Well, just returned from the neurologist. In a nutshell.. had slap repair 3 anchors, front and back capsule shift 2-28-08. During PT on shoulder discovered 4 bulging discs in cervical spine with nerve root entrapment. Now enter the neurologost.. He looked at the films and said you need surgery. No let's see what we can do conservativly, PT, traction.. nothing just surgery. He said the bulging discs are not the problem, but there were 4 bone spurs that were pinching the nerves.. No where in the radiology report did it say anything about bone spurs.. He just seemed a little knife happy. He told me all of the "things" that can go wrong..too many to list.. He said that he was pretty satisfied with himslef, but if he was realy smart he would be at Harvars! He also complained about being "stuck" in the town where he lives.. Not my problem and don't whine to me about it... I don't know what to think other than this guy will never cut on anything attached to me... I will continue the traction, naprosyn, and pain meds as needed... I wonder who to believe anymore.. The radiologist, my OS, the pain specailist or this nut job.. Any suggestions other than therapy!!????

I have attached the actual MRI report

Kelly, are in an HMO???

Wherever you see "narrowing" or "impingment," that is suspect for nerve root involvment. You saw a neurologist or neurosurgeon? Big difference. Did he do EMG, NCV, SEP's? If not, you need them to help discern the levels of involvement. An MRI is an anatomic study, neurodiagnostic studies are physiologic in thier capacity.

Still, there is no reason not to hit traction HARD both in-office and with a home unit. In my opinion, you should be getting traction 3x/week supervised, and 3x/day with a home (supine)unit; not an over-the-door peice of garbage. Do that for at least 1 month while considering the medical procedures below.

You can also do chiropractic but do not get adjusted in the mid and lower cervical region; could aggravate it in my opinion. Medically, if you have not yet tried a Medrol dose pak, do it! Or if it has been several weeks, try anothor along WITH the traction. If all fails, you can get a referal for pain managemnt for selective nerve root blocks of the left C5,6 and 7 nerve roots or perhaps an interlaminar (catheterized) cervical epidural to calm down the roots.

Surgery is great as a last resort, but you're now where near that yet! Besides, you have too many potential levels of involvement and anyone in there right mind would verify which levels would need discectomy/fusion.

Brian

The guy I saw today was a neurologist . I did have an EMG, I am trying to get the results. When I had it done, the 4th and 5th did very little. slight discomfort. The 6th made the machine go crazy and I about jumped off the table. OMG it hurt clear down my arm.. The 7th again slight
discomfort.. I do the traction at home at least 4 to 5 times a day. It is the saunders cervical hometrac unit. It is fantastic. The over the
door method is just trash.. None of my doctors have seen fit to
order PT for the neck. I am working on that.. I was refered to a
pain management doctor. He did the EMG and trigger point injections
but no nerve root blocks or interlaminar (catheterized) cervical
epidural I am not sure what that is.. He didn't do too much more
than refilling my OS prescriptions. I don't even have a follow up
appt with him. I was on Medrol dosepack last 5-30-08.. I did have
the cervical epidural but that turned into a night mare after I was
dropped on the table...I didn't notice too much, but my neck and
back were sore from bering dropped...

I am not even beginning to consider surgery. He explained the
surgery and the whole cutting throught the front on my neck was
total deal breaker...

Thanks for the inforamtion. I will check into the nerve root blocks
or interlaminar (catheterized) cervical epidural

Wishing everyone good health and fast recovery!!

Saunders unit, eh? That's the Cadillac of the home traction units!

Don't bother checking on the interlaminer epidural; sounds like you already had one. Selective nerve root blocks may still be worth while as also another round of Medrol.

If you can stand the discomfort and there is no focal neurological deficit that is worrisome or progressive, you might try to wait it out as studies show that surgical and non-surgical patients both are at the same place 1 yr out.

I had a C5-6 fusion in January, just before the SLAP repair, as I was having progressive atrophy and weakness (which I think contributed to the shoulder problem)and the cervical surgery was not that big of a deal, especially compared to the SLAP repair!

Brian

Wow!
I'm having trouble just keeping up with the terminology in these posts.
But I did want to share something- helpful.

I've seen a lot of Doctors in my life,(for myself, my husband and my children) and the times when I have had a feeling of discomfort, or unease, or unsureness about a Doctor, I have often brushed it off, or told myself that I was being silly, or overly sensitive-after all THEY are the experts RIGHT?

But in restrospect, I realize I could have saved myself and my family a lot of stress, unnecessary treatment, and grief if I had listened to my initial instinct.
That isn't to say that most of those Doctors weren't fine and capable Physicians.

If you don't trust your doctor, or feel uncomfortable, I think it's best to get a second opinon or find another.
Definitly.
You are in too delicate of a situation currently to have the added stress of not being sure of your Doctor.

It would be really great if you could get a referal from a Doctor you know, or someone who has a well known reputation in your specialty of need.

Hoping your get some answers

Brian, I hope you stick around here for a long time, you may be a true God send for many! I sure hope you will find some way to get YOUR life back on track!

Sky