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Had 3 Fusions Anterior Discetomy. Cannot Swallow Food. CAT Scan Showed Incoproation Of The Inervertbral Graft At The Endplates. Cure?

Posted on Thu, 1 Aug 2013

Question: hi i had a 3 fusions anterior discetomy 5 mths ago i can't swallow food... liquid comes up my nose if i drink to fast... now i can hear my self breathe out of my right ear.. i am still in pain my voice sounds so horase.... i had a barrium swllow showed the hardware was pressing on the espohgus... the cat scan showed incoproation of the inervertbral graft at the endplates and mininal posterior spondylitic ahnge on on c6-c7 the doc is reommneding surgery to remove the cage and screws he said the reason thisi shappening is casue i am to skinny

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (4 hours later)

Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
It is unfortunate that the hardware is pressing against the esophagus (food pipe). However, since this is producing symptoms, it is better to remove it by an operation. This would relieve you of dysphagia (swallowing difficulty and regurgitation of liquids through nose) and dysarthria (hoarse voice).
I hope it helps. Please get back if you have any more queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (11 hours later)

I have had the ent go in and there is no lessions or anythign else i came clear from all that
all my reports are showing it is the hardware and the i also have numbness on the back between te shoulder blades and very bad headaches the pain between the should blades is bad . will removing the hardware release and allow me to swalllow food

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (12 minutes later)

Thank you for getting back.

Removing the hardware would enable you to swallow food better.
Numbness and pain may improve, but would take a bit longer to get better.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (4 minutes later)

the voice box will my voice come back ? will i stop feeling like i am choking.....
since the hardware is on the esphogus will it casue permanent damage since it has been 5 mths

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

Thank you for getting back.

Your voice would also come back and you would not choke.
There is very little chance of permanent damage of esophagus, even though it has been there for five months, as the compression is partial and not complete.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

I am a little scared to get the hardware removed so fast after having it put in. but I also cant handle the pain and not eatting and choking and the ear breatheing........
my doc said i was to skinny this is why it happened then it was scar tissue...
the ENT doc said the hardware.
Am i tottally fused at this point? what is the pros and cons of me getting this remocved

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (3 minutes later)

Thank you for getting back.

I can understand your concern, especially the morbidity that goes with a second surgery.
The choice would actually depend on how much problems you are facing, in terms of speech and swallowing difficulties, and the pain.
If you are in discomfort, then it may be better to go for removal of the hardware. However, if you can manage them, then, you can wait.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

well 5 mths with no food just liguids and the migranes which i never had before,, also not a pretty site when you drink and the fluid comes out your nose....... my right ear now i hear my self breathe,,, so i think i am casuing more damage by leaving it in,,
i also am gettting pain and numbeness in between my shoulder blades and my arms

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (3 minutes later)

I can understand your difficulties. In this situation, it may better to go for the removal, so, that your quality of life improves. It really is difficult to manage these problems, especially if they are going to remain for long.

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

what are the pros and con's of getting the hardware removed.... will my neck be weak? , i didnt have any accident the discs just were gone.... the doc said that the neck 2 left in my neck that ic oucld happen too

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (9 minutes later)

Generally, there would not be any problems after hardware removal.

In some cases, especially after accidents or in old age, if the bones are weak or not properly aligned, then, hardware is important in maintaining the curvature and stability of spine.
In your case, especially without any history of trauma and relatively younger age, I do not foresee any problem with hardware removal.

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (7 minutes later)

I understand that and thank yoiu on my age. how long would this surgery take? do i need to wear that awful brace?
will i be able to do a normal life, i am scared about the removal as you can seee

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (5 minutes later)

This is much simpler than your previous surgery. In usual cases, the surgery does not last more than an hour. If everything goes well, you may not have to wear the brace too.
You would be able to resume your normal life soon.
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (16 minutes later)

question ,,, how long after the surgery will i stop the choking ? be able to eat. when will the breathing in my ear stop. I am requesting the ENT doc to be in the surgery since my voical cords and esphogus are involved. they sad i have clafication on my vocal cords now can they repair that . will the headaches stop i never ever had headaches prior to this surgery they start at the nap of my neck and go to my eyes.......
i also was told in the x XXXXXXX that there was lots of inflamtion between the spine and the espogaus. what is that

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (3 minutes later)

It may take a few weeks (4-6 weeks) for you to note reasonable improvement in symptoms. However, partial improvement would be noted in a few days after surgery. I agree with you that it is better for ENT to be there during the surgery. Headaches would stop after surgery.
Inflammation could be due to the hardware (also called as foreign body inflammation) or due to infection. Both the conditions can be treated.

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

Where are yu located, i would love for you to do this surgery

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (4 minutes later)

I am located in India (Hyderabad). We work at Apollo Hospitals, which is the largest hospital chain in India, with about 10,000 beds across India and neighboring countries. Thank you for your wishes and compliments! Our team would be pleased to do surgery for you!

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (33 minutes later)

I would serioulsy consider coming to you ... i would have to check my insurances,, ,, it is hard to trust a doc who blamed this on scar tissue and then me being skinny i have lost 28 lbs and i am only 5.3at 110lb right now..... i dont think my being skinny or scar tissue is the issue,, i lost trust for him

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (38 minutes later)

I only hope and pray that you come back to your normal life soon, and be able to enjoy the life again!

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (21 hours later)

isthe hardware is protruding into the lateral groove between the trachea and the esophagus, it can compress over the lower craial nerves ?????.
how do i know if there is any surgically induced damage to the nerves,

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (10 minutes later)

Thank you for getting back.

If possible, please upload the report of the scans and other investigations.

The vagus and glossopharyndeal nerves, especially their branches, can be compressed at lower levels. However, in your case, it could be the mechanical compression of the muscles, and not the nerves.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

Do you have the 2 reports i gave Barrium swallow and the Cat scan I am awaiting the others

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (3 minutes later)

Those two reports are not uploaded here now, you can upload them here. In case of any difficulties, please contact XXXXXXX they would help you upload them. Then, these reports would stay here always.

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

U just up loaded them now

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (26 minutes later)

Thank you for uploading both the reports.
I have gone through them.

Based ton these, there is no evidence of damage to any nerves.
Barium swallow shows the compression of the esophagus in the neck region, which can explain the swallowing difficulty.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

I am talking about getting the hardware removed, due to the fact i choked all day and the liquid going thru my nose at times... Also i dont know why i hear my self thru my ear when i breathe,,,,, will this make it better,,, what could be the worse thing that happens

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (5 minutes later)

Thank you for getting back.

Your symptoms of choking, regurgitation of liquids through nose, etc would improve after hardware removal.
However, ensure that ENT has examined you in detail, and there are no local problems in the throat (pharynx, larynx, sinuses, etc).
Also, an MRI covering the lower brain stem (from where the cranial nerves for swallowing and speech arises) and cervical spine should be done prior to surgery.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (29 minutes later)

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM SO FUSTRATED 5 MTHS NOT EATING WEIGHT LOSE AND I AM SO EMOITIONAL THAT MY DOC DONT SEEM TO REALLY CARE... I CAN NOT FIND ANOTHER DOC WHO WILL FIX THIS NOW CAUSE THEY SAID I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF REVOERY ... I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 minutes later)

I can understand your discomforts and it is not easy to live with them.
I sincerely hope and pray that you would be back to your normal life and very soon!
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj