Hello I am pretty new here so please if anyone can help me with some questions I have it would take a load off my shoulders .

I had a l/3l/4 laminectomy back in may of 08 by an ortho, 2 days after I got home I began leaking out spinal fluid by the hand towel full so back to the er I went, they stablized me and ortho had to reopen and fix tear in spinal cord. I have been going down hill since. I went to a neuro whom did a bunch of different tests because my neck shoulder arms and hands was getting worse also, I can barely walk for any distance because of pain and my walk is very wobbly. He ordered a spect nuclear test a new mri and an xray of my spine flexing forward and backward.

When I saw him last he told me I had severe calcification of my c-spine which is probably heredity, and that I had so much scaring in my lower lumbar he called it Failed back syndrome or post-laminectomy syndrome. He also told me I can't work anymore and my symptoms have been getting worse these past few weeks. I swear it hurts to stand in the tube to take a shower in the am.

I have look into these ailments and cannot figure out how and why this happened and what do I have to look forward in the future. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Nipper

Keywords: Failed back syndrome - post-laminectomy syndrome

nipper

welcome aboard

v sorry to read about your troubles;

I really don't know if this will help but I do have experience of laminectomy at c3/4 and 6, following degenerative changes and narrowing of the canal. [i'm 62].

my symptoms, when they really hit, were a very rapid loss of use of hands and legs...no pain at that point.

Following the surgery in april 08 I can

-walk, but have diminished sensation and moderate spasticity from my midriff downwards

-use my hands, but have a lot of pain from my elbows downwards.

What is not clear from your post is how far the medics associate your current symptoms with the problems at L and/or C levels.

my experience of laminectomy has clearly been happier than yours, and if you do need further work, at c level, it could possibly keep you walking, as it has me.

But it isn't a soft option, and you seem to need much clearer advice from the medics on what is going on.

Good Luck

Bob

Hi Nipper, welcome aboard. I had a laminectomy a year ago and it didn't do me much good. My walking is awful although my hands are much better. I honestly can't comment on your situation I'm afraid but I can certainly empathise with your situation since I don't know where I'm going to end up myself.

Thanks Bob for your info, to clear up my cpine issues after I had the laminectomy and start pt then was dimissed from my ortho that he had nothing else that could help. My new dr. Neuro surgeon while checking on my lumbar wanted to see what was giving me all the pain in my neckrms and shoulder and hand tremors. Turned outI have what is called severe calcification of the C-spin 1-7 now i saw the xray and it looked like a huge dence mass going down my cspine. There is no way he can operate without me loosing some motion or become perm paralized so I opted for the pain on that one.

My only concern is what happens down the road, i am only 47 and already disabled, Ive been married for 27 yrs to my high school sweety, he has been taking care of me and the household chores and even now cooks. Have you or anyone have heard of these 2 terms calification on the spine or post laminectomy syndrome? Thank you for your reply.

Nipper

Hoanui,

Thank you for your reply, sorry to hear about your legs I have the same problem, when they did your laminectomy did you have any complications? I really wish someone can tell me why I am in so much pain all day every day. I went to pm dr today and they want to put a spinal stimulator trial first then if all goes well inplant one, have you are anyone out there have had one and does it really reduce your pain 50%.

Thanks for your thoughts,
Nipper

I had a laminectomy on my upper spine this past year. I am a C7-C8 quad/tetraplegic. I started losing feeling in my hands and shoulders and became very weak. I went to my regular doctor, who referred me to a neurologist. He did a physical exam and ordered an EMG. The results of that, after being shocked to hell (literally), were pointing to a cyst in my spinal cord blocking all nerve sensations, etc. They ordered an MRI of my neck which revealed a HUGE cyst in my spinal cord. I had a cyst from the base of my brain to about C6. I was sent to a world-renowned neurosurgeon who basically told me I probably had this cyst my whole life and it just started growing. The spinal cord was stretched to the max pinching nerves off, causing my issues. The surgeon gave me two options...do the surgery...or not. Both had huge risks because of the circumstances of where the cyst was located. I opted for surgery to have a shunt put in place, and it turned out great. The risk of cutting through the spinal cord and putting it was worth it for the outcomes. In the recovery room I could feel things I haven't felt in years. An MRI as of December showed a dramatic difference in the cyst. I am happy I did this and has made a world of difference. Get a good surgeon, is all I can say!

I'm really sorry to hear of all your troubles. There are several surgeries I have been contemplating including the lumbar laminectomy, but I know of the likelihood for the failed back surgery syndrome and don't want to put myself through an operation that will end up making me less functional and in more pain. I am fairly dead set against any neck operations at this point since things are bad up there throughout the entire region including bone spur issues (like the calcification that you described?) and the tremors too (which I guess are from the compression on the spinal cord from the disc bulge). I don't know what other options people with our kinds of pervasive spinal disorders have... it's nice to at least find a kindred spirit and share the empathy.

For now, I am managing with a manual chair -- trying to balance the leg/walking issues with the need to not overdo the upper body activity. I have noticed a big increase in muscle development around my neck and upper back which is good for supporting my neck (pervasive cervical instability) but can also steer me into muscle spasm, subluxation, nerve root compression cycles... and increase the mechanical and/or inflammatory issues of the disc bulge which send me into the tremor / dexterity loss episodes.

I don't miss walking -- the reduction in lower back pain is enormous with the use of the customized seating of the wheelchair and the positioning that mechanically decompresses the nerve roots implicated in my cauda equina syndrome. But, then I have to be vigilant about not overdoing things with regard to my neck. It's a balance I am still trying to achieve.