Wife had post-op two level ADR done on 27th October 2011

[wcn7880]

Hi,

Wife has been suffering from neck pain from the longest time. Seen orthopaedic and op done.

Diagnosis:

Right sided disc prolapse C4/5 and C5/6 cervical spondylosis - worsening right sided radiculopathy

Operation:

27th Oct 2011, two level ADR, anterior approach.

Complication:

dural tear during the procedure. (she has been gettting headache which is relieved by drinking water. surgeon advised wait/see dural tear will seal up, repeat MRI noted small CSF leak with asymmetrical fluid pooling seen in the C4-5 left foraminal region)


Post-op:

right sided symptoms seem to be getting better, but funny thing is she is getting left sided radiculopathy, a/w burning sensation of the left shoulder blade. If she doesnt move a lot, left arm pain is still bearable, but shoulder pain still present. If she starts utilising left arm, she will get sharp shooting sensation down the left arm. Even carrying a less than 1 kg plastic bag will bring out the symptoms. neck pain is still ongoing especially when looking up and down, and especially stiff now after the op. Neck xray was done 1 week post-op and did not show any migration of the artificial discs.


Would like to know what is going on. How come after op she started getting new problems? Anyone experienced with dural tear?


Thanks everyone!

[rhatzy]

I think most people have diffrent symptoms after surgery because of muscles compensating fo weakness on other side. I know I had more pain and different pains after my double lumbar ADR, but it eventually worked itself out.

[wcn7880]

Hi Rhatzy,


thanx for the reply. I hope its part of the process but the dura mater tear is making the situation worse. Right now the surgeon can only advise wait/see, to let the tear seal up by itself.