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Re: Disc herniation (cervical C5/C6) [callofthewild] [ In reply to ]
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In February '17 bulged disk between C6-7. Left arm tingling, maybe 1/3 strength. did swim and run (run was a pain, but not terrible), Bike was impossible. Tried PT, no help. He said you need a MRI and see what that says. I posted my issue here and had a few excellent responses (even looked at my MRI) from Neurosurgeons. They both said you'll end up w/a fusion. And, I'll like it.

Couldn't get an appointment for months locally (Sacramento), got one in less than a week in the Bay Area. My doc said to go w/the Mobi C (aka artificial disc).

Next day my arm was back to 90% (no shit). I felt great. A life saver. I even got my first KQ in August that year. Considering I thought I was basically done with life. Even sleeping was a bitch.

Most days now. I COMPLETLY forgot I had the procedure.

best of luck.

I saw this on a white board in a window box at my daughters middle school...
List of what life owes you:
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
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Re: Disc herniation (cervical C5/C6) [callofthewild] [ In reply to ]
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Last summer I had shoulder/trap pain that turned out to be a herniated C6-7 disc that eventually led to referral pain down my forearm (pinched nerve). Lost a lot of muscle on my left side as a result. I tried PT for 3 months. It would get slightly better and then worse again. Finally got so bad I couldn't stand the pain. Saw an Ortho Spine Surgeon (2 actually) and elected to get a disc replacement (not a fusion). That was on October 15, 2018. I was pain free the night of the surgery and have been working to build back my strength on that left side ever since. I am back to doing everything I normally did beforehand.

Had a titanium Medtronic disc inserted to replace the bad one The surgeon who did it invented the disc so I felt pretty good about my choice.

https://www.medtronic.com/...isc-replacement.html
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Re: Disc herniation (cervical C5/C6) [sorr] [ In reply to ]
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sorr wrote:
patsc wrote:
Sorr how are you doing now with your Mobi-C replacement now that it has been a little over a year since the procedure? Has it inhibited your ability to train and compete?


Everything with the neck is awesome, thanks for asking. I have more mobility than I've had in years. Besides for not being in pain and having full mobility in my neck I do not know anything happened. The aero position is more comfortable and my head position and rotation while swimming has improved, is more comfortable, and my breathing has improved. I hope I never need another procedure but if I do I'd do this one again in a heart beat. It has been nothing but positive. Norsedude contacted me about the mobi-c and had the procedure too. I think all went well with him, hope he chimes in too. If you are in the need I would not hesitate. Good luck.

How is it now going on eight years?

Currently I'm in the middle of dealing with cervical disc herniation that started back in early December, resolved on its own, and returned beginning of March. I went to an ortho spine specialist and got x-rays that showed a slightly narrowed C6/7 disc, but otherwise nothing noteworthy except my neck being totally straight because it hurt to hold my head level. I've had an MRI now and get to go over it with the doc in a few days who sent me an excerpt from the radiology report that says my C6/7 has a foraminal and lateral protrusion severely impinging the right C7 nerve root. To make it better, C5/6 is bulging out the right side and C7/T1 has a left protrusion that is fortunately asymptomatic at this point. My next two options at this point are epidural steroid injections or PT. I'm leaning toward the epidural because it seems like it will be more effective for the recovery time and money invested. I expect to get steered toward PT first though.

oceanswimmer wrote:
As was stated, the long-term recovery is about the same surgery or no surgery.

That's what my research has been turning up too.
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Re: Disc herniation (cervical C5/C6) [Agent Orange] [ In reply to ]
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Wow, weird coincidence to see such an old thread on this subject pop up today, as I just posted a new thread (my 1st post on this very day) of my experience on this subject here:

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Cervical_disc_ACDF_c6/c7_and_artificial_disc_c5/c6_P7722431/

I also had severe foraminal impingement and both C6 and C7. Over a 19 month period I tried everything I could, including 3 rounds of epidurals [combination steroid and nerve root block] which did very little if anything. What I found is that for every new thing I’d try there’d end up being a roughly 3 month wait to see if anything changed. So once I had my first MRI, start PT, well there goes 3-4 months, then a epidural, 3 more months to see if that worked, second epidural more waiting, lifestyle changes [2 months off the bike in my case], more waiting…. that’s how 19 or so sad months went past - and just waiting for a change became an even bigger mental challenge for me.

Eventually I had enough of waiting, I was gradually losing my sanity, the problem had also spread to my elbow because my forearm muscles were slowly shrinking too.

So, I’ve recently had surgery on those 2 levels about 5 weeks ago. I am still hopeful for significant improvements in my symptoms, but nothing has changed much yet - I was hopeful that the constant burning in my trap would at least turn down a bit! I’m told that surgery to fix foraminal narrowing can inflame the nerve root for a number of weeks/months and also that a compressed nerve is a bit like a shaggy carpet that has had a heavy couch leg left on it. If it’s only been there a few days, the carpet springs back quickly without any evidence of being squashed. But, the longer the couch has been pressing on the carpet, the longer it may take to spring back to it’s original form, if ever.
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