My husband had ACDF surgery April 29 2016. The surgery was a success however he experienced upper body ridigity, arm weakness, nerve pain (again) and his bicep muscle hurt - it felt as if there was a blood pressure cuff squeezing his arm. Fast forward to March- he was referred to a neurologist who diagnosed Parkinson's Disease. However we don't believe this is correct. My husband continues to have severe nerve pain in his arm. Long story short we went our our osteopath who indicated there was tightness in the muscles & nerves due to the surgery. Last night he worked on my husband's right arms and the pain is almost gone. We go back on Wed. I would like to say to any one , don't give up but don't just listen to your neurologist or MD. Seek out alternative care such as a good osteopath. It will help
try rehab a improve you posture. I had surgery a year ago and I fought it until my muscles deteriorated severely and I could no longer endure the pain. I also had extreme weakness in my hands and numbness and tingling. My neck was in abject agony and my arms and right shoulder were at the underbelly of torment.
The surgery helped in that it took my pain levels from a 10 to an 8. My doctor says in time, I will be pain free. Hes one of the best in the field. He said I was healed in terms of my fusion but that the pain would go away in time. I hope so because I see no signs of the pain subsiding. my neck feels like a ton of bricks are on the base of the back of my neck, my arm aches, stabs, and burns with pain, and my wrists, hands, and arm hurt and i'm weak.
The aforementioned problems notwithstanding, I don't regret getting the surgery. Prior to surgery, I couldn't lift my right arm to sip water from my hand. it also felt like a machine was trying to twist my forearm off of my arm.
I sympathize with you all, my spirits are low because of my condition. BTW, c5, c6, c7 were fused on me. I have headaches daily. I'm depressed, and i'm worried about my liver with all the sh*t i'm taking for pain including prescription narcotics, synthetic narcotics, Tylenol and motrin, and turmeric , fish oil etc.
thank you for allowing this platform to discuss my issues.
The surgery helped in that it took my pain levels from a 10 to an 8. My doctor says in time, I will be pain free. Hes one of the best in the field. He said I was healed in terms of my fusion but that the pain would go away in time. I hope so because I see no signs of the pain subsiding. my neck feels like a ton of bricks are on the base of the back of my neck, my arm aches, stabs, and burns with pain, and my wrists, hands, and arm hurt and i'm weak.
The aforementioned problems notwithstanding, I don't regret getting the surgery. Prior to surgery, I couldn't lift my right arm to sip water from my hand. it also felt like a machine was trying to twist my forearm off of my arm.
I sympathize with you all, my spirits are low because of my condition. BTW, c5, c6, c7 were fused on me. I have headaches daily. I'm depressed, and i'm worried about my liver with all the sh*t i'm taking for pain including prescription narcotics, synthetic narcotics, Tylenol and motrin, and turmeric , fish oil etc.
thank you for allowing this platform to discuss my issues.
Sorry to say I'm going on 5 years still unable to do all the things I couldn't do before the surgery ,still in pain everyday as you explained.
My advice if you're not rich get on disability and carve out a new life for yourself.
I've already seen 8 neurosurgeons and 4 orthopedic doctors and they were no help other than different medications or suggestions for other types of pain relief more dangerous than the ones I'm already on.
My advice if you're not rich get on disability and carve out a new life for yourself.
I've already seen 8 neurosurgeons and 4 orthopedic doctors and they were no help other than different medications or suggestions for other types of pain relief more dangerous than the ones I'm already on.
I also head an anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion C5 with adjacent discs removed. Turned out horrible. Cage-related failure left me paralyzed. Cage was not approved by FDA for any use in the neck.
I am writing this on behalf of my wife. Three years ago (2014), she was suffering from 'malignant' migraines that grew to daily incidents. She could not move her neck without it triggering another one. She was found to have stenosis, had a double fusion c-5 / c-7, and three years later has dealt with chronic pain. She has had procedures, first with neck injections followed by a rhizotomy annually. The latter bring some relief and is recommended every six months. The way through insurance is two steroids injection procedure first (in the hospital). My wife's pain is constant, though some days the right exercise relieves it. Migraines reduced to 1 - 2 days per month post procedure. Those were as bad as anything she experienced, so that is worth the fusion, if any surgery that brings permanent pain is worth something. In writing this, I say, prepare for the long haul. I went from husband to caregiver, 24/7. I am also an expert on this as we have exhausting all forms of post treatment, meds, therapies, etc. Nerves are confounding, to say the least. Best of luck to you.
I am 6 months post-op ACDF C4-C6 and in intense pain in my shoulder, upper back and neck. I have seen almost 20 different practitioners, each one referring me to somebody else or back to the neurosurgeon who did my surgery, whom failed to mention anything about ADR as being an option. Sometimes I feel like I have way to much metal in my body. My right arm has been swollen since 2 weeks after sx. I finally found a pain management practitioner with an amazing ability to listen, and for the first time since surgery I can go 2-3 hours without feeling any pain.
Massage has been the one therapy that has helped the most. The other is THC.
Massage has been the one therapy that has helped the most. The other is THC.
Marijuana and a Massage
Massage and Marijuana.
How many weeks after surgery did u do pt?
my wife had surgery on c 5 and c 6 in April of 16 she is having a lot of pain and burning between her fingers and pain in her forearms. we have had several MRIs with out answers . Can someone please help us
First, I have found out that doctors do not want to criticize other doctors but in my experience you'll need to find another surgeon to find out what the problem is.
I had a very bad neck surgery in 2005 which only caused more arm & neck pain and I searched for years for help with no luck.
I moved away from Boston in 2009 and thankfully found the best pain doctor in Georgia in 2010. My new doctor does not do surgery but does the best epidurals I've ever had.
I am now in agonizing back pain and am in search of a great neurosurgeon to help with my neck & arm pain and back surgery.
I ask everyone I know and I do lots of research on surgeons now. With computers and reviews it's helpful to look at reviews on doctors and do lots of research !
Best of luck with finding someone to help your wife.
I had a very bad neck surgery in 2005 which only caused more arm & neck pain and I searched for years for help with no luck.
I moved away from Boston in 2009 and thankfully found the best pain doctor in Georgia in 2010. My new doctor does not do surgery but does the best epidurals I've ever had.
I am now in agonizing back pain and am in search of a great neurosurgeon to help with my neck & arm pain and back surgery.
I ask everyone I know and I do lots of research on surgeons now. With computers and reviews it's helpful to look at reviews on doctors and do lots of research !
Best of luck with finding someone to help your wife.
Hey I know this is old, but I am wondering how you are doing at this point, over a year later. It would be great to hear how things have progressed. I'm 7 months out ACDF surgery c6 c7 and having the exact same symptoms. Does this ever go away, or just part of the process? Thanks and I hope you reply.
Had c6 c7 surgery in sept 16 now radiating pain is much worse than before surgery i only had pain occasionally before surgery now every single day 7 days a week doctor told me to take tylenol and ibuprofen but to no avail i have taken so much ibuprofen and tylenol im scared its gonna hurt my liver
I can't believe you said BP cuff!!! That's what I told the surgeon. This is almost 5 months post op. Thank you so much. I'll be contacting a Osteopath asap.
I had the same experience with my neurosurgeon and he needs to be locked up and stopped from doing this to anyone else!