Things ain't too good for me atm ....

elnafinn

A couple of people on the forum know that I have not been feeling too good especially in the past few weeks with symptoms of pins and needles and numbness in my arms and hands and my legs not working as I want them to, so feel as if I have had one drink too many, when walking, sometimes worse than others. Also, when at rest, involuntary movement of big toe and foot on one leg or the other sending sensations up my leg - this awakens me.

The outcome of my appointment today with a surgeon is that a couple of vertebrae are pressing on the spinal cord - I need an op to take bone off to make more space and a metal plate bolted across the vertebrae and a bone graft taken from hip to lock it all up into a solid mass so that it doesn't move against the spinal cord. (this is done from the left hand side of the neck). If is doesn't lock up as surgeon wishes I shall have to have another op at back of neck to put plate in there.

This op will be performed sooner than later.

This is probably a bit garbled but I am not feeling too brave at the moment and rather weepy in fact. This has come on very quickly. It seems like it is one thing after the other over the past three years, with two knee replacements and a bunion and two toes straightened (foot is still swollen but is improving slowly but no pain so that is good) plus various procedures. This latest blast of symptoms is by far the worst and the op sounds very scary indeed.

Elna x

dreamdaisy

Oh elna, I am so, so sorry to read this. I know not what to say apart from I am thinking of you very, very much and I am sure we will be with you all the way on this new (and yes, rather frightening) journey. Be kind to yourself over the next couple of days, take as much time as you need to absorb and mull it all over and remember we are here. DD

dachshund

Hi Elna.
i'm so sorry to hear about your problem it is worrying trying to sort out the right thing to do.
you can always come on here we will listen to you and do are best to help you.
i will be thinking about you.
take care. joan xx

stickywicket

It doesn’t sound garbled, Elna, but you’re right – there’s something about the prospect of surgeon’s fiddling with your back and/or neck which is scarey. Plus, you’ve had more than your fair share of ops recently. You must have been hoping for a brief respite. Sometimes it’s the sheer relentlessness that can get us down.

As DD says, we’ll be with you all the way, just as you are for others. The only part I can actually relate to is the bone graft. I had one with my knee revision and there were no problems at all.

You, rightly, have a lot of friends on here. Now is the time to use them.

lindalegs

Oh Elna :sad:

You have every right to have a weep, we all would, you know, with news like that.

I assume the surgeon hasn't given you a choice and let's face it you couldn't make one on this as it sounds as though this just has to be done. Probably you already guessed what was coming with the grim way you've been feeling and such worrying symptoms.

I'm so sorry this is the outcome.

I will say to you though that you'll get through this, it won't be easy but you'll be in safe hands. This isn't a job they give to novices and your surgeon will be used to doing such operations.

We're with you, share your worries with us and after all the support and kindness you've shown to everyone on here You're going to need very big pockets.

JuliePF is facing a similar operation in October, so I hope she'll come along and share your worries too.

Keep with us ducky, we're here for you, always.

Lots of love

dorcas

Oh Elna ... I'm so sorry you've got this to worry about. :sad:

Of course you feel weepy! it must have come as quite a shock to be told you need this type of op .. :shock: and more so when you're advised it's to be done sooner rather than later...

Life is so unfair sometimes.. and you've had more than your fair share to deal with over the last 3yrs..

Is this surgeon one that you've met before? I am amazed and in awe of the skill and expertise that these ortho surgeons have and I'm sure you will be in the safest of hands. :!:

We'll be with you each step of the way Elna... of that you can be sure...so please keep posting.

Lots of love and strengthening ((((hugs))))

Iris xxx

skezier

Hi Elna,

Its not surprising your feeling as you do, its a frightening thing to have thrown at you.

I had something very similar done to the lumber and well they widened the canal and chipped out some more bone and it made such a huge difference to my lif. I know its not easy to keep thinking its going to be fine but Elna it will be and the difference afterwards will be so worth it.

Hang in there and will also be with you so please keep us posted. ((((( ))))) and a hope, Cris xx

vonski

Dear Elna I am so sorry to hear this news about what you now have to go through. It's easy to say but try not to worry and think about how much better it will be after the op. I pressume you weren't given the choice but you do trust your consultant and he does know you so maybe that is the best thing for you. Hopefully you will soon get back to your old self but if you want a cry please do it could help you feel better. I know how hard things are, my right hand won't work down to me and maybe another op for me??? and yes it does worry you, well me anyway Please feel free to talk anytime.

Love
Vonski xxxx

barbara12

Oh dear Elna...I dont know what to say...I just wish I could come and give you some real hugs....please dont feel bad about being weepy.....when they told me about my back I just blubbered.
You have faith in your surgeon, you did so well with your TKRs..and you can do it again...we are all behind you ...we really are.
And dont you forget we are always here to rant rave or unburden...
You take care my love

tjt6768

Hi Elna, Oh dear... I am sorry to read this, you probably know that I ain't been around that much so have almost missed this..
I really hope that you are alright, or as can be after that news hun..

All I can do is cross all my fingers and toes for you and offer you my fullest support, Ra too..

mig

thinking of you elna and sending gentle hugs.Mig

tkachev

Oh Elna. A big hug for you (((( )))). It has all been so sudden and such a lot of worry and now you are told an op sooner rather than later, which means even more emotions thrown into the pot.
Of course you are the one who has to go through such an op-
we can only support you with our cyber vibes and lend you a shoulder to cry on. Others have had similar done and that is always reassuring .

Try to have a rest now as you must be feeling exhausted,


E xx
-

Ankyspond

Elna,

I am so sorry to hear your news, look on the positive side it can hopefully be put right and the pain may stop/ease. Can imagine how hard it must be to take in, thinking of you. Xx

sennacharib

im sorry to hear ure news, I hope that things will improve. It is no fun having this arthritis lark...I hope things can be sorted soon for you.

Hugs for you.

love senna xxx

bertyboy

so sorry Elna to here how you are suffering , but is good that its been diagnosed and hopefully sorted and yes it does sound scary you will not be alone gentle hugs and positive vibes xx

julie47

oh elna

I am here with you on this one. I am waiting for my c4 & c5 discs doing too. I have a verbal appointment for the 3rd october but I am still waiting for my Official Invitation.
I should have had this done earlier in the year but as you may or may not know my daughter got married in april, so, I wanted to wait.
I had my appointment with the surgeon in june and post ops and he told me I needed it doing urgently. 3 weeks he said. I have rung up twice to find my date and was told he has a long waiting list. :sad:

This is a very worrying time and emotions will be all over the place, mine are too.
I will have to have a second op when everything has fused at the top of my neck (this time done from the back) (odontoid peg) with a metal plate fixed to bottom of skull and more rods.

I am thinking of you

Love Juliepf x

fayrose

I'm sorry to read this Elna, you poor little soul, no wonder you feel weepy, I certainly would.
Best wishes for this to be soted out soon and for you to be free of that awful feeling and - hopefully - pain free too.
Crossing my knobbly fingers for you xx

frogmorton

Oh Elna!!!!

I am so so sorry :shock:

This is awful and l am so shocked. You are one of those who is always here for us and my biggest helper when l joined the forums.

I will be 100% behind you. You know everyone on here will be here for you. Don't be frightened....silly thing to say l know you will be, but we will all be here to support you in any way we can. Proven by the immediate response you have had.

From me to you.

Love

Toni xx

stickywicket

Morning Elna. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you. It looks like you & Julie have more in common than either of you would like just now. I hope you both get great results.

dreamdaisy

Morning elna, I am thinking of you. DD

barbara12

My dear Elna
Im am just popping in to send you some more hugs ((((()))) and to say I am thinking about you.
You can do this...

ironic

Hi Elna,
Of course you will be in shock and feeling very vulnerable, who wouldn’t be in your position.
Take your time Elna and come on here to let it all out. It must have been so scary with the pins and needles plus the light headed feeling.
You have always been so positive with your other ops even though you have come up against some setbacks. Believe me although you don’t think so at the moment you will find the courage to come through this.
In a way I hope the operation happens very quickly for you as the waiting and the thinking can be the worst part.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts Elna.
With Love from, I x

woodbon

Everyone has said it all, I'm so sorry to hear your news and sometimes life can be pretty awful, when it comes to throwing mud at you! :sad:
I'll just send you my love and loads of get well wishes, tears are only natural and in the long run help us cope, thats my experience, anyway. I always feel better for a good cry. Anyway, enough, of my silly nonsense, gentle (((())))) and xxxx Suexxx

kathbee

Dear Elna, I am so sorry to read your post. You have been through enough lately and always kept upbeat. No wonder you feel weepy, anyone would.
Hope you can be strong and back to your usual happy self very soon.

I am thinking of you.
Love Kath xx

elnafinn

Thank you all my dearest friends from the bottom of my heart. It is so heart-warming to read your replies to my thread. I have done nothing much today and stayed late in bed. I had quite a few of the involuntary movements in my big toes, ankles and legs last night – they were like taking in turns, obviously having fun competing with each other but not so good for me at is wakens me.

I do not know this surgeon although I went to him once before about sciatica but the pain clinic helped me in the end with injections, rather than have a small op, which he said he could do for me. He is a spine specialist.

My hubby could see immediately on looking at my mri on the screen exactly where my problems lay. To me, I find it difficult to understand them, so it was good he was with me. I most definitely would not have gone to this appointment on my own. I have been told, that after the op any damage that has already been done ie my walking, pins and needles/numbness mainly in hands etc may be permanent, may get a little better or the surgeon and I may be very surprised with the vast improvement .

So the operation will prevent my symptoms getting any worse, but may well not change what has happened in the past few weeks to my general being.

Sometimes my walking is worse than others and thank goodness has only happened twice where I have hardly been able to lift my left foot to take the next step. My family did notice then that I was struggling. That was immensely scary. I do not think others notice it, only that I am walking slowly perhaps, but I feel rather unsteady at times and this is not at all pleasant. I have to think about walking when outside which was not the case before.

So I now wait for a copy letter that will be sent to my gp and hopefully in the letter will find out what it is called that I am suffering from and what the op is actually called.

I was told the post op recovery is fairly long. I shall have to wear a collar for the first three months. Oh joy.

Dear Julie, I am so sorry that you are going through similar. I definitely remember that your daughter getting married earlier on in the year and the photos of you and them were so lovely. As you postponed the op, which you had to really, didn’t you, I do pray that you do not have to wait too long for a date. You and me in this together then? We shall most definitely be sharing notes, won’t we? At least I do not feel totally alone as if I am the only person in the whole wide world having this done – which of course is nonsense because these surgeons must be doing these ops all the time.

Any ops on the spine are especially frightening and ones mind races ahead as to what may be the outcome if something goes wrong. I shed a few tears at the appointment, another good reason to have someone else with you, and the consultant said he was sorry with the news he was bringing me. He put both hands on his wooden desk and said so far all the ops he had performed had gone the way they should and he hoped they always will. Naturally one has to be informed of the negative things that could possibly happen.

Thank you very much to those that have pm’d me. I shall read and reply soon.

You have all been so kind to me and now I am welling up again. Silly mare that I am!!

Thank you for taking me under your wings, it is so appreciated, more than you will even know.

Love to you all,
Elna x

elnafinn

ps

The surgeon told me that although I would not be aware, during the operation my head would be in a "cage" with bolts to my scalp so I may notice a few marks on the sides of my head, post op but they would go. I suppose this makes sense as the head has to stay perfectly still throughout the operation. I wonder if you were told that too, Julie....

I have to get to the dentist this afternoon, a 6 month check up, so hope I get there and back ok. It is not too long a walk.

Love
Elna x