Info on surgery

[queenbee]

HI
Just wondering if anyone here had discs removed from neck and could give me a heads up on this type of surgery.

[stiffnecked]

Yes. I'm attaching a couple of pics. The first ones shows one slice from my CT scan 2 months ago. It shows that almost NO fusion took place. 28 months post op. The second one is an xray about 3 months post op. It either works or it doesn't....

[hurt at work]

why did they no put bone where the disc use to be?my mom had work done on her neck and they used cadaver bone for replacement and it fused good shes 62 yrs old.

[stiffnecked]

They did use cadavar bone. Unfortunately, it didn't fuse. The donor bone never took and died. That's the problem........

[tpm]

I had a double fusion of my C5-7 back in March of 07. At 6 months only 1 of my 2 fusions took. I go back for another ex ray in 2 weeks. Are you saying I shouldn't expect to see the other fusion take??
Be Well

Ps. just had another epidural yesterday and I'm being cautious but I think I feel somewhat better if for only a day

[vickinat]

I had a 2 level ACDF done on C3-4 & C4-5 on March 7,08, done with cadaver bone and titanium plate and screws. It's too early to tell if I'm fusing yet. I'm hoping it works, since there are more damged discs that may require fixing at a later date.
Good luck.
Vickie

[stiffnecked]

I think the most correct test would be a CT scan. I had both xrays and MRI's. The new surgeon looked at those films and ordered a CT scan. The CT scan with sagital reconstruction gives a better look at the bone structure. Ask the doctor to actually show you on the xray where the fusion is taking place. I also requested that a radiologist review the films. The surgeon agreed and the radiologist came to the same conclusion. No fusion had taken place.

[hurt at work]

everyone heals differently.its to bad it didnt fuse,they can also use a stimulator to help with the fusion.my friend had to do that and it work in helping the fusion take place.

[stiffnecked]

I wore the bone growth stimulator for 3 months. After 3 months it automatically quit working.

[vickinat]

Does this bone growth stimulator have to be implanted inside of the body, or is it like a TENS unit and attached on the skin??? Does the Dr. decide if one is needed after a certain amount of time after surgery, if fusion doesn't begin???