Arm pain after cervical fusion surgery

:-( I had a cervical fusion 1 year ago today. Prior to the surgery, I had a right shoulder spasm for 6 years. I could not sleep laying down on a bed no longer than 3 hours before the tingling, numbness and finally paralysis of my arms and fingers began. I would wake up every hour to move my neck and arms and change position to a chair.
Well it has been a year since the surgery, and I haven't slept more than two hours. The spasms went away but the numbing and pain at each wrist and arms doesn't allow me a restful sleep. I will be so tired and into a deep sleep but I am saying I need to wake up I am in pain. My neck tilts to the right a little when I sit or stand up, which I correct constantly. I notice that my right leg feels shorter when I try one new shoes something I did not experience before.
I wish I had looked and demanded alternatives to this surgery. I have developed arthritis in both wrist and thumb and the pain is persistent and nagging. I want to go back to work even if it is a part time but I drop everything and cant sleep. At times my fingers on the right hand curl in and become paralyzed. I am off the narcotic pain medications because it made me an emotional wreck.
One thing that does help is I bought an anti-gravity chair and I alternate at night between the chair and bed.
Does anyone out there experience this? HELP

I didn't realize that so many who had the same surgery are still having so many problems. I had a fusion at c5-c6. Felt great until about 1 1/2 months after surgery. Then my left arm became totally useless. Turned out that the disc below the fusion went out. Had a second surgery. Still have pain and numbness, strength and dexterity is getting better, but not normal. However, now....I am getting that horrible pain we all know in BOTH shoulders. I think I am going crazy, too. The right shoulder was great after first surgery, now both shoulders cause pain. I still can't do many things I did before. After reading these blogs, I wonder if any of us will ever feel good.

! I had acdf c 5-6 c 6-7 about 10 days ago . Not too bad so far, my arms are kinda numb, it feels like someone shoved a steak knife through my shoulder blades and I feel like I have a peice of wood like a ski stuck in my neck. My Dr. tells me I do not need any more pain med. just to take 4 advils. Now thank god I had more pain meds because I can't move. I am a smoker but I use the bone stimulator My dr assures me I will be fine but then again at the follow up he didnt even tell me what I can and can't do, just I'll see you in a month and asked me if I wanted to start pt. i'll keep you posted 2411

My lengthy experience with cervical fusions tells me, some are very successful and others leave residual pain, taking time to heal. Personal history, I first ruptured 5/6 and 6/7 as a nurse in 98'. The pain pre-operatively was greater than a 10! Post-op, following instructions, in a hard collar x 6 weeks I came out the other end, pain free. However that titanium locking plate was putting pressure on 4/5. When it blew, in the middle of the night 2000', I was paralyzed from the neck down...literally! Via ambulance into an MRI and emergency surgery, once again I was VERY lucky. Within a year I was back at work as a nurse at our jail! With the cascading effect after a 3 level fusion, the pressure on 3/4 finally impeded my central nerve pathway, creating pain, numbness etc. I am now post-op x one month the 12th. I will see the neurosurgeon come tues. The muscle pain is HORRIBLE! But once again no numbness or loss of strength. Still in a hard collar and following instructions...but the pain is sometimes over 10. This too will pass but it will take time this time around.

All of us on this board should give ourselves a high five for our journeys. We are survivors!!

Oh, also this time I'm having trouble swallowing. Still couldn't sit down to a steak, but it's getting there :-D

I had C6-7 fusion 12/16/10. The knife through the shoulder blade feeling is gone. The numbness and tingling in the right arm was better for about 3 weeks. Unfortunately I am now having symptoms in BOTH arms. I had no problems with my left arm before the surgery!!! I am scared and frustrated. Had an xray and mri this week - meet with neurosrgn 3/22. I was out of work for 4 months, just came back first of February. Can not afford to lose my job but also can not afford to have permanent damage in both arms. What the heck?!?!?!

I have had a fusion and disc replacement of C5 & C6 in Nov. of 2010. I was in a cervical collar post op for approx. 2 months. A L5-S1 PARS defect. Recovery from the PARS defect has been long and difficult. The cervical surgery seemed to go fine and w/o post op symptoms. I had no choice because the comression was so severe, the spinal cord was compromised. I am now experiencing tingling in my hands (indicitative of cervical area). X-rays and CT scan last week look great with fusion of C5 nearly complete and C6 half fused. I have alot of pain on cold days and rely on Norco with swelling, I use heat and ice therapy in addition to PT 3 times a week. From everything I have read, I too am concerned this will be a life-long challenge and worry about my ability to work. Has anyone found a solution to the tingling? The feeling in my hands concerns me because the tingling makes me feel like my fingers are numb. Would appreciate any tips to improve my situation.

I pray all of us improve with tiime (as the doctors predict)!

BTW: PARS defect surgery went well, but has been in a word "Hell" - I wouldn't wish this on anyone!

I HAD A C3-4,5-6 ANTERIOR CERVICAL FUSION IN 2008. AFTER THE SURGERY I COULDN'T TURN MY HEAD, HAD PROBLEMS SWALLOWING, I HAD TO USE MY HANDS TO MOVE MY HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE. MY HEAD WAS SO SENSITVE THAT I COULD NOT BRUSH MY TEETH, COMB MY HAIR, AND I HAD TO BALL UP JUST TO GET IN THE BED. NOW IT'S 2011 AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS SWALLOWING, HORRIBLE MUSCLE SPASMS, TINGLNG IN MY ARMS AND FINGERS. I FEEL WORSE THAN I DID BEFORE I HAD SURGERY, CARRYING SMALL BAGS MAKES MY NECK HURT AND MY ARMS FEEL SO HEAVY THAT IT BECOMES IRRITATING MOST OF THE TIME. I'VE DONE PHYSICAL THERAPY, TAKEN PAIN MEDICATIONS AND MUSCLE RELAXERS. I HAD A MULTILEVEL SPINE SURGRY IN OCTOBER IN MY LOWER BACK AND ALL I CAN SAY IS MENTALLY I'M DRAINED.

hello. feel your pain. I have had the same thing done about 3 years ago. I wished i'd never done it. Im sorry, i know you probably dont want to hear

it but i still have pain in my neck shoulder and arm. I have the shaking in arm and numbness in right hand. The neuro surgeon said everything looked

good and I shouldnt have all these problems. He dismissed me and wouldnt see me anymore! Thanks Doc!! Now after physical therapy...twice and everything else you can think of I finally went to a pain consultant.

He gave me a Stellate ganglion block. He thought I had RSD. Well, after 6 shots it has helped with the shaking had and arm pain but I still have neck pain.  Im sorry. I feel for you. I thought I was the only one going through this and that maybe I was gong nuts!! 

During the day just like you. I do okay but then by afternoon and night time it is unbearable!!  The pain doc has helped some and he says he will start giving me epideral shots in my neck once he fixes the RSD. Well, im hoping one of these days I will be pain free. Im here for ya. I know what your going through.

Prayer really helps.

Thanks Stacy your information has been very helpful.  I still have arm pain, shoulder pain, and neck pain.  I've also been getting really bad headaches.  Sometimes I go to bed with one and wake up with one.  I don't think I will ever be pain free.  I found out yesterday that I have a bulging disk in my lumbar region of my back also.  I am just all messed up.  Yes prayer does help.  Hope you get better soon!

Im so sorry for all the pain everyone is going through. Didnt realize so many people were in so much pain. I will pray for you. The good

side of all of this, if there is one really. Is that knowing Im not the only one going through all this pain and that at least there are all of you to

talk to about it.

I wish I could take everyones pain away. It really sucks! Support helps though.

 

I had a C3-C7 fusion - 3 herniated discs were removed and replaced with cadaver bone.  Surgery was Aug 1, and I'm to return to work Sep 26 - pain when I type is excruciating - I have sharp, stinging pain at the point where my shoulder meets my neck, on the left side - I have partial paralysis in my left arm.  Surgeon says he is not concerned, because it is not getting progressively worse.  My sister, who's in the medical field, thinks it's nerve damage - is there anything they can do ?

I wish I had people to 'share the misery' with, haha - I had my first haircut yesterday, and was sad that I couldn't even put my head down.  Never thought I'd miss being able to bow my head - that's not the worst part of course - my neck/shoulder feels like it's on fire when I begin to sit down at a computer and type.

Would like to hear from others who have had this surgery.  My wife's ex and a friend of a friend had a similar surgery, but both of them had cracked vertebrae - the friend of the friend has had migranes ever since - I have not had one headache (it's been 6 weeks).  I've been taking 5-6 percocet a day - helps with my mood, but doesn't stop the acute, stinging pain.

Wow - will pray for you - why didn't I find this site BEFORE my C3-C7 fusion !! I read one where the person's titanium plates blew, and they became paralyzed ? what the heck ?



Oh well - I am 6 weeks out, and am glad to know the knife through the shoulder blade feeling went away.



Hope you are better !

I AM IN BAD PAIN with my arm yes i can cope in day but dont sleep well at night it worse i seen a neurosurgeon and am awaitin a operation he told me they goin 2 cut in 2 my neck and put a titatanium cage in 2 stop the pain has anyone had this done as i am scared but cant go on with this pain i am 55 years old and want 2 be doin things but the pain wont let me it so badi

I am 46 years years old, am surviving 10 years since my accident (3x drunk driver rear ended me). I have had 3 surgeries, 1 being a failed single fusion of C5/6 and then a double 1 year later because the first fusion never took that caused the 1st failed to strip 3 of the 4 screws out of my vertabrea. I had a Neurosergoen at the time that nobody would question (except myself) so I had to find a Neuro that wasn't part of the "Good Ol Boy Club) My pain is mostly on my left side from the back of my neck all the way down my arm but hit my right side often too. Constant pain from 2-3 all day then break thru throughout the day past a 10. I call them episodes and is sometimes embarrassing in public as it will literally put me on the ground moaning from the crushing, burning, knife like pain from my triceps all the way to my finger tips. I live on Morphine and Dilaudid. Tried the spinal cord stimulator and even purchased my own 4 channel TENS unit. I have been seen my over 10 specialists all the way to UCSF but to no avail. Even had over 15 epidural injections with little to no relief. I start my day with 100mg Morphine ER, followed by 60mg Morphine IR and 8mg Dilaudid for break thru pain throughout the day and then another 100mg Morphine ER at the end of my day. Even been on Fentynal in the past before the Morphine but is too expensive for Medicare. for almost 1 year as well as Oxycontin, Oxycodone ect (not all at the same time). It seems like allot but being on this stuff for over 8 years causes tolerance issues. Someday's I don't even want to get out of bed and others I feel there is light and the end of the tunnel but in the end it all depends on how the pain is changing by the hour. I have a portable cervical pneumatic device that I use to essentially stretch my neck gently to relieve the pressure but only works on the lower below nagging level pain. I also keep a ample supply of those gel pack to freeze and place on the back of my spine while laying flat this helps until it melts:). I am sorry to hear of your problem but hope you understand that there are allot of us out there that suffer similar to your situation and no it is not just all in your head..........

I am 60 yr old female. Had a fusion and plate put in neck and 4-5-6 C in the middle 90's. The first surgery went ok......however a b one spur caused surgeon to have to go in the back of my neck to get it. that ended my life as i knew it!. I have since become the weather person ....my plate knows when its going to rain..........and my neck feels tired most of the time.and i no longer can use my upper body to do anything without days of pain afterwards. My surgeon took bone from a bone bank because as they put it...why should i use YOUR bone when it isnt very good to start with?"..which i agree with. I have pain mostly on the left side of my neck and find driving difficult for turning... etc.........i dont know if there is anything else that can be done frankly, i dont have a regret about having the plate put in but i would NEVER have or let anyone cut open the back of a neck!!! NEVER!.....and iam an RN.........no one knew how to deal with me in the hospital, no pt, no nothing.....my advice....make them do the fusion with use of a bone bank, never let them cut into the back of your neck and make sure your willing to tolerate a fair amount of pain and discomfort off and on from now on........sigh...........i know Germany is putting in plastic discs  and has been for over 10 yrs..that would be my only hope at this point but the US wont agree to use these except for a back and only one disc..sigh...............and yes i live on pills off and on......................i wish for someone''s neck every xmas!!!!!!......