anterior cervical fusion on C2-C7

Hello! I had cervical fusions on three levels and am very impressed with my neurosurgeon. His name is Regis Haid and he practices at Atlanta Brain and Spine. Google him: I think you will be impressed. I don't know about his experience with your particular needs, but I believe if anybody can do it, he can. By the way, he has had several back surgeries himself, which helps him understand our pain.

Denise Pippen

Hello, I had c2-c7 done in 2010. Before I had the surgery I was going numb in all limbs and pain in my neck and arms. I broke my neck as a teenager, but never went to the hospital. I did go months latee because the pain was unbearable. They never did MRI, only xrays. Went on for years. Finally in 2010 I got my first mri, showing my neck had broke on pieces and grown back, backwards. My spinal cord was smashed nearly shut for over 20 years. After my surgery I felt so much better because of the cord being mashed so long. But months after, I started getting symptoms back. Including burning in my head, arms won't raise, can't stand or walk long, pain in legs and back. And also tingleing numbing feeling on back and all limbs. So, honestly not sure if the surgery helped my functions, but it did get my spinal cord free. But, because of my spinal cord beind shut off so long, my nerves are now damaged. Which is why I have so many issues still. Can't work anymore.

I had this surgery a year ago I'm a 47 year old female just wondering how yours went

I had this same surgery in 2015 just wondering how it went and how you are now? I'm a 48 year old active female!

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I will be 52 next week, just had c2-7 fused on Monday. Swallowing is very difficult, stinging in right fingers then numbness, and if course, regular surgical pain. I am being told that I will out of work for 3 months.

Have had c2-c7 done 2 months ago now the pain is more severe like pinched on the right side when I move my head. P.T is recommended but I have had surgeries before but no pain like this after. I am going to try p.t. if it dosent help I don't know what to do the pain is so bad numbness, tingling to my finger tips, I'm lost.

I feel your pain. I too had c-2 to c-8 done.People just can't believe it and doctors are amazed and aghast at the same time but there was literally no choice as I was losing the use of my hands and bowels. After the surgery, you can expect the tingling and yes, pain. I hope you have a good pain management team helping you. PT will help but it will be a slow process and you'll learn how to help yourself. It took about a year for the nerves to heal and its been over 2 years now and I still have some residual pain and tingling/numbness that comes and goes. Alot of that I've discovered can be manipulated in the positions I sit or when lying down. I've hardly any range of motion not being able to look up or down at all. You bend your body instead of neck. Side to side is about the same but a little better. Its only been 2 months. Don't panic. Those nerves were pinched before and they are healing, maybe regenerating. We have an amazing body. Ask for the pain to be addressed. So many doctors are so afraid to prescribe - try to find a pain management doctor while you are recuperating. The nerve healing takes time and you feel it. Its probably been released from pressure and is working to heal.
Good luck to you.

Am a male. At 44 has c2-3 fuses. At 46 c2-c6 fused. Am 50 now. I am a outside property manager using different types of power equipment and machinery. After I woke up from surgery 25 years of pain left me. However I still have paid. And some stiffness. I have learned that exercise helps the most. Yes it hurts. But not exercising the muscles makes me stiff and in more pain. Took 4 years until I could lay down and sleep. Slept in a lazy boy. I still at least 1-2 days a week sleep in that chair. Am on no pain meds except over the counter. I know I am blessed to at least have a 3 rd chance at life. I still work 49-50 hours a week

I am supposed to have this same surgery done. Neurosurgeon says it's very extensive and dangerous and wants me to think long and hard about it. I am also wondering if anyone has been fused from c2-c7? Success, failure?

I had a 7 level spinal fusion. I'd say it right now depends on your symptoms. Don't wait as long as I did if you really need this done. My very first surgery was a simple 1 level fusion to repair a cracked disc after a water skiing accident. The surgeons wanted to do that operation when I had the accident but I waited a few years ad tolerated pain until I could no longer. I had that surgery in the city (not where I has the accident) and it was simple, easy recovery. About 10 years later problems began. I'd look up or down and feel what seemed like a shock go through my body. Every once in a while, if I'd sit or lie down in the wrong position I'd lose function of my right arm like it was asleep. This went on for a year or so. Finally i did lose the use of my right hand. It became like a claw and I wasn't able to use that hand at all. Everything went quickly from there. The shocks, my hand, then arm, then the leg on the same side and finally I lost control of my bowels. It was an emergency by the time I saw a neurologist. They did the routine electrowhatchmacallit and the neurologist asked if I'd mind if he put all of the electrodes on my neck and I said ok. I guess there was not much coming out as far as electrical signals to my body and off I went to the hospital with the warning DO NOT MOVE. They even held my head as they transported me to an ambulance. The original fusion had produced so much excess bone growth that it was not only pressing on my spinal cord but had deformed the other vertebrate with growth of bone. There's a list of spinal disease on my report. I won't list them all here. The hospital brought in a surgeon and I had an immediate dislike of him and his lack of bedside manner plus the fact that I was being left out as far as consultation of what was planned for me.
I asked for someone else and at night a nurse slipped me a piece of paper with a doctor's name and telephone number on it. I had a friend call him in.
He was wonderful. He showed me everything that was happening and discussed my prognosis, the possibles and outcomes. He did the same as your doctor explaining how serious it was but that to wait one minute longer risked complete paralysis.
That doctor planned a laminectomy I think it was. He'd open the back of my spine, clean it up and leave it open. I begged him to find another way after he described what I'd be in for after surgery. He sent me for another CAT scan with the operation scheduled for he next morning.
In the morning as we met when I was in the operating room he informed me with a smile that he was going to do a 7 level fusion, not the Laminectomy.
It was a long operation. Apparently a lot of doctors came in to see it performed because a few dropped in on me later telling me what a terrific surgeon I'd had and how amazing it looked. After 3 days they went to get me out of bed and I could not walk. I couldn't use my feet at all.
This is long enough so I'll just tell you in a nutshell. my ability to walk came back, my hands and arms returned to normal with a slight residual inability to be as dextrous as I once was. I guess I'd describe it as like having bad arthritis. I might drop anything so now I only use tumblers and am leary of picking up anything breakable. It took a year of recovery but everything got better.. I made it get better by working and trying to do stuff although I was warned not to hurry the process. I'm pretty limited now as far as how much I can turn my head. I cannot look up or down so stairs are a problem or rather I'd say I'm afraid of them a bit. You learn to compensate with your body though. Our bodies are amazing. I do have a little discomfort and take a pain medicine for that plus a muscle relaxer but I'd say I'm very active. Its been 3 years and I'm just extremely grateful for the surgeon and especially the nurse who recommended him. It sounds like your doctor has given you an option. My options had run out and although I knew I was having problems I did wait too long not realizing what could happen. I'd say I'm extremely lucky hat all function returned. I had a lot of support. No family but plenty of good friends, a very supportive aftercare from my hospital. On x-ray it looks like I have a bicycle chain for a neck.
There's probably plenty of details and frustrations, depression I left out but I tend to concentrate on the future and not look back (which I couldn't do without a mirror anyway).

I am 67 just has a posterior fusin of C 2 a c7, two weeks out today, have not had to wear neck brace at all. It is improving daily, still muscle spasms ..... Passed out oh yesterday and fell on my nick head, fortunately no damage to surgery site. Praying things continue to go well, I will see my surgeon on Friday, I'll keep you posted. Sounds like like I may be blessed at this time. thank the Lord!

That’s exactly what I had to have fused last month. C3 thru C7. Had to spend 3 nights in the hospital instead of one. Very very painful. And I could no longer move my left arm. With that many vertebrae involved, I read it happens about 30% of the time. It’s 5 weeks later, not a lot of pain left and muscle cramping is lessening. Ask for Soma, also called Carisoprodol. You can’t take it with Dilaudid, but Vocodin is okay.The non narcotic don’t work at all for me. Flexeril is a joke. Still can’t move my arm, although I can use my hand and move my shoulder. I’m hoping once they release me for physical therapy I’ll see improvement. I also read it can take up to a year to get back. Good luck,

I am 59 and has C-2-C-7 fussion 4 months ago I have 2 plates and 6 screws on each side. I am still in chronic pain and can't take it. The surgeon told me I will probably be in chronic pain the rest of my life. Now a couple of the screws are coming out. Does anyone on here know how to get pain relief for this problem? I don't care what it is.

I sufffered the same after i had a cage fitted as they could not do a bone graft at level c4 c5 , then. Fused with a plate and 4 screws. About 4 days after surgery l found l could not swallow , so my surgeon got me to see a throat surgeon , he did several tests and found it was basically scar tissue causing the issue. This went on for several months but has eased but 3 years on l still have the feeling of a lump in my throat , l can eat normally but have to break large tablets in half to not aggreavate the throat. It is still. Down to scar tissue which will always be there, hope this helps. Jeff from the UK

How are thou feeling? I have herniated and ruptured C2 to C7 was reverse curve and severe spinal stenosis I've actually lost Hearing in my right ear... I am 41 years old do you have any advice