to join the Angelic Network?
[Skip Previous] [Previous 5 Sites] [Next] [Skip Next] [Random Site] [Next 5 Sites] [List Sites]

I find a good
cup of tea
very relaxing!

I've created a yahoo e-mail based  support group

Click to subscribe to Degenerative_Disc_Support

Think about joining

My Guestbook

back

This page best viewed at 1028 x 768
with Internet Explorer 5.x & up