Cervical arthritis

FWIW: I work for a personal injury attorney and over the years I have know many many people, including one of the attorneys in the office, who have had neck surgery for osteophytes and/or bulging discs. They almost all have had excellent outcomes and were glad they had the surgery. (I can only think of one person who said she didn't feel the surgery helped much.)

I am not saying this to try to convince you to have a surgery you don't want. Only you can make that decision, but rather, I just wanted to give you some anecdotal data to help you make an informed decision.

Surgery is scary, and shouldn't be taken lightly, but it also isn't the worst thing in the world, and can really help, if you are want it.

It is certainly good to hear of other experiences for sure. I have not actually seen my doctor as of yet, his nurse was the one who suggested that surgery would likely need to eventually happen. I want to know how bad the impingement actually is, and what are the odds of it getting worse.

Will things calm down and allow me to return to my normal activities, or is there real danger of causing myself permanent harm? These questions will need to be addressed in some way or another...and my budget doesn't really allow for a lot of extra medical stuff in the foreseeable future so I have to be prudent and as cost-effective as I can be. Like everyone else, I am sure, we have much higher co-pays and deductibles than we once did and then there is something called "co-insurance" that is different from the deductible. I don't pretend to understand the difference but it is time to figure that out :rolleyes:

Generally speaking, a deductible is what you have to pay--usually annually--before any insurance will kick in. After you've met your deductible, you may still be responsible for "co-insurance." That's usually stated in the form of a percentage, e.g., insurance covers 80%, while you cover 20%. Co-pays are similar, but are often stated in the form of an actual dollar figure and apply to routine procedures. For instance, you might pay $20 for every doctor's office visit.

If you've already met this year's deductible, I would squeeze in as much as you can (without rushing your decision-making) in terms of sorting out your cervical spine issues. I'm not going to encourage you to rush surgery, but if it is inevitable and multiple doctors agree, then you might try your best to get treated before the end of the year. Otherwise, you'll have to meet your deductible next year before any insurance kicks in.

Please know that I'll be thinking of you throughout this. Let me know if I can help in some way.

IndySteel, thank you. I've been trying to figure that out since our insurance changed. We do have a "maximum" for co-insurance. I do think I've met my deductible for this year...thanks to the dog bite :rolleyes:

I will mull all of this over before I see my doctor Wednesday. Of course I can't use any of my 2012 medical flexible spending allowance on things from December 2011, so that is also worth considering. I wish things didn't have to be so complicated. Of course, when I figured my flexible spending for next year I was thinking new glasses, not surgery...

When is your open season for your medical spending account If it hasn't passed, perhaps you can increase it. Our open season is currently running.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

When is your open season for your medical spending account If it hasn't passed, perhaps you can increase it. Our open season is currently running.

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Sadly it ended in early November...

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Sadly it ended in early November...

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Well, pewp. :(

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Like everyone else, I am sure, we have much higher co-pays and deductibles than we once did and then there is something called "co-insurance" that is different from the deductible. I don't pretend to understand the difference but it is time to figure that out :rolleyes:

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What you should also check is your maximum out of pocket. Most insurance limits the amount that you will have to pay in a year for all medical costs other than premiums, including the deductible and your "co-insurance." For example, my deductible is $5000. Insurance covers in network 80% and I pay 20%. But, my maximum out of pocket is $7500 so no matter what I am not out more than that amount. (There is a higher maximum out of pocket if I go out of network, but most everything is in network for me).

Thanks for all of the information, and thankfully my max. out of pocket is "only" $2,500... Of course it would help if I actually HAD that, but that is another matter.

I guess what I need to find out, sooner rather than later, the real odds of the nerve impingement causing real damage. Frankly I can deal with numbness/tingling in my right arm - I've dealt with that for years - indeed I've never given it a second thought (though it has worsened since the whiplash). I can deal with muscle spasms. My pain level isn't THAT bad that I can't adjust to it. It helps being a stubborn old bird. What matters is the odds of permanent nerve damage from the "bony protrusion".

I do appreciate all of the advice, and I will report what the doctor says Wednesday. His nurse was obviously uncomfortable telling me all of that over the phone and what she said may have been reflecting that as much as what she was reading to me.

Okay, I know this is stoopid, but my first thought was: how in the world can you get arthritis down there?? :rolleyes::p:eek:

Catrin, hope everything turns out well for you, I'm so sorry that you are having this trouble!

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Originally Posted by AppleTree

Okay, I know this is stoopid, but my first thought was: how in the world can you get arthritis down there?? :rolleyes::p:eek:

Catrin, hope everything turns out well for you, I'm so sorry that you are having this trouble!

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LOL, not stupid at all. That was my first thought as well :o :eek: :) I should have given this thread the title "Cervical Spine Arthritis"

This is a wonderful thread. My cervical disc issue has worsened, with heavy, weak arms being my most prominent symptom. It's not constant but I went to PT last week and am starting some exercises. I too am scared. I had an L5S1 directory 9 years ago and recovery was slow. No problems today but I certainly do not want to rush into surgery. The doctors here in AZ are horrible so getting a good opinion will be tough.

I am curious what exercises you were given. He only gave me a side to side neck stretch to do, that's all...

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Originally Posted by itself

This is a wonderful thread. My cervical disc issue has worsened, with heavy, weak arms being my most prominent symptom. It's not constant but I went to PT last week and am starting some exercises. I too am scared. I had an L5S1 directory 9 years ago and recovery was slow. No problems today but I certainly do not want to rush into surgery. The doctors here in AZ are horrible so getting a good opinion will be tough.

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Sorry to hear about your AZ doctors experience. I'm in Tucson & have an excellent orthpaedic spine surgeon - PM me if you want his name. He did my C4-c-6 about 8 years ago.

Now, the disks under the fusion are garbage and my last MRI said "advanced arthritis with stenosis" - that's why my arm is numb again. So, if you're prone to arthritis (I am - inherited - thanks Grandma!) it may just travel down. I'm doing acupuncture next week because I don't want to do injections or surgery. Have not done acupuncture yet so we'll see...

So fusion vs disc replacement? There seems to be those choices.

I had a herniated disc in February and March of this year, and I had a conservative surgery where the herniated parts of the disc were removed, but the rest of the disc was left in place. Prior to that, I was under the care of a chiropractor (she's the one who sent me who ordered the MRI and sent me to the neurosurgeon) who tried spinal decompression to alleviate the problem. Since I knew we were dealing with something nasty, I got a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon, who agreed with what the chiropractor was doing (no manual adjustments, but the spinal decompression was fine). The spinal decompression alleviated the pain significantly, but my disc was too messed up to be corrected without surgery - the MRI showed a 9 mm disc protrusion and the neurosurgeon said he took out multiple fragments. The pain was gone, but my arm was still weak and I still had persistent numbness in my index finger.

My husband was having issues with some arm weakness, and this chiropractor was able to correct the problem with the spinal decompression. It might be something you can look into as a last resort prior to surgery.

The advice that I was given in several places was to avoid hardware (plates and screws) if at all possible, if a fusion is recommended.