A Little Info

So most people assume that I just have a "pinched nerve" when I tell them about my situation. Until you see me in pain I guess is when you would really understand that this isn't just a pinched nerve. I've had to explain over and over what the problem is and realise that most people still won't understand how dangerous of a situation I'm in. It's like two boulders jammed together and resting on a boiled noodle. If too much pressure goes onto the boulders the noodle is separated and I'm paralysed. From the neck down. I now have to be very careful of how and where I walk. I'm nervous to be on the freeway. And though I am calm the possibility of someone else's actions scares me shitless. One shove, one jerk, a push, can be one too rough and result in my discs cutting my spinal chord.

Here's a little info:

What is a cervical disc prolapse?

A cervical disc prolapse is a protrusion of one of the discs in the neck. This protrusion frequently causes pressure on one of the nerves to the arm ("a pinched nerve"). On occasions, a cervical disc prolapse may press against the spinal cord, causing symptoms potentially much more serious than those of a single pinched nerve.

Prolapse of a disc is often referred to as a protruding disc, a herniated disc, a slipped disc, a bulging disc, a ruptured disc or even a collapsed disc. These terms usually refer to the same process.

Cervical disc prolapse is often associated with overgrowth of bone, the latter occurring as part of a degenerative process known as spondylosis. Spondylosis is extremely common. Nearly everyone over 35 years of age develops some degree of spondylosis. Spondylosis can make a disc prolapse more likely to cause pressure on the nervous system, resulting in neurological symptoms. In some cases, pressure on the nerve or spinal cord is caused by a spur of excess bone (an osteophyte), rather than a prolapse of the disc.

What are the symptoms of a cervical disc prolapse or osteophyte?

The most important symptoms are neurological symptoms, meaning those symptoms due to pressure on the nerve(s) in the neck. These symptoms are usually felt in one arm. Pain is often severe, especially in the shoulder and upper arm, and may shoot down the arm to the hand or fingers. Tingling or numbness in one or more of the fingers is very common. Loss of strength is also common, particularly with strength at the elbow. The exact pattern of symptoms depends on which particular nerve is involved.

If the disc prolapse causes pressure on the spinal cord, then symptoms in all four limbs can occur. Rather than causing pain, pressure on the spinal cord causes tingling in the arms or legs (or both), as well as causing impairment of walking due to unsteadiness of gait. Control over bladder and bowel function can also be impaired. Neck pain is a common part of the picture, but is usually not due to the disc prolapse itself. So too is headache a common complaint. However these symptoms are not usually considered to be caused by pressure on any one particular nerve.

What is actually done in the operation?

An incision over the front of the neck is made just to the right side, often running in a skin crease. It usually heals to a fine line quite quickly. The wound is on the right even if the symptoms are on the left. The surgery is performed between the throat and the blood vessels of the neck. The correct level is identified with an x-ray taken during the surgery, then the procedure is performed.

The details vary depending on the particular problem, but generally the disc is completely removed, along with some bone from the vertebrae on either side of the disc. This is rather like removing the mortar between two bricks, and then trimming a little of the brick on either side of the gap. This gives space for the surgeon to remove the offending particle of prolapsed disc or to trim away the osteophyte as the case may be. In either case the object of the exercise is to relieve pressure on the nerve or the spinal cord, depending on the symptoms and the results of preoperative investigations.

Once the decompression is complete, the gap left by removing the disc is filled (implanted) with the disc replacement device (also known as a "prosthesis"). The device and the final appearance on an x-ray look like this:

In my process the discs are going to be completely removed and replaced with 2 prosthesis along with a stem between the two. More info can be found here.

I'm ready to get this done though. It's starting to affect me more than I want. Sigh!!