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What Causes Arm Pain After Back Surgery?
Question: I had back surgery 1 week ago to remove a disc.removed disc and inserted bone from a cadaver.i am having the same pain in my right arm after surgery as I had before.any suggestions. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Ideally pain should have improved.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query
I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. You are likely to be having cervical spondylitis as it is common in your age. You got one disc removed and replaced by bone graft. Sometimes pain may remain for few weeks postoperatively. What is kind of pain? I can serve you better by seeing MRI and x rays etc . Glucosamine and mecobalamin is helpful in such conditions. Analgesic such as ibuprofen is helpful in symptomatic relief of pain.
You can discuss with your doctor about it.
Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
Ideally pain should have improved.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query
I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. You are likely to be having cervical spondylitis as it is common in your age. You got one disc removed and replaced by bone graft. Sometimes pain may remain for few weeks postoperatively. What is kind of pain? I can serve you better by seeing MRI and x rays etc . Glucosamine and mecobalamin is helpful in such conditions. Analgesic such as ibuprofen is helpful in symptomatic relief of pain.
You can discuss with your doctor about it.
Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My surgery was a C6-7 disc fusion. Before surgery the pain was increases by being upright in a sitting or standing position. I was told that was because my spine was compressed by the weight of my head which was causing the nerve root to be pinched by the herniated disc. I still have the same pain when I am upright. Is the nerve has been decompressed and that disc space reopened and half in place by the plate and screws why would I still have pain only when I am upright?
I am being told that it is most likely post-op swelling which is why they prescribed more steroids. Does this make sense?
I am being told that it is most likely post-op swelling which is why they prescribed more steroids. Does this make sense?
Brief Answer:
May be due to post operative edema.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
Ideally this pain should have been relieved.But your surgeon is right that it may be due to postoperative edema ( swelling)which will likely to settle within 2 weeks.Same logic is true that when you are upright,head weight apply pressure over tissues pressing the nerve root causing pain. Steroids are prescribed to reduce this edema.Once edema is not there pain should not be there. Mecobalamin is helpful in stabilising the nerves. Antiinflamatory such as ibuprofen also reduce inflammation like steroids.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
XXXX
Wishing you good health
Take care
May be due to post operative edema.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
Ideally this pain should have been relieved.But your surgeon is right that it may be due to postoperative edema ( swelling)which will likely to settle within 2 weeks.Same logic is true that when you are upright,head weight apply pressure over tissues pressing the nerve root causing pain. Steroids are prescribed to reduce this edema.Once edema is not there pain should not be there. Mecobalamin is helpful in stabilising the nerves. Antiinflamatory such as ibuprofen also reduce inflammation like steroids.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
XXXX
Wishing you good health
Take care
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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