Hi I had a double fusion on C5,C6,C7 two months ago. I feel fine but I'm still very hoase in the throat . It is still hard for me to talk my doctor said it takes up to three months for my voice to come back. Everything else is fine I have no more pain in my arm or my neck. I think I made the right choice but I am still concerned about my voice coming back to normal. I am a smoker but no one said that it would make a difference as from as my throat.
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I had my procedure (c5-c6 discectomy with titanium fusion post herniation) one week ago. I am 38 years old healthy..had intense pain in my upper right arm and numbness for almost 2 years. I had soreness in my throat from intubation and I still have muscle spasms between my shoulder blades. these get less intense as the time passes. I had immediate relief of my symptoms (arm and hand). My throat pain went away after 3 days. I am mainly fighting claustriphobia from my soft collar but otherwise, i would do it again. At its worst with the muscle spasms, I was taking 2 Darvocet and Flexeril when I could. I have now changed to es tylenol and half a flexeril. My throat was closed on the surface with steristrips. I also had anxiety going into the surgery. The first thing I did wen I woke up was move all fours...and they moved...I would do it all over again. I hate the sitting around because Im pretty active.
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hello sherri. glad you are doing fine. i had c5-6done. it was a disk allograph and fusion last year. now i have to go back and get it removed and i have to have anterior cervical fusion of c5 6 7. this is because the disk under the fusion did not hold the weight of the surgery. were you in alot of pain when they did your surgery? hope you are doing better tina.
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Hi All,
IM A YR OLD FEMALE
I had surgery in June of 2006 c-5/c-6, with moderate spinal compression. Im 6 months out and Im in worse pain now than I was before the surgery. Neck, arm, back and leg pain, severe in the arms, muscle spasms of the right arm.
Ive complained constantely to my surgeon about the pain and begged him to do more testing to see what was wrong, but he would not do it. So I went to my regular md and he wants me to get a second opinion, he ordered an mri and I am blown away at the findings. My spinal compression is severe now, I only have 10 percent of my spinal cord that is not compressed. Im so afraid to do anything, because any wrong movement could cause a totally spinal compression. I dont see the doctor for another 10 days and im terrorfied and very upset. Will have to have surgery again to decompress the spinal cord,, and I dread that..
IM A YR OLD FEMALE
I had surgery in June of 2006 c-5/c-6, with moderate spinal compression. Im 6 months out and Im in worse pain now than I was before the surgery. Neck, arm, back and leg pain, severe in the arms, muscle spasms of the right arm.
Ive complained constantely to my surgeon about the pain and begged him to do more testing to see what was wrong, but he would not do it. So I went to my regular md and he wants me to get a second opinion, he ordered an mri and I am blown away at the findings. My spinal compression is severe now, I only have 10 percent of my spinal cord that is not compressed. Im so afraid to do anything, because any wrong movement could cause a totally spinal compression. I dont see the doctor for another 10 days and im terrorfied and very upset. Will have to have surgery again to decompress the spinal cord,, and I dread that..
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Good morning. I am schedule to have C4/C5 Anterior Cervical Discectomy tomorrow in Montgomery, Alabama. I have been somewhat nervous from time to time about this, but after reading through all your posts I actually feel MUCH better. Thank God for Google, eh? Anyway, I will try to post some thoughts, etc., when I am well enough on the road to post-op. Thank you all for your honesty here!
God bless you,
Pastor T.J. Conwell
Edit: Post op -- Day 3.
Well, the stiffness and muscle spasms seem to be getting worse across my shoulder blades, but the doctor says that is all normal. Still lots of congestion being coughed up (which is a good thing), but the throbbing in my neck has really begun in earnest. Yup, NOW it feels like I had surgery back there. Gotta cool picture to share with you though, this is about what my neck looks like now if you took an x-ray of it. To make it look just like mine, simply take off the bottom four screws and there you would have it.
spineuniverse.com/displaygraphic.php/2752/dfig42001-BB.jpg
God bless you,
Pastor T.J. Conwell
Edit: Post op -- Day 3.
Well, the stiffness and muscle spasms seem to be getting worse across my shoulder blades, but the doctor says that is all normal. Still lots of congestion being coughed up (which is a good thing), but the throbbing in my neck has really begun in earnest. Yup, NOW it feels like I had surgery back there. Gotta cool picture to share with you though, this is about what my neck looks like now if you took an x-ray of it. To make it look just like mine, simply take off the bottom four screws and there you would have it.
spineuniverse.com/displaygraphic.php/2752/dfig42001-BB.jpg
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It's now January...I hope you're doing well Pastor T.J. I had an Anterior Cervical Fusion of C 5-6 & C 6-7 with Titanium plate and cadaver discs 1/5/06. They also removed alot of spurs and severe stenosis. I did well the first 2 weeks then started to get muscle spasms with Right sided neck and shoulder pain. I have trouble looking down and sustaining that position. I can only turn my head to the right 35%. It hurts to turn my head at all. It feels like there is limited support on the right side. It is definitely mechanical and the doctors can't seem to give me any answer. I have done PT, accupuncture, deep muscle massage, Lidocaine injections into the muscles, cervical epidural, 2 nerve blocks, chiropractic, steroids and muscle relaxants. I only take Advil and Darvocet at present. I am at a loss as to what the heck is wrong. I used to be so active and worked as a labor and delivery nurse. Now I only go for walks and go to appointments. This can't be my life...Anybody have any ideas as to what to do next? I want to go to someone who can tell me what is wrong. I live in Central Coast Calif. any recommendations on some great doctors from San Francisco to Los Angeles? Thank you
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Hey thanks for the response!! I am doing much better, but like you I also have some issues with mobility in my neck that seems to just be something that I have to deal with. Gone are the days of putting my chin to my chest (although the need seems to have escaped me except to look down when I drop something), but I oh well. My surgeon told me that my days of running are over, and that I could very well do damage to other discs by continuing to run ... which sadly with 3 years to go until I retire from the Air Force, is not really great news.
I have had some issues with moving left to right, but not to the level that you seem to be experiencing. I believe you may want to get a second opinion and possibly another MRI to see what is stopping the movement/healing. If you are having that much of an issue perhaps getting another consult (again by a different doctor) might be the way to go. While the thought of surgery certainly does not appeal to most -- it almost sounds like something was not fully corrected and may need to be relooked at. Although each body heals differently, that is my (layman's) opinion on where you could go next.
I have had some issues with moving left to right, but not to the level that you seem to be experiencing. I believe you may want to get a second opinion and possibly another MRI to see what is stopping the movement/healing. If you are having that much of an issue perhaps getting another consult (again by a different doctor) might be the way to go. While the thought of surgery certainly does not appeal to most -- it almost sounds like something was not fully corrected and may need to be relooked at. Although each body heals differently, that is my (layman's) opinion on where you could go next.
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Hey thanks for the response!! I am doing much better, but like you I also have some issues with mobility in my neck that seems to just be something that I have to deal with. Gone are the days of putting my chin to my chest (although the need seems to have escaped me except to look down when I drop something), but oh well. My surgeon told me that my days of running are over, and that I could very well do damage to other discs by continuing to run ... which sadly with 3 years to go until I retire from the Air Force, is not really great news.
I have had some issues with moving left to right, but not to the level that you seem to be experiencing. I believe you may want to get a second opinion and possibly another MRI to see what is stopping the movement/healing. If you are having that much of an issue perhaps getting another consult (again by a different doctor) might be the way to go. While the thought of surgery certainly does not appeal to most -- it almost sounds like something was not fully corrected and may need to be relooked at. Although each body heals differently, that is my (layman's) opinion on where you could go next.
I have had some issues with moving left to right, but not to the level that you seem to be experiencing. I believe you may want to get a second opinion and possibly another MRI to see what is stopping the movement/healing. If you are having that much of an issue perhaps getting another consult (again by a different doctor) might be the way to go. While the thought of surgery certainly does not appeal to most -- it almost sounds like something was not fully corrected and may need to be relooked at. Although each body heals differently, that is my (layman's) opinion on where you could go next.
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I recently had a cervical discectomy on C5-6 and C6-7 with a donor fusion and have metal rods and screws holding the vertabrae together Jan. 11. I'm only 37 years old and have degenerative bone disease which I found does have a genetic link. My dad and grandmother had back surgery, but both of them it affected their lower (lumbar) spine. The doctor choose the anterior approach since he finds this approach patients to have less complications with post op pain. I am so far doing very well and have been cleared to drive. However, I'm still wearing the hard Aspen collar and soft collar at night which makes driving difficult. I also have a 23 mos old son and your not to lift anything more than a gallon of milk! I still have soreness behind my neck and between my shoulder blades, but the knumbness and tingling down my left arm is gone. I am off all narcotics and take extra strength tylenol every day. There are some days I think of calling to ask for something stronger, but I'm feeling better slowly every day. Walking has been a great excercise for me. However, it has been difficult to restrain myself from lifting my baby and doing everything I enjoy. All in time I hope. All the doctors have told me different lengths of time to wear the collar. One for 4 weeks, one for 6 weeks, and one for 12 weeks so I'm really not sure. I have decided that for me the best thing is to keep it on for 12 weeks as a reminder I can't lift, clean, ect... Nobody wants to go through this again once is enough.
Hope this helped some of you experiencing the same
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Hope this helped some of you experiencing the same
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i had surgery on c4 c5 c6 on 12 jan. it's been a month on monday and that is when my follow up is scheduled for. i called yesterday to have it moved up to today. i had already went back once due to my intense pain and they took tons of xrays and said that everything was okay. i went through about 40 vicodin in a little over 2 weeks. the pain pills are the only thing that will ease the pain. i have sharp stabbing pain across my back from shoulder to shoulder and especially intense in the neck. the pain is so awful that it literally takes my breath. i can't sleep because i hurt so badly..i can't work..even at a desk job..i can't be on my feet more than a few hours without having to be in bed or on the couch for at least 8 hrs. after my outings. has anybody else had this kind of intense pain? my arm pain is back also. pray for me!
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Hi there! I just searched pain after cervical fusion and found this thread. I had anterior cervical fusion of C5-6 on Dec. 5th, but am still in a huge amount of pain. They sucked out the disc (an 8mm by 3mm bulge that was compressing the spinal cord) but I still have pain down the arms, muscle spams between my shoulder blades and in my neck, and I'm miserable. I'm currently taking Aleve, Robaxin (muscle relaxer), Vicodin, and Neurontin (a anti-seizure med that blocks nerve pain). The neurontin makes me very out of it, and I'm a work at home mom to 2 kids, ages 8 and 5. My work is as a seamstress and involves a lot of handwork so I'm very depressed that I cannot work without lots of pain. The past 2 days I've sat in a chair lying on a heating pad w/ a neck roll while my kids were at school.
I have an underlying neuromuscular disease which my doc thinks is affecting my muscles and taking me longer to adjust w/out the collar. I can't get into PT (they're booked) till the 23rd but I want to scream!!! I don't want to live on pain meds and clearly something else is wrong. I don't understand why I'm still having all this pain if the nerves & spinal cord are no longer compressed. The MRI showed a add'l minor non-remarkable bulge in C3-4 and bone spurs, but it was taken in June *just* before we moved into our new house. My pain jumped through the roof after moving and I think maybe I made it worse. I asked the doc for another MRI but he says I'm just out of surgery and he wants to wait. He's the best in the area & well-recommended, but I really feel something is wrong. Everyone else says the radiculopathy stopped post-surgery, but mine hasn't. Anyone have any ideas? I'd be grateful for them=0)
Noelle
I have an underlying neuromuscular disease which my doc thinks is affecting my muscles and taking me longer to adjust w/out the collar. I can't get into PT (they're booked) till the 23rd but I want to scream!!! I don't want to live on pain meds and clearly something else is wrong. I don't understand why I'm still having all this pain if the nerves & spinal cord are no longer compressed. The MRI showed a add'l minor non-remarkable bulge in C3-4 and bone spurs, but it was taken in June *just* before we moved into our new house. My pain jumped through the roof after moving and I think maybe I made it worse. I asked the doc for another MRI but he says I'm just out of surgery and he wants to wait. He's the best in the area & well-recommended, but I really feel something is wrong. Everyone else says the radiculopathy stopped post-surgery, but mine hasn't. Anyone have any ideas? I'd be grateful for them=0)
Noelle
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Here we are 8 days after all of my dreams were supposed to come true. I began having pain about 2 years ago. I saw several doctors in that time. Some tried nerve blocks, injections, and manipulation. I don't know for sure if any of them believed that I was in pain.
Then I found a surgeon. He did an MRI and sent me to a neurologist who did a EMG(?) an they both saw I had 2 bulging discs. On 02/06/07 I woke up from surgery and everything was supposed to be ok. I felt like I got hit by a truck. Not just any truck a big huge truck!
My doctor didn't put me in a collar at all. I fell in and out of consiousnous. I would wake up just to cry myself to sleep. They sent me home the next day.
I still feel pain. I am at home doing very little, but I don't think there is any improvement yet. Is it going to come?
Then I found a surgeon. He did an MRI and sent me to a neurologist who did a EMG(?) an they both saw I had 2 bulging discs. On 02/06/07 I woke up from surgery and everything was supposed to be ok. I felt like I got hit by a truck. Not just any truck a big huge truck!
My doctor didn't put me in a collar at all. I fell in and out of consiousnous. I would wake up just to cry myself to sleep. They sent me home the next day.
I still feel pain. I am at home doing very little, but I don't think there is any improvement yet. Is it going to come?
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Had my surgery 02/08/07 for C4-5-6, (I had 2 herniated and 2 bulging discs). I got hurt and have been having numbness and loss of use in arm with severe headaches. Had surgery and awoke to a severe headache but the neurosurgeon did tell me he may not be able to fix that. Reaeased 02/12/07 from hospital. Have spasms in neck and shoulders which work down spine probably shifting since surgery. Have surgical pain. Continue with some numbness in arm but pain in arm is almost all gone, occasional movements remind me. D/t titanium plate and artificial disc no collar was needed. My big problem is I choke easy and awake to choking on saliva. My raspy voice was gone in 5 days, but throat feels funny yet. It may be too soon to tell.
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hi my b/f is the same age as you, i would love to hear how it went.please email me
**edited by moderator ** e-mails not allowed **
thanks
**edited by moderator ** e-mails not allowed **
thanks
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I had my surgery on july 17,06. and at first i thought i had did the best thing too help myself, but i'm thinking now that i must have been crazy. as i should say ,at firist i felt better.now alot of the same pain i was having prior to surgery is back.i called my surgeon and he has been NO help.he says i should not be having any pain.i have fallen, at least 4 times in the last month.when i told the DOCTOR, he says to be more careful.
i can only hope that you get better care than i have. the time prior to my operation 5 YEARS the most i was ever prescribed --was lortab 5/500. that is even after surgery. now my pain level is back at a horrible level of 8 on a pain scale. and the doctor will not prescribe anything to help ar do anything to help me. i only want him to explain to me why i am 19thousand dollars in debt and still in pain.
i also would not wish this stuff on anyonei hope you all get to well and have very blessed lives.
i can only hope that you get better care than i have. the time prior to my operation 5 YEARS the most i was ever prescribed --was lortab 5/500. that is even after surgery. now my pain level is back at a horrible level of 8 on a pain scale. and the doctor will not prescribe anything to help ar do anything to help me. i only want him to explain to me why i am 19thousand dollars in debt and still in pain.
i also would not wish this stuff on anyonei hope you all get to well and have very blessed lives.
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