7 weeks post-op posterior cervical spine surgery

I am 4 weeks post op for fusion of c5 and c6 . I am in terrible pain and its all in my left shoulder. Worse then before I had surgery. Is this normal? Not due to see doctor till end of aug but I don't think I can take it that long!

I must be the luckiest person on earth to have c4 c5 c6 repair.Had bone grafts and titanium plate installed o 11-18-2013. Went home the next day, pain pills stopped on day 4 could of did it on day 3. My misery stopped the moment I woke from surgury. A few twinges now and then but I fell very lucky. Swallowing needs extra fluid but is better already. Will see what happens over time. A soft collar is all I wear. I had agreat Neurologist. My restrictions were to take it easy and do alot of walking, climbstairs (slowly) when steady on my feet which was first day. I'm already wanting to do more...... I feel better than I thought I would. They say I am the perfect healing patient at this time! It's been less than 2 weeks. 11-30-2013

I had posterier and antier surgery in August and I am having such horrific muscle pain in my neck and back and shoulders I am so depressed with life right now I need answers. Anybody out there that can tell me this too she pass?

It depends on what the neuro tells you. Keep in mind cervical spine surgery is not taken lightly. If you have been told you need it, it's most likely to reduce pressure from your spinal chord to prevent further nerve damage and paralysation. I had a double ACDF in Feb. 2013. I sill have all my old symptoms and a few new ones but I new that was a possibility going in. I'm frustrated, tired, taking lots of drugs etc. etc. My surgeon was great. He keeps reminding me of how bad it was and that surgery was a must. It would have been nice to have a super happy ending but I guess it's beats the alternative. I'm to the point that I am about to stop trying to find a cure and just find a way to live with this. I'm going for nerve blockers tomorrow morning so I will wait and see what that brings. FYI, the surgery itself was not bad. I was walking around that night. The first week was the hardest. I would do it all over again if I thought it would cure my symptoms lol. I try whatever I can because the thought of accepting this kills me. I can't use my right hand and arm so I can't work.

I can't believe all the post op problems I'm reading. I had cervical spine discectomy and fusion at level c6-7 on Dec 13 2013 and had no use of my right arm at all before surgery because of the pain from pinched nerve. When I woke up I had no pain at all except a sore throat and the incision site. I was told to go home and continue normal activities but not to lift anything heavier than a jug of milk and follow the proper postural guidelines. I started walking within 2 days for 30 minutes and within 3 weeks was up to twice per day 40 minute walks. At my 6 week post op consult was told I could go back to work within 2-4 weeks and lift up to 50 pounds. I'm now at 8 weeks and have been doing physical therapy plus in the gym 5 days per week. Not lifting real heavy or anything. Only lifting weights which allow me to do at least 20 very strict repititions but no lifting over head. I'm also doing 100 flights of stairs on the stairmaster 5 days per week in 20 minutes. I still have no pain I still have no pain at all except a slight burning sensation at the surgery sight which my surgeon says will go away as I get in better shape and my body becomes used to working again. He claims doingt nothing is the worst thing you can do. I have also been taking Bell Nutritionl Stem Cell Activator and I believe this has really helped my recovery. I also take a number of other supplements and herbs to promote healing. Doing the drugs they tell you to take only hinderers healing. You need to get your body into an alkaline state to promote healing. All drugs are acid. I only took thew pain meds for 2 weeks and then started taking Bell Nutritional pain and inflammatory supplement which did the trick once it kicked but then again I had virtually no pain. Don't mask the pain with meds you will just hurt yourself when you go to try and do something because they allow you to do things you may not do if you weren't on them. No this is not a promotion for Bell Nutritional Products but I do swear by them. Even my physio therapist is amazed at my recovery. I got medical clearance today 8 weeks post op to return to work no restrictions. I'm a cook in a remote camp and work 10 -12 hour shifts per day and am lifting something most of the time although very rarely anything over 20 pounds but on occasion 2-3 times per day will have to lift up toi 50 pounds. My surgeon also says that many anterior spinal fusions never fuse but as long as the spacer is in correctly there should be no problems. I did forget to mention that after discussing my options with my surgeon I opted not to use bone grafting or the bone bank I opted for a porous titanium spacer. There are just to many problems with using bone grafting or the bone bank. They have a high rate of non fusion and when you use bone it must fuse or the surgery will not be a success from what I understand. You never know how healthy the bone is you are going to be using and if you use your own bone and had any type of disc degeneration I would question why you would want to use any bone from your body as it may not be in the best health. Any way good luck to all.

Hi, I have had 3 anterior cervical fusion and 1 posterior fusion. The anterior surgeries are ALOT easier to recover from. Usually after about 7 to 9 weeks you feel great. Still take it easy not to hurt you neck for a while because the harwear in your neck CAN break!

I am 7 weeks from surgery have been doing ok.  Went back to work at the 2 week mark but on light duty since I work in a correctional facility.  have not been in to much pain since about 5 weeks it comes and goes with how much i do that day.  i had my 6 week xrays taken and the hardware looks good but not showing signs of fusion have my next appt. in 5 weeks from now just litte worried that it is not going to to heal and have to have a 2nd surgery i just can not stay at home that long i will go crazy. 

My surgery went fine as far as I have been told. Mine was 1/14/2014 on my neck . I had 2 fusions and a plate placed on the anterior side. Due to swelling or they nicked my nerve while they were in there. IDK , but I could not use my left arm at all on the second day after. I can use it a lot more now. It has improved. My Emg showed nerves 2,3, problems and nerve # 7 is dead. I don't know what's next. 2,3 can heal 12 to 18 months. I don't want to wait to see . I'm inquiring them to test it with dye or something . Maybe they can free it if it's being compressed somewhere.

There are several different devices that a Neurosurgeon can use to stabilize your neck (horse shoe, C-clamp etc) You appear to have had on of these devives atttached. The C- clamp uses pins that are attached on both sides and are embedded into you skull.

Hope this helped.

Why could you not sit in chair

Hi my name is mickie I have neck surgery c5 and C6 &c7 going on 8weeks my problem is my swallowing it's still hurts and hard to eat did you go through that also and how long did it take you to eat normal I be hungry most time but hard to eat certain food

How are you doing and what did you decide to do?

My neurosurgeon plans to perform OPLL surgery, along with fusion. X-ray, MRI, and CT all reveal severe cord compression at C3/C4, moderate the rest of the way to C7. The laminectomy will be performed from C3-C7. Fusion will occur from C3-C5. The surgeon explained that I would be in the hospital for 3 days, after which, I will be an outpatient (still remaining at the hospital, though), for about another 20 days for rehab. Is this correct? 20 days in the hospital for rehab? Anyone go through this and, if so, please share your experience regarding the length of your hospital stay and rehabilitation. By the way, I've never been symptomatic! Since 2009, I have been experiencing a burning sensation to a couple of toes and of the top of my right foot. Over the years, the burning became a buzzing sensation with muscle fasiculations that never seem to occur while I was being examined by any doctor (of course!). Finally, one neurologist thought to image my neck. Whoa!!!!!!!! Didn't expect to be told that I was on the verge of paralysis! Fell off of my bike and have a mild radial head fracture. No paralysis followed, though (my doctor claims that all I need is a force to my body to have my cord compressed to the point of becoming paralyzed). This is a BIG decision for me to make. Being symptom free, but seeing the films of all of the imaging, I know that my condition is bad. I just can't wrap my head around having an "elective" surgery when I don't have any symptoms. I just turned 57, by the way. Except for arthritis, I'm pretty healthy and without neck pain. Thank you for sharing your experiences. This site is helpful in learning what can be anticipated with such a scary prospect of this type of surgery

am going through something similar woke up but couldn't scream spent 2 days in hospital and looked forward to going home so I could comfort myself they gave me hard collar to wear every day for 3 months .post op of only day 5 scared bent forward and ringing in ears is back afaraid to go to hospital they didn't help nwith pain like they didn't believe me it was unb earable then only gave me low dose meds and still in unbearable pain have gotten 5 hours of sleep 5 days yeah gotta call today ..

Hi, I had a laminoforamenitomy c6-7.. Post 4-5 weeks... Dr. mentioned light duties, carrying groceries that I believe were not heavy, put them on the table and felt and heard a "rip" and now have a dent at the incision site.. No pain, or significant weird symptoms.. totally normal except for this dent on my neck.. Will this cause a problem for the goal of the surgery which was to decompress the nerve? Normal for patients? Friends are saying that I most likely ripped scar tissue which I agree, but just really freaked me out... comments?